Work ethic is something every employer looks for when they’re looking into new potential. It is the key to your success, and it all starts with you. Whether that’s school, sports, homelife, or well work, you need it to be successful.

This isn’t something you just have, is a constant learning process. The more experience you have, the more likely your work ethic is better than those without the experience. This is how well you do at your job, you show the initiative, you show that you want to succeed. You can’t expect things to just get handed to you.

The fight for $15 is a great example of this. People want a living wage, and that in itself is important. My problem is that too many just want it handed to them. You need to work for it. Is this ideal? Well no, of course not, but it is the way the modern world works. You need to improve your situation. You need to move up from just flipping burgers, to a manager or shift leader.

The more you show you want to work and the more you improve in your field, the more likely you are to move up. You are more likely to get a raise, more likely to get a promotion, the more likely other places will want to hire you. I may be only 20, but I have plenty of experience under my belt. I started working at a young age, of course it was off the books. It was stuff like mowing lawns, shoveling driveways and raking leaves. I am honest in the fact that I ruined opportunities because my work ethics were lacking, but I learned from my mistakes and improved my position.

You learn from your past, what you’ve done, and what you could’ve done better. Nobody is perfect, but you can strive for the best. This is what you need to do. When you have a job, be on your toes, look for better opportunities, they are out there. When I drive into town, almost everywhere is hiring. There are jobs out there for those who need them, and especially for those who want them.

You shouldn’t expect every application to be answered with a “Yes, you’re hired.” You need to show you are the best person for that job, even if you don’t know what you’re doing. You need to learn fast and act quick. Listen to what your higher ups tell you, and do it. Don’t question it, unless it’s illegal.

That last bit is one of the hardest lessons I am still learning. I question everything, as you should. However, in the working environment, that could do more damage than it will to help you. Start questioning things as you get past the basics. What can you do to improve your job? How can you be more efficient? What can you do to impress your boss?

This isn’t being the teacher’s pet, this is showing that you care. You can only move up if you do the best you possibly can and always try to improve yourself. Nothing will work if you don’t work hard at it. It is necassary to always keep moving forward. When you make a mistake, don’t sulk in it, move on quickly and learn from it. You more you focus on what you did wrong, the more likely you won’t succeed. Ask questions to undertsand what you can do better. Do it the right way first, so that you don’t need to repeat the task.

Even the most experienced will make mistakes, it can make you cocky. Remember that you aren’t at the top of the world, and that the world doesn’t revolve around you. Each person is an important part, just like a machine. You are the gears that keep it going. Sometimes things break, you just need to fix it. Don’t expect someone else to fix it for you, do what you can to fix it yourself, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

The problems we have in society is that more people are expecting things to be handed to them like a present. You need to work o it, whether it’s asking for it, and more importantly, showing that you deserve it. This is the most important part, because no one deserves anything. We are all in this life for one reason or another. If you are in a bad spot, do what you can to improve it. You deserve the best in life, only if you work to be the best in life. This is contradictory, but it is also true. People will see your potential the harder you work and the more you learn. Life is a learning curve, and a good work ethic is the best way to move on in it.

Don’t be afraid of failure. Don’t expect things to fall into place. Don’t float through life thinking everything will work out in the end. You need to make it work. You need to be the one who changes your life. No matter if you were born into money or poverty, show that you can always improve. You will succeed in life. Learn from those around you. Look at success stories like J.K. Rowling or LeBron James. Look at your idols and see where they started. Chances are they weren’t given the opportunity, they earned it. Even in the most difficult of situations, you can succeed if you work hard enough