Dear Ellen,

Too Speedy For My Own Good

Dear Too Speedy:

Ah, what a delightful “problem” to have!

I often wish I could go home early … but since I work from home, I’m already there!

Maybe I should set up a designated zone in my house that represents “off-duty” … complete with tropical beverages and mini umbrellas. Ahhh…

But I digress.

As an employee, you’re being paid to complete certain tasks.

So, once those tasks are complete, shouldn’t you be allowed to call it a day and go home?

Some companies say: No.

But, other companies say: Definitely!

More and more companies are referring to themselves as “results-only work environments,” which means that as long as you do the work that you’re being paid to do (making 50 sales, licking 500 envelopes, sorting 5,000 names in a database, whatever!) it doesn’t matter if it takes you one hour or five days. They just want you to get the job done — in other words, get “results.”

There are many companies that have used the results-only model, with great success — such as Zappos and Best Buy. Some government agencies have adopted it, too. And up until recently, Google allowed its employees to take one day a week to work on personal and creative projects for the company — a policy that produced Gmail and other innovations.

I’m guessing that your company isn’t a results-only work environment, Too Speedy — but more of a traditional one, instead. If that’s the case, asking to go home early probably isn’t a smart career move.

But don’t worry. You can still work this situation to your advantage, and make it a win-win for everyone.

Have a conversation with your boss, and say something like this:

“I’ve gotten into a rhythm where I can usually complete my work for the day by 2 or 3pm. I’d like to talk about what to do with that extra time at the end of each day. I’ve got a few ideas…”

…and then pitch your boss an idea for a project that YOU would love to work on!

That way, you won’t be frittering away your time on Facebook, feeling guilty for pretending to work, or feeling resentful and bored. You’ll have a juicy project to dig into — one that will help you to stay engaged and excited about your work, build new skills and add more value to the company.

Take initiative, Too Speedy. Your boss will thank you. Your co-workers will be impressed. And soon? You’ll have to change your sign-off from Too Speedy For My Own Good to So Valuable That Every Single Company Wants Me … And Wants To Double My Salary.

I’ve got an inkling that your career is about to charge forward at an astonishing speed. Good luck!

Yours,

Ellen

Image: Willie Franklin

Dear Ellen,

Not-So-Sweaty in San Francisco

Dear Not-So-Sweaty:

We all have 24 hours in the day. Some people (think: Obama, Beyoncé, Richard Branson) manage to pack an awful lot into those 24 hours…including fitness. Others? Not so much.

Still, I can commiserate with your plight, Not-So-Sweaty. I love walking around my neighborhood and working up a light sweat in my garden, but when faced with the choice between (a) exercising and (b) anything else, I almost always opt for option b. Which usually means: binge-watching the latest scandalous HBO drama until I pass out.

But despite my couch-potato tendencies, I’ve realized, like you, Not-So-Sweaty, that having a sedentary lifestyle has a negative impact on my creativity and productivity at work…not to mention, my self-esteem.

So I make an effort to make physical activity a priority — even when it feels like I don’t have any time to spare.

With a little advance planning, I promise that you can do it, too.

Here are a few tips to make it happen:

: Look closely at how you’re really spending your time. 15 minutes on Facebook, here…30 minutes watching a Netflix episode, there…oops! You might have a lot more “free time” than you think. (I know I do!)

: Combine + conquer. Combine things you need (and want) to do … with exercise! Listen to podcasts while you’re jogging. Do lunges while you’re waiting for your laundry to dry. Hop on the treadmill while you’re watching TV. (I know a woman who does jumping jacks and boxing punches while waiting for the bus to arrive. Additional benefit: potential creeps leave her alone, because she looks completely insane!)

: Make it a game! Download an app or get a fitness device to help you keep track of your steps and workouts. Start a friendly competition with a couple of friends, and pool your cash to create a prize for whoever exercises the most!

: Bring fitness to work. Start a coffee-break walking club, or ask if you can use a spare conference room for a lunchtime yoga DVD (…and invite your colleagues to join in). Many companies are interested in getting employees more active — it reduces stress and sick days, so it’s good for their bottom line.

: Just SIT less. The latest studies show that sitting is almost as bad for our health as smoking. So if you have a sedentary desk job, be sure to stand at least 15 minutes every hour. Or, even better…invest in a standing desk!

It really doesn’t take much to start bringing fitness back into your life.

And yes, all the clichés are true: even ten, twenty or thirty minutes of movement is better than nothing.

So start moving, Not-So-Sweaty, and you won’t just feel better — you’ll be an inspiration to everyone around you.

In fact, you’ve already inspired me! In honor of you + your soon-to-be-active lifestyle, I’m going to close down my computer and head out for a brisk walk. My body (and brain) are thanking you, already!

Yours,

Ellen

Image: Willie Franklin

Dear Ellen:

Allergic To Bragging

Dear Allergic to Bragging,

We live in a world where extroverts rule. Workplaces are set up for maximum group interaction. Office settings often have no walls — and no privacy. People who prefer to stay out of the commotion are often perceived as “shy” or “under-confident.” But that’s not necessarily true, at all!

As a lifelong introvert, myself, I can tell you: there’s nothing wrong with preferring a quiet, peaceful or even solitary kind of life.

In fact, some of history’s greatest writers, thinkers and leaders have described themselves as introverts.

The poet Mary Oliver barely leaves her house and almost never does interviews — yet she is one of America’s bestselling poets. Gandhi, Mother Teresa and Bill Gates are all people who have made a significant mark on the world, and who consider themselves to be introverts.

But let’s leave “changing the world” aside, for the moment. Back to your question: What’s the best way to network when you’re hunting for a job, as an introvert?

It’s important to remember that networking + self-promotion aren’t necessarily about blasting your message (loudly!) to as many people as you possibly can.

Finding meaningful work is all about relationships, and when it comes to relationships, it’s about quality, not quantity.

If you have three people who trust you, believe in you, and would do just about anything to help further your career, that’s far better than three hundred people who barely remember your last name.

You can absolutely build professional relationships + impress people in a “quiet” way, and here are a few ideas on how to do it:

: Invite a potential mentor out for a coffee date or a walk in the park, instead of attending a boisterous happy hour event.

: Or, go to that happy hour event, but then give yourself plenty of alone-time afterwards to recharge.

: Leverage one of your introvert superpowers — deep listening — and ask plenty of questions while you’re having a conversation. Get the other person talking about themselves, so that the spotlight isn’t glaring on you.

: Send hand-written “thank you” notes after a job interview or coffee date. You’ll make a terrific impression … from afar!

: Throw an intimate party (whatever “intimate” means to you — maybe two people, maybe twelve) and invite everyone to share their career goals around the table. See how you can help others, and they’ll be inspired to help you!

: Work with a career coach or resume editor in a 1-on-1 capacity, rather than attending a massive job fair or gigantic workshop.

: Replace the word “bragging” with a different term that feels more comfortable. Try “sharing” or “stating the facts” or “celebrating my accomplishments.”

Most of all, be honest with yourself. Don’t pretend to be somebody you’re not — while you’re hunting for a job, or after you’ve gotten the job.

Think about the kind of career — and working environment — that will make you truly happy.

Just like a redwood seedling needs certain conditions in order to grow + thrive, so do you! Give yourself the conditions you need, in order to be your best.

The more you accept + celebrate who you truly are, the easier it will be for you to find work that you love.

And I know you will do just that.

Yours,

Ellen

Image: Willie Franklin