How to Show Your Ganas

We’ve already talked about the kind of skills you need to have to compete in this information technology driven society. We’ve talked about resumes and interviews and reasonable accommodations. There is one more thing you need in order to be a desired commodity in the job market. Although it may be true for all people, it is especially true for persons with disabilities. What you need is, as they say in the barrio, is ganas. [ganas slang, noun, 2nd person singular of win - desire, motivation (made popular by Jaime Escalante, teacher at Garfield High School in Los Angeles, who achieved extraordinary success with his students)].You can show your ganus for your work by displaying habits of successful people.

In addition to showing you have a strong ability to do the type of work for which you are applying, you must show you have a strong desire as well. Employers don’t need someone who just wants a paycheck. They need someone who has a ‘fire in the belly’, a proclivity for becoming a better, more informed, more capable employee.

There is no trick to finding ganus, it just takes a lot of work. For some people it requires a lifelong application of successful habits. For you, it only requires following my recommendations. Still, it may take several years but once you have it, you never lose it. This only works though for people who are serious about finding satisfaction in work and becoming a highly valued employee.

In the words of Ralph W. Sockman, “Good habits, which bring our lower passions and appetites under automatic control, leave our natures free to explore the larger experiences of life.” This article, therefore, is on good work habits, habits that allow us an opportunity to grow and enjoy life.

Organization

As a private contractor I may be working on two or more jobs at a time. Organization, therefore, for me is paramount. Organizational skills make you a more valuable employee in part, because being organized you’ll get more done in less time. You can better manage your time and prioritize tasks. You’ll reduce clutter. You’ll spend less time on low priority tasks and more time on high priority tasks. It helps you focus and become more productive. It can also decrease your stress. Last but not least, an organized person presents a more positive business image.

Use ‘To Do’ lists

“To Do” lists offer similar benefits as having good organizational skills. The most useful “To-Do’ lists share common qualities:

it’s a physical action
it can be accomplished at a sitting
it supports valuable progress toward a recognized goal
it’s something for which you are the most appropriate person for the job

Be careful how you prepare your lists. For example, instead of a list item worded: prepare big presentation, you may want to word it list four key ideas for the presentation.

Write out goals for self-improvement

Goals may be considered long-term ‘to-do’ lists and must be written down. The time and effort you put into writing your goals will result in a solid action plan that you can follow to achieve your goals and develop personal success. Write down goals in a way that is positive and is attainable in your present situation. Always think from your goal, as though you have all ready achieved it. Your goal must have a time component attached to it.

I remember writing down a goal: to get my MBA by time I was thirty. But to do that I would have to start right away to make arrangements to take the GMAT and to get registered for the university. Once accepted I would have to move to Albuquerque, where the University of New Mexico is located. I began to have second thoughts. After all, I was getting a steady paycheck and had no debts. Besides, it was difficult getting a job the first time, I couldn’t be sure I could find another job after finishing school. I opted for deferred gratification. I wrote down my goal and objectives to reach that goal. To make a long story short, I went to graduate school and got a job before I even completed my degree.

There are several benefits to writing down goals. First, goals become more concrete. This process forces you identify the steps necessary to achieve that goal. Second, writing goals helps you to prioritize objectives or steps, according to duration and importance necessary to complete goals. Third, this process enables you to track progress towards goals, allowing you to recognize when you are in danger of not meeting a goal in time.

Some goals that will show your ganus are: learn another software program by June ’07, learn 2 web tricks and share with co-workers by July ’07, and complete a university course on management by December ’07. Of course you are free to decide your goals, these are only suggestions. You may want to impress your boss by sharing your goals with him or her.

Have as many experiences as possible

It is no secret that experience translates into money. An employee with one year experience gets paid less than someone with three years experience. The repairman who has fixed 50 machines isn’t as valued as an employee who has fixed 500 machines. Having experience gives you the information you need to prevent from making some mistakes. Experience also gives you confidence and maturity.

Have as many different kinds of experiences as possible

This makes you more adaptable in changing environments. If one must use an analogy, if you can use five different types of communication devices and/or programs verses someone who can use only two different email programs, you are more valuable. As an extension, if you have used five devices or programs for four years, you are obviously more valuable than the employee who has only used one program for three years.

It has been said that a specialist spends himself learning more and more about less and less until he knows everything about nothing at all. A generalist spends himself learning less and less about more and more until he knows nothing at all about everything. We don’t want to go to extremes as either a specialist or generalist but, at the risk of repeating myself about the value of information, as I have in numerous articles, information is the most valuable commodity in the world. The more information you have and the better you can manage that information, the more valuable you will be.

Never turn down an opportunity

Some people define luck as the marriage of preparation and opportunity. Or, more succinctly, chance favors the prepared mind.

Opportunities become available to us daily. When opportunity knocks, answer the door. Henry Ford said some people don’t recognize an opportunity because it is dressed in work overalls. Not all opportunities are vocational. Some may be recreational or educational in nature. When someone invites you to a party or to travel or just see a movie, accept that opportunity. You never know what could happen as a result. Who knows? If you are highly motivated you may just meet your next boss at a rock concert.

For a more in depth look at successful habits, read, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey.

About the author

Gene Rodgers Photo Gene Rodgers has been a quadriplegic since age 17. Since then he has earned several college degrees, worked in several states, earned a Switzer Fellowship, and now works as a private contractor.

Do you have a question about employment and disability? Send your question to grodgers@austin.rr.com and put “DLRP JOBS” in the subject line.