Priority #1
Pursue an enjoyable job. In others words, you should get paid doing something you like, or enjoy doing something that will bring you an income. You want to do something that (1) brings you an income (i.e., people will fairly pay you or properly reward you for doing something), (2) makes you happy, and (3) gives you a meaningful life.
If you are interested in something, but it doesn’t generate enough money for you, then you’ve found a hobby or an entry-level career. The entry-level career should eventually provide you with at least adequate money.
If you are paid to do something that bores you, irritates you a lot, excessively exhausts you, or makes you feel miserable, then you need a new job as soon as possible.
Keep in mind that lots of companies have employee-evaluation systems that are not based on constructive criticism. The system is based on “cracking the whip” or scaring employees into generating more revenue for the company’s or institution’s upper-management. The employee-evaluation system will frequently tell employees that they need to work harder or risk unemployment. It’s mostly a scare tactic. If your company is genuinely that greedy and reckless against their employees, then look for another job.
Some managers simply have poor communication skills or low emotional intelligence. They probably got their jobs based on technical expertise, nepotism, cronyism, and/or luck. Advise these managers, or try to direct these managers toward proper training and education. If this fails, then it’s time for a new job.
Your company’s upper-management sees you as a resource or tool that achieves what the upper-management wants. You should see your company as a resource or tool that gives you what you want. Take premier leadership over your own career.
If you work on something that entertains you and pays your bills, then you’ll be more motivated to excel at your job for days, weeks, months, and years. This will increase your productivity, your happiness, your mental health, and professional opportunities. You’ll have better relations (e.g., more productive, more interesting, more educational, and/or more fun interactions) with your coworkers, customers, and random people you meet.
If you enjoy your job, then you’ll need less vacation time. You’ll be a lot less stressed out or exhausted during work, which means you require less time and less money for rest, recuperation, and recreation. This could also mean you do not require retirement until you are very old. However, if you have a retirement account, then the government will punish you if you work beyond the government’s mandated retirement age for people with retirement accounts.
Priority #2
Take pride in what you do. Learn as much as possible about your job. Do your best to excel in your job. Read books. Take educational courses if you have to. Keep practicing and learning new things that are effective. Make good use of technology. Don’t waste your time, money, and effort on inefficient or ineffective ideas, techniques, tools, and devices. What works for other people may not work for you, because each person has different needs.
Associate with people who have similar jobs and related jobs in your own company and in various companies. Try joining associations that are related to your work. Attend your job’s conventions, conferences, seminars, and other special events. Learn from more experienced and more successful people. Meet as many people as possible, but use your personal filter to focus on quality of relationships over quantity of relationships. Prioritize people based on how well they reciprocate your assistance and friendship, how well they match your values and goals, and how well they complement you (e.g., if you are unable to do something, then find someone who will do it for you, and vice versa).
Get the government on your side. Government officials and government regulators could be difficult to work with, but if you find allies within the government, then they could make your career a lot more efficient when dealing with the law, obtaining business deals, and getting financial benefits. You can’t befriend everyone, so don’t try. Build partnerships with compatible people working in the government (and in the private sector).
The government offers various resources for the general public. Make use of them (e.g., public libraries, public university libraries, public parks and recreation centers, data centers, and legal advice)
Don’t become overly dependent on any single organization or person. Diversity your network of suppliers, customers, and colleagues. Each person or institution possesses a unique set of strengths and weaknesses, or respectable attributes and annoying characteristics. Don’t expect too much or have unrealistic expectations from each person or institution.
Priority #3
Don’t fall into the trap of consumerism. Consumerism will probably lead you into buying more than you really need. You’ll waste money on less important things and lack the money to buy the truly useful things. You could struggle to live paycheck to paycheck. You could fall into excess debt and unnecessarily waste money on interest payments. You could end up consuming too much food or eating junk food that harms your health. All of these things will decrease your quality of life.
Focus on buying products and services that (1) improve your mental and physical health, (2) have long-term benefits instead of short-term functions, (3) decrease stress, (4) save you time and effort, (5) enhances your efficiency, and (5) have reasonable costs (e.g., a fair monetary-price plus insignificant or zero drawbacks).
Remember to invest for your future (e.g., retirement; education for you, your spouse, and/or your children; house; cars; expensive electronics and furniture; entertainment; and hobbies).
Before you buy a product or service, learn about its pros and cons by analyzing it and by checking out reviews about it from various perspectives. Don’t waste your money, effort, and time on inferior products and services. It’s much better to have a few things that truly improve your life than lots of things that distract you or insidiously harm you.
Priority #4
While doing all of this, don’t forget your priorities. It’s easy to get lost and distracted. Focus on what you want.
Avoid people who dislike you, unfairly criticize you, treats you in a dishonorable manner, or are constantly pessimistic. If these people won’t leave you alone, then they are bullies. Let bullies clearly know they will get burnt if they mess with you or get in your way.