Beat Career Killing Habits with Killer Judgment

My friend Joe celebrated a milestone work anniversary over the summer with an outstanding party. There were lots of laughs, great food, and a bouquet from his staff.

One of the summer interns casually asked about his tenure. Her jaw dropped when he grinned from ear to ear and said, “Ten years.” It was evident that she viewed that time like dog years passing.

Are you like her, where you can’t imagine a future that includes being at the same job for ten years? And does that belief make the Lazy Girl trend seem attractive? That’s understandable. But let me tell you how Joe not only made it work. He’s made ten years look easy.

Reboot Lazy Girl Catchphrases in a Positive Way

Joe never rolls into a room without knowing why he was invited. Once he’s there, he doesn’t ramble. He says what needs to be said in a friendly, understandable way, then moves on. Those habits have enabled him to build a killer network. And he knows how to partner within his network, so he never takes longer than necessary to finish a task or project.

As you step back, can you spot how he’s flipped the bit on the Lazy Girl movement? All the catchphrases are there; only Joe demonstrates them in a positive way.

For instance, he’s kept it 100%, which means he’s been promoted so often that he’s always acting his wage. His collaboration skills are first-rate, translating into the fact that anyone could check his work, not his badge. And despite heart-stopping reorgs, his network is so strong that he’s never been funemployed.

The case study shows a universal lesson: Practicing fundamentals can take you far. When you meet him, he seems, well—like an ordinary Joe. It’s how he practices fundamentals that makes people take note. He communicates with ease and impact. He collaborates by knowing when to lean in or step back and let others shine. And he has the smarts and insight to know when to call it quits on a meeting going in circles. These marketable skills are essential at every career stage, even during the era of AI.

Beat Three Lazy Girl Career Killers Series Recap

In the September series, Beat Three Lazy Girl Career Killers, we’ve discussed how it’s tempting to hop on the Lazy Girl bandwagon. After all, who wants to work longer and harder?!

But hold up before signing on the dotted line. The Lazy Girl phenomenon is filled with fine print that might sneak up on you and accidentally set your career back years. So, the trick is to take the best of the trend and leave behind anything that doesn’t serve your best interests. Let’s recap what we’ve learned about how work skills can transform the gotchas:

1. Checking out so every day is Bare Minimum Monday won’t get the right kind of attention from high-profile people. Instead, plow through the basic and boring quickly with first-rate productivity. Make yourself available for interesting work that shows off your expertise.
2. Next, your career could stall if you fall for the Lucky Girl mindset trap. So, use the work skills How tactic of healthy self-esteem to advocate for yourself. Show people you’re much more than a lucky break.
3. Last, pursuing situations where you only have to pop up might give others the wrong impression. It’s a given in life that every job or project won’t be a winner. However, demonstrate superb judgment by honing wisdom before you bounce. Never let an L go to waste.

Don’t sell yourself short by letting the latest social media fad be the boss of you. Instead, replace Lazy Girl vibes with a different kind of status. Shonda Rhimes put it this way: “Have some fire. Be unstoppable. Be a force of nature. Be better than anyone here.” Act like the creative, wise CEO of your life—a Soul Boss—and take charge of your career with work skills.