| The Final Word by Rory Ryan |
Rory Ryan, Senior Editor, North American Desk
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 Jim Thompson devoted his most recent Nip Impressions column as a bit of tutorial for those seeking to enter or re-enter the workplace.
Among Jim’s sound advice is this gem: Your primary objective is not – crazy as it may seem – for you to obtain immediate employment.
It is, to quote Jim: “To help my new employer achieve better efficiency and results through the intense and energetic application of my 20 years’ experience as a (maintenance manager), (back tender), (shipping clerk), etc. ….”
Seriously. That’s what it’s all about. For any successful business to offer someone gainful employment, it is imperative that that someone brings something to the business’ bottom line. (Granted, this concept rarely – if ever – applies in the public sector.)
For employers and would-be employees alike, Jim’s column is certainly worth your time.
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Another good business column was published recently at Forbes.com.
The original source of the column is licensed clinical social worker Amy Morin and it was attributed to Morin by writer Cheryl Conner.
The articled is entitled “Mentally Strong People: The 13 Things They Avoid.”
According to the Forbes writers, "For all the time executives spend concerned about physical strength and health, when it comes down to it, mental strength can mean even more. Particularly for entrepreneurs, numerous articles talk about critical characteristics of mental strength – tenacity, grit, optimism, and an unfailing ability as Forbes contributor David Williams says, to ‘fail up.’”
For full credit attribution, Morin's article also is posted on LifeHack.
Here are a few things that mentally strong business people avoid:
• They don’t waste time feeling sorry for themselves. They have learned to take responsibility for their actions and outcomes, and they have an inherent understanding of the fact that frequently life is not fair.
• They don’t give away their power. Mentally strong people avoid giving others the power to make them feel inferior or bad. They understand they are in control of their actions and emotions. (Think of the old “sticks and stones” adage.)
• They don’t shy away from change. Mentally strong people embrace change and they welcome a challenge.
• They don’t waste energy on things they can’t control. (Think of the Serenity Prayer.)
• They don’t worry about pleasing others. A mentally strong person strives to be kind and fair and to please others where appropriate, but is unafraid to speak up. (And remember, as far as “pleasing” someone, more often than not that’s up to the individual’s determination.)
• They don’t fear taking calculated risks.
• They don’t dwell on the past.
• They don’t resent other people’s success.
• They don’t quit after encountering failure. Every failure is a chance to improve.
• They don’t feel the world owes them anything. Mentally strong people enter the world prepared to work and succeed on their merits, at every stage of the game.
• They don’t expect immediate results.
There’s much more to both Mr. Thompson’s column and Ms. Morin’s. This week's Final Word is this: Do yourself a little favor and read both articles in their entirety. You’ll be glad you did.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!
Rory Ryan is Senior Editor, North American Desk, at Paperitalo Publications and the owner of The Highland County Press in Hillsboro, Ohio. He can be reached by email at rory.ryan@taii.com or roryeryan@gmail.com.
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