How to Excel in the Workplace
The anecdote below captures the essence of going the extra mile as a necessary ingredient to excel in the workplace and marketplace:
Ezra and Thomas joined a company together a few months after their graduation from university. After a few years of work, their Manager promoted Ezra to the position of Senior Sales Manager, but Thomas remained in his entry-level Junior Sales Officer position.
Thomas developed a sense of jealousy and disgruntlement but continued working anyway.
One day Thomas felt that he could not work with Ezra anymore. He wrote his resignation letter, but before he submitted it to the Manager, he complained that Management did not value hard-working staff, but promoted only the favoured!
The Manager knew that Ezra worked very hard for the years he had spent in the company; even harder than Thomas and therefore he deserved the promotion. So in order to help Thomas to realize this, the Manager gave Thomas a task.
“Go and find out if anyone is selling watermelons in town?”
Thomas returned and said, “yes, there is someone!”
The Manager asked, “how much per kg?” Thomas drove back to town to ask and then returned to inform the Manager; “they are N100.00 per kg!”
The Manager told Thomas, “I will give Ezra the same task that I gave you. Please pay close attention to his response!”
So the Manager said to Ezra, in the presence of Thomas; “Go and find out if anyone is selling watermelons in town?”
Ezra went to find out and on his return he said:
“Manager, there is only one person selling watermelons in the whole town.
The cost is N500.00 for each watermelon and N300,00 for a half melon. He sells them at N100.00 per kg when sliced. He has in his stock 93 melons, each one weighing about 7kg.
He has a farm and can supply us with melons for the next 4 months at a rate of 102 melons per day at N350.00 per melon; this includes delivery.
The melons appear fresh and red with good quality, and they taste better than the ones we sold last year.
He has his own slicing machine and is willing to slice for us free of charge. We need to strike a deal with him before 10am tomorrow and we will be sure of beating last year’s profits in melons by over N2,300,000.00.
This will contribute positively to our overall performance as it will add a minimum of 8.78% to our current overall sales target.
I have put this information down in writing and is available in a spreadsheet. Please let me know if you need it as I can send it to you in fifteen minutes.”
Thomas was very impressed and realized the difference between himself and Ezra. He decided not to resign but to learn from Ezra.
Let this story help us keep in mind the importance of going the extra mile in all our endeavours. You won’t be rewarded for doing what you’re meant to do, you only get a salary for that! You’re only rewarded for going the extra mile; performing beyond expectations.
To be successful in life, you must be observant, proactive and willing to do more, think more, have a more holistic perspective and go beyond the call of duty.
May you be blessed with a better perspective to do your work this year and beyond.
The life ahead needs this mentality of going the extra mile. In ministry, career, as husbands, mothers, children, etc.
Let’s learn to carry extra oil like the five wise virgins. So that even in sudden situations and circumstances, we can meet up. Don’t be like the five foolish virgins who are just about normal situations and circumstances. Life is more than normalities.
– Author Unknown
Meditation: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. – Matthew 5:16
You will succeed in Jesus' Name!
