The Chicken or the Egg?

Even before I checked my calendar on Monday morning, I knew the appointment would be there. Passed over for promotion again, Ralph wanted specifics on why I hadn't chosen him for the position. This was not a new conversation. I thought of Ralph as my chicken and egg dilemma. Ralph was the chicken. He believed he would make a great Team Leader, and when I promoted him, he would step up and show me how well he could lead. My position was that of egg. Prove to me you have leadership skills by demonstrating leadership in the job you have now, and I'll consider giving you the next position.

Here's the question: is it better to do the work, knowing you will ultimately be rewarded for having done it, or should you wait until the reward is there before you do the work? Like the proverbial question of which came first, the chicken or the egg, people differ widely on the answer and run their careers accordingly.

Here's the way I see it - one has more to lose by taking the position of the chicken and waiting for someone else to anoint them, than by being the egg and anointing oneself. If I had waited to be a leader until someone offered me a leadership position, I might still be wishing and hoping for someone to notice me. When I wanted to be a manager, I did the work of a manager by taking on more and more responsibilities. And, I got promoted. When I wanted to be a director, I did the work of a director, without questioning compensation or title. After proving myself, I got the job, the title and the compensation. Same with being a vice-president. Doing the job first, gave me the job.

It's the same now that I'm out of the corporate arena. Take my dream of being a writer. Changing careers after twenty-something years in management, I could have waited to write a column until I secured a writing contract for one. But, why would someone pay me to write without reading my words and knowing I can. Chicken and egg again.

What works for me has been consistent. When I do the work first, the rewards follow. I think of it like exercising. Doing it gives me better results than thinking about it. No one likes to be called a chicken, so ... be the egg.

(c) 2004 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved.

Sign up to receive Nan's free biweekly eColumn at www.winningatworking.com. Nan Russell has spent over twenty years in management, most recently with QVC as a Vice President. She has held leadership positions in Human Resource Development, Communication, Marketing and line Management. Nan has a B.A. from Stanford University and M.A. from the University of Michigan. Currently working on her first book, Winning at Working: 10 Lessons Shared, Nan is a writer, columnist, small business owner, and on-line instructor. Contact Nan at info@nanrussell.com

---

You Can Identify a Problem Solver

As an executive recruiter, I interview a lot of people.... Read More

Reinvent Yourself in a New Career

Some people reserve the word "vocation" for religious calling. Contemporary... Read More

Career Change - Is Your Career A Good Fit Or Is It Causing Pain?

Do you leap out of bed in the morning looking... Read More

Mystery Shopping for Fun and Profit

How would you like to get paid to go shopping?... Read More

Confidence Is Critical to YOUR Success....

Make EYE contact when you look at another person. Look... Read More

10 Key Career Success Questions

At some point in every professional or managerial career, there... Read More

Lets Talk About Trust

I agree with Brooker T. Washington, "Few things help an... Read More

5 Simple Rules for A Great Job Interview

Many years ago, when I was a young job-searching greenhorn,... Read More

Tips on Finding Employment as a Corporate Flight Attendant

I will not pretend that this is the easiest topic... Read More

TMI: The Resume Destroyer

"They say my résumé should be only one page long.... Read More

Building Your Army of Supporters: How to Build Strategic Relationships in the Work Place!

Once you have accomplished your task of getting in the... Read More

The Telecommuting Tightrope

For many of us, telecommuting seems like the ideal situation.... Read More

Resume Writing Dos and Donts

Do these things Include your full name - don't... Read More

How To Choose The Right Resume Format

After a thirty (30) second glance lots of resumes get... Read More

Job Interviews: Succeeding With Panel Interviews

These days, job interviews often consist of a panel of... Read More

Using Freelance Websites to Telecommute

How is your job hunting going? Have you had problems... Read More

Medical Billing And Coding Profession

Medical billers and coders are in high demand among the... Read More

Job Interviews: Succeeding with Panel Interviews

These days, job interviews often consist of a panel of... Read More

Out Recruit The Competition

We hear from our clients that they "hope the candidate... Read More

Diplomats and Spies

"The Baratarian pirates also offered their services. Even though an... Read More

It May Be Time to Walk in an Employers Shoes

If you are in a job search and aren't receiving... Read More

Thank-You Notes: Your Thoughtfulness will be Rewarded

I get asked these questions over and over: "Should I... Read More

Put Some Mystery in Your Life

Mystery shoppers. For some it conjures up images of private... Read More

Surviving Unemployment Through Emotional Damage Control

Looking for work is a roller-coaster ride: high with elation... Read More

The Network Within

When you hear the word "networking", what comes to your... Read More

A Career in Image Consulting

You might have seen them while watching TV shows such... Read More

Genes and Work Ethic

If you have good genes, you are blessed. If they... Read More

Create A Rappin? Resume

(Percussion sounds emanating from who knows where while you listen... Read More

Jesse And Al Should Read This!

Instead of getting all bent out of shape over innocuous... Read More

What to Ask During the Interview

Don't just sit there and bob your head, waiting to... Read More

Interview Preparation Made Easy: Create An Interview Preparation List

Here's a quick way to compare your own job experience... Read More

Moving From A Weekend Hobby To Career In The Arts

Building a career as an artist takes hard work. Because... Read More

What is a Career Anyway?

A career is the sum total of all of your... Read More