Work is not a four-letter word.  Oh sure, on Sunday nights it’s often difficult to unplug from recreation and recapture — or manufacture — the appropriate enthusiasm for the day job.  But there are great rewards and greater opportunities coming to those with a winning work ethic.

It may surprise you to learn that an elevated view of work is a gift from the Church.  Prior to the ascent of Christianity, the Greeks thought labor was a curse and too base for elites fascinated with the life of the mind.    By contrast the church taught that work — the creative impulse — was a reflection of the divine image stamped on man.  As a result, work of any kind was worthy so long as it was inherently moral and done with excellence “as unto the Lord.”  This is the origin of the protestant work ethic.

If you’ve undertaken a major project successfully, from pouring concrete for a bank vault to preparing a presentation for the board of directors, you already know there is great satisfaction that results from completing a job well.  In addition, from boyhood most of us are scorekeepers, so sales booked, wire strung, courses laid, customers served or  acres planted are all objective standards  we can use to evaluate how much we did — and how well we did it.

So How Does One Get A Work Ethic?
You already have one.  The real question is how does one get a good work ethic. I offer the following suggestions

• Look up — The motivation to work is even more important than the nature of the job.  After all jobs change, but you need to keep that same drive going in every job.  Recognize that when we work, we emulate our Father God, so we owe it to Him to excel in every task. If you seek Him in your work life, He will help you find the proper motivation.
• Get up — Start your day by getting up early enough to exercise, pray, read, eat and groom yourself so you can enjoy your commute and arrive at work focused and composed.
• Show up — For the love of everything good, if you have a job, show honor by being on time every time.  Unless you’re Mark Zuckerberg, most young men are not going to be the most senior managers, so don’t keep them waiting.  (If you are Mark Zuckerberg, welcome! and thanks for reading.) Make a good impression by being punctual.  Make a great impression by being early.  Verify your schedule and double verify your time off.  Don’t assume.
• Dress up — Take a look at the culture of the place where you work.  See what the top performers and producers are wearing?  Not flip flops.  Not ripped jeans.  Not bro-tastic t-shirts from Spring Break.  Emulate what the stars of your company are wearing in terms of its style and degree of formality.  (You do know how to shine a pair of shoes, right?)  Pro tip: If you work in a five-day casual workplace, consider dressing it up just a little.  You’ll stand out in a good way.  If you work where uniforms are required, always make sure yours is clean, neat and complete.
• Speak up — Talk like a professional.  Mind your manners always.  And unless you’ve been told just to observe, by all means contribute in the meetings you’re required to attend. If you don’t know, ask.  As a former boss once said to me: “We’d rather answer ‘stupid’ questions than fix stupid mistakes.”
• Level up — Learn your company’s business by asking great questions.  Add value in every interaction by solving problems.  Don’t underestimate the value of hard work — but work hard on things that matter.  Results outweigh hours, so work smart.
• If you mess up, fess up — Realize that mistakes are an inescapable part of learning.  Everyone makes mistakes.  Own yours.

So what about you?
What are you doing to cultivate a strong work ethic?  What would you add to my list?  What would you remove from the list?  Add your comments below.