There’s never been a tougher time to be a part of the job market, and people are scrambling to show employers they have what it takes. The secret to success may be simpler than you thought: hard work.

“If you think you’re already working hard at your job, think again,” says Gordon, author of the new book Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone. “You can’t expect to show up each day and just do your job and think that’s going to cut it. What you have to do is make sure that you are never outworked.” Gordon offers a few guidelines for revving your work ethic into overdrive:

• Burn the midnight oil. These days your willingness to go the extra mile—and the extra hour—won’t go unnoticed. With all the budget cuts and layoffs that have happened in the past year, there is more work to be done than there are people to do it. That’s your cue to spend a few extra hours each week at the office, or at home in the evenings, striving to get it done.
• Be willing to bear the load. If there are rumors of layoffs or pay cuts in your office, now is the time to step up and take on new projects and extra responsibilities. These tasks may not be in your original job description, but they will help keep the business running and your paycheck coming.
• Polish up your marketable skills. Make a list of specialized skills that are important to your line of work and that could give you an advantage, then research continuing education in your area and online for increasing your talents and certifications. It’s a great way to increase your worth to your employer and to constantly keep yourself current.
• Be a penny-pincher and a pitcher-inner. Come up with cost-cutting ideas. It will show your boss that you understand how business works and that you are constantly thinking of new ways to improve the bottom line.

“The truth is that there will always be someone smarter than you, or who has more experience or a longer, more impressive résumé,” says Gordon. “But no matter what other people have: You can always, always ensure that you will work harder. It’s a proven virtue and one that our nation was founded on. Hard work won’t let you down.

 

About the Author: Jon Gordon is a speaker, consultant, and author of the international bestseller The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work and Team with Positive Energy and The No Complaining Rule: Positive Ways to Deal with Negativity at Work. Jon’s new book, Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else, was released in May of 2009. The message in Jon’s books and speaking presentations is such that NFL coaches such as Jack Del Rio, Mike Smith, the PGA Tour, and the FBI have called on Jon to inspire and benefit their teams. Jon and his books have been featured on CNN, NBC’s Today Showand in Forbes, Fast Company, O Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. Clients such as the Atlanta Falcons, Campbell Soup, Northwestern Mutual, Publix Super Markets, and JPMorgan Chase also call on Jon to bring out the best in their leaders and teams. Jon is a graduate of Cornell University and holds a master’s in teaching from Emory University. When he’s not speaking to businesses or schools, you can find him playing lacrosse or basketball with his wife and two “high energy” children. www.jongordon.com.