You will see that generally when individuals, companies or countries have some kind of economic problems there is often some kind of work ethic problem. What were the problems at failed companies such as Worldcom, Enron and Lehman Brothers ? All of them had questionable business practices and work ethic.

One of my friend has been unemployed for five years now. He has two degrees one in political science and the other in some related field. When you talk with him. It is clear that he is passionate about health and fitness not politic. It is the person you can turn to for advices about a good work out routine at the gym or a good healthy diet. But my friend has not the willingness to pursue a fitness trainer certification and work in that field. In fact, I do not think the idea has occurred to him. He insists to find a job that will use his skill in political science a field that I’m not sure he has a passion for.

International observers noted that Greece could repay part of its debt with solar power sold to EU countries. In fact Greek individual such as those living on the Island of Naxos could use their land to set up solar panels and sell the energy. But one Greek land owner living there said in an interview for the French/German Arte TV channel that there is not the willingness to do something like this. According to him, people had rather run a bar or a restaurant. The willingness is lacking.

Part of having a good and reliable work ethic is to have willingness. I know some people in unemployment ALL of them lack willingness. They are not willing to learn new skills, to adapt themselves to new condition and they fear hard work.

It is advisable for someone lacking in willingness to develop these qualities of working hard, learning new skills and to learn to adapt to change.

It is also important to view work as something good or even fun. Seeing work as a burden or a privilege can only cause trouble.

The other big aspect of a reliable work ethic is the ability to deliver.

Back in the days, I was working at a software development company. Once my supervisor came to announce me that in one week, I will work on some programming technology that I did not know anything about.So what I did, I took the manual which was about 1200 pages, I divided it by five and everyday in addition to my daily workload I would study about 240 pages a day. The next week I was operational and I could deliver what was asked.

One another time, my supervisor assigned me to solve some technical glitch in a software from a large retail company. I did not develop the program and I was not familiar with its source code. I told my supervisor that I would need two weeks but he gave me 5 days.

So I stayed at office late at night studying the source code of that program and looking for a solution to its malfunction. I did the extra miles of staying at office until progress toward a solution were made. I solved the problem in 5 days.

This is what it is all about. Delivering

Quit complaining
Quit crying
Quit saving your energy.

and deliver.

Jerry Rice: Example of great work ethic.

Example of poor work ethic.