G.A.S.

Credo

1] Do the work

2] Do a good job

3] No whining

4] Accept noble challenges

5] Improve if there is an opportunity to do so.

Do the work

     If it is honest work and you are getting paid what you agreed to, then it is best to just get on with it and do a good job.

     Ideally, you should do a much better job than is expected of you. 

Do a good job

     You can almost always earn the same amount of money doing a poor job as you would for doing a good job. You do not earn the same amount of respect though.

No whining

     If you have a legitimate complaint then you should voice it in a manner that is fair and respectful for the person you have aproblem with and for yourself.

     You should recognize,  however,  when you are just whining.

     Cut it out.

Accept the challenge

     There are always jobs that no one wants to do.

    Will you feel better if you slink around avoiding the work or will it be more rewarding to dig in and be the guy who "gets it done"?

     Not every challenge is a noble challenge. Sometimes people will try to goad you into doing things which are objectively stupid things to do.

     A goad, by the way, is a pointed stick used to drive cattle.

Humility

     Someone, somewhere, knows as much or more about whatever you are doing than you do. Do your own thing, of course, but Always keep your mind open looking for a better way and be thankful when you learn something.

Time in service vs time in grade

     I have often worked with individuals who have been working in a trade for many, many, years and have not even remotely mastered that trade.

     Mostly, they learned everthing they were ever going to learn within the first few years of their career and have coasted for the remaining decades.

     For this reason, it is not impressive to me when a person chooses to start a rant with "I've been doing this for 40 years ..."

The death of craftmanship

     The best way to learn an old-world craft is at the elbow of a master. This is how apprenticeships once worked.

     Now, of course, master crafstmen are few and far between (maybe they always were) but I have faith in the few young folks out there who are putting in the effort.

Consider the source

      Things are not true just because the google-box says it is so. Internet information from undocumented sources could be true, but the odds are against it.

     Don't forget: Even in these days of flying cars and instantaneous delivery of whiskey, beef jerky, and fancy writing implements, some legitimate sources can still be found. Machinery's Handbook is one. The 10 volume 1916 edition of the century dictionary is another. 

     If you find two conflicting sources of information, accept that both could be wrong and seek out your own answer.

Learn stuff

      Not everyone is "hungry for knowledge", I get that. But, if you are doing a job, regardless of whether it is a hobby or paid work, why not learn more about that job. Once you have learned enough to be competent, continue to learn. Learn more after that to enhance, refine, and expand your skills.

     Keep on learning until there is no more to learn.

     (Note: there is always more to learn)