Opinion: Remember workplace when making resolutions

It is time to polish off those old resolutions: lose weight, make those family scrapbooks, reach “top 10” status on your job, go to the gym three times a week, refinish the antique rocker you bought 10 years ago. In short, write down last year’s resolutions, but really, really try to achieve them this year.

Forget about it! It is time for a change! Repeating the same resolutions every year will get you where you are right this moment: Slightly (or very) disappointed with last year but hopeful about 2005.

Let’s look at New Year’s resolutions in a different way and start with the place you spend most of your time – your job.

You may be thinking, “But it’s just a job! My real life is my home and family!”

Guess what? How you are on your job affects your home and family. The attitudes, habits and goals you possess about your profession bleed into every aspect of your life.

Most articles focus on the workaholic who neglects his or her family for the job.

I contend that there is a huge group out there for which it is the reverse. The job becomes a necessary evil. It puts bread on the table. It may have some positive aspects, but “real life” is lived in the evenings and on weekends.

For more than 20 years, I lived that way myself. I had an acting career “on the side” and a real job during the day in corporate America. Looking back, I believe that I did both endeavors (and myself) a disservice. I might have been more successful as an actor if I had applied my business principles to my acting career.

As we enter 2005, let’s resolve to look at our jobs (hopefully, our careers) in a different way:

• I resolve to give 100 percent of my effort to the job when I am at work.

• I resolve to find new ways to learn on the job.

• I resolve to dwell on the positive and not on negative people, events or attitudes.

• I resolve to be appreciative of my own efforts.

• I resolve to never complain to my co-workers. I will take issues to my supervisor.

• I resolve not to feed into office gossip.

• I resolve not to repeat negative stories I hear from other employees.

• I resolve to look at my job, even if it is not ideal, as a career.

• I resolve to give full measure for the salary I am paid.

• I resolve to fully participate in office activities such as charity fund-raisers.

• I resolve to limit personal calls and personal activities.

• I resolve to be thankful that I have a job that pays me.

Most of all, this is a time to look at your job with a full heart, a heart which is filled with thankfulness for living in a great country where you have the option to add another resolution: I resolve to find a new job which makes full use of my abilities and talents!

When you make your resolutions for 2005, don’t forget your job resolutions. The place where you spend 40 hours a week is more than just a paycheck; it is an integral part of your life. So, until those Lotto winnings come in, look at your job (and, by extension, yourself) with respect.

Resolved: My job is as great as I choose to make it!

Sinara Stull O’Donnell is a professional speaker and writer through Springfield-based SinaraSpeaks. She is the author of “Be The Star Of Your Life: Are You Ready For Your Close-Up?”