2008 Woodie Awards
Would you like some cheese with that whine?
Drew Lenze
Issue date: 4/29/04 Section: Opinion
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Boss: "Well Bill, you've been with us for a year now so it's time for your performance review. You really didn't do a very good job this past year, so I'm afraid you're not going to get a raise."
Bill: "You're right about my performance, but I don't think you're being fair. I graduated with a 4.0 from Harvard."
Boss: "That changes everything. Instead of no raise, we'll give you 20%. Also, expect a promotion as soon as a manager position opens up."
Bill: "Cool. By the way, I may not be here tomorrow. I'm going out with my buddies tonight and we'll probably get wasted."
Boss: "That's fine. Alice usually does most of your work anyway. I was going to give her the big raise but she barely graduated from Kirkwood, so I'll reduce her raise so we can afford yours."
Doesn't sound too plausible, does it? The person who works the hardest and knows the most is going to have the successful career, not the person who always tries to do the minimum.
College is where you're supposed to be preparing for your career. You want to make yourself into a hard-working knowledgeable person who's going to be successful. Anyone can do it but it doesn't come automatically with your degree it requires E-F-F-O-R-T.
Instead of picking your classes by easiest teacher, choose the hardest. Instead of taking the minimum credits needed to graduate, take extra.
Give up one (or two or three) night(s) of partying per week and do the homework you've been avoiding. Join a campus organization and don't just go to the meetings but participate. Instead of watching TV, read a book or magazine. (Pot: "Hi kettle, you're black.) Instead of taking a class you already had in high school for the easy A, take a more advanced class where you'll learn something new.
All these activities will cause you stress. You'll have three tests and four projects due the same week that your club is having a big event. It never fails. Then somehow you'll make it though and you'll have a satisfying feeling of accomplishment. That's the feeling of setting yourself up for success.
Or you can just do the least required to skate by and make having fun your highest priority. You'll get a degree and you'll have lots of fun - what could be better than that?
Just don't be surprised at that first performance review, if you even make it that far.
Bill: "You're right about my performance, but I don't think you're being fair. I graduated with a 4.0 from Harvard."
Boss: "That changes everything. Instead of no raise, we'll give you 20%. Also, expect a promotion as soon as a manager position opens up."
Bill: "Cool. By the way, I may not be here tomorrow. I'm going out with my buddies tonight and we'll probably get wasted."
Boss: "That's fine. Alice usually does most of your work anyway. I was going to give her the big raise but she barely graduated from Kirkwood, so I'll reduce her raise so we can afford yours."
Doesn't sound too plausible, does it? The person who works the hardest and knows the most is going to have the successful career, not the person who always tries to do the minimum.
College is where you're supposed to be preparing for your career. You want to make yourself into a hard-working knowledgeable person who's going to be successful. Anyone can do it but it doesn't come automatically with your degree it requires E-F-F-O-R-T.
Instead of picking your classes by easiest teacher, choose the hardest. Instead of taking the minimum credits needed to graduate, take extra.
Give up one (or two or three) night(s) of partying per week and do the homework you've been avoiding. Join a campus organization and don't just go to the meetings but participate. Instead of watching TV, read a book or magazine. (Pot: "Hi kettle, you're black.) Instead of taking a class you already had in high school for the easy A, take a more advanced class where you'll learn something new.
All these activities will cause you stress. You'll have three tests and four projects due the same week that your club is having a big event. It never fails. Then somehow you'll make it though and you'll have a satisfying feeling of accomplishment. That's the feeling of setting yourself up for success.
Or you can just do the least required to skate by and make having fun your highest priority. You'll get a degree and you'll have lots of fun - what could be better than that?
Just don't be surprised at that first performance review, if you even make it that far.