Gary North

You should be alert to your own performance on the job, so that you can head off any inquiry into your performance by someone with the authority either to fire you or block your advancement so that you will quit on your own, thus saving your state employer employment insurance expenses.

Be rigorously honest. See if any of these might be on the list.

1. You barely meet your monthly quota, if you are in sales.

2. You take every day of sick leave that you are entitled to every year.

3. You miss deadlines.

4. You arrive late and leave early whenever possible.

5. You don't initiate new projects or suggestions for improving your own performance.

6. You don't volunteer annually to add responsibility to your list of assignments.

7. You reveal a lack of awareness at meetings about the operations of corporate divisions that are closely allied to your division.

8. You do not provide regular information to your superiors regarding innovations made by your competitors, along with suggestions about how to meet the challenge.

9. You have not been to a trade show or other business-related seminar in over a year.

10. You have no office file folders of clippings from trade publications related to your field.

If your answer is that this would require more than 40 hours a week of labor time, you have just provided yourself with a reason to start a business on the side, or to find a new career. Anyone who will work only 40 hours a week on his job is a time-server. He is expendable.

Never be a time-server unless you are using the job as a launching pad or way station in moving to the next phase of your career.

For specifics on improving your lifestyle, saving money, and making money, sign up for my Saturday morning free report, Tip of the Week. The subscription box is here: www.garynorth.com.