Start Right…Start Right… Stay Stay RightRightBased on the book by Steve VenturaBased on the book by Steve Ventura

Animal Caretaker Certificate CourseAnimal Caretaker Certificate Course20092009

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Take Responsibility for Take Responsibility for YourselfYourself

Be accountable for your behavior Be accountable for your behavior and decisionsand decisions

At work…At work…Choose how you conduct yourselfChoose how you conduct yourselfChoose how you treat othersChoose how you treat othersChoose your “attitude”Choose your “attitude”Choose to be honest Choose to be honest Choose integrityChoose integrity

Take Responsibility for Take Responsibility for YourselfYourself

WHY?WHY?

Because there are consequences to Because there are consequences to each choice we makeeach choice we make

You are what you choose to You are what you choose to be!!be!!

Contribute to Others Contribute to Others SuccessSuccess

Look for opportunities to contribute to Look for opportunities to contribute to the success of othersthe success of others

If a co-worker needs help and you If a co-worker needs help and you have the skills…be a “team player”.have the skills…be a “team player”.

What will it get you?What will it get you? You’ll get noticed, appreciated, maybe You’ll get noticed, appreciated, maybe

even promoted. And you’ll definitely even promoted. And you’ll definitely get help when you need it!get help when you need it!

Put Customers FirstPut Customers First Everyone has a customerEveryone has a customer

Clients who patronize your businessClients who patronize your business Other employees Other employees

Your job exists because your customers Your job exists because your customers existexist

Fail to put your customer’s needs before Fail to put your customer’s needs before your own and they may go elsewhereyour own and they may go elsewhere

Be a “team player”Be a “team player” Work is a team “sport”Work is a team “sport” Each member of the team has a Each member of the team has a

rolerole Each role has responsibilities Each role has responsibilities

Together you work as a team to Together you work as a team to accomplish a common goalaccomplish a common goal

Follow the RulesFollow the Rules Rules typically exist for a good Rules typically exist for a good

reasonreason Employees are responsible for Employees are responsible for

knowing and abiding by ALL of the knowing and abiding by ALL of the rulesrules

If you think a rule is stupid…If you think a rule is stupid…Try to get it changedTry to get it changedBUT never ignore it!BUT never ignore it!

Work the hours You’re Work the hours You’re Paid ForPaid For

Just like paying your car mechanic Just like paying your car mechanic for an hours worth of labor…You for an hours worth of labor…You expect your car to get the full hour expect your car to get the full hour – right?– right?

Expecting people to actually work Expecting people to actually work the hours they are paid for is very the hours they are paid for is very reasonable and fair.reasonable and fair.

Arrive early and start on timeArrive early and start on time Don’t “shut down” before your shift Don’t “shut down” before your shift

is overis over

Exceed ExpectationsExceed Expectations For guaranteed job success…For guaranteed job success…

Know what’s expected of youKnow what’s expected of you

Exceed those expectationsExceed those expectations

Look for every opportunity to go the Look for every opportunity to go the extra mile. That’s how you become extra mile. That’s how you become extra special… and extra successful.extra special… and extra successful.

Keep Your Keep Your CommitmentsCommitments Trustworthy, dependable, reliableTrustworthy, dependable, reliable

Do these words describe you?Do these words describe you?

Do what you say you will.Do what you say you will.

Your reputation is at stake Your reputation is at stake and a good reputation depends on it!and a good reputation depends on it!

Get with ChangeGet with Change Change…its inevitable…for all of us.Change…its inevitable…for all of us. But change is frustrating so how do you deal But change is frustrating so how do you deal

with it effectively?with it effectively?Get over itGet over itAccept itAccept itDeal with itDeal with it even Appreciate it!even Appreciate it!

Your job is to do whatever the organization Your job is to do whatever the organization needs done. If that involves change, so be needs done. If that involves change, so be it!it!

Be Considerate of Be Considerate of OthersOthers The workplace is a shared The workplace is a shared

environmentenvironment Everyone has the same rights as Everyone has the same rights as

everyone elseeveryone else

Your not the only person in the Your not the only person in the world…world…

So don’t act like it!So don’t act like it!

Don’t spread Don’t spread negativitynegativity Gossip and WhiningGossip and Whining

Talking behind others back is a petty, Talking behind others back is a petty, negative and counterproductive negative and counterproductive behavior that degrades others and behavior that degrades others and YOU.YOU.

And it accomplishes nothing!And it accomplishes nothing! Got a problem with someone?Got a problem with someone?

Talk with him or her in a respectful Talk with him or her in a respectful manner and ask for the other manner and ask for the other person’s cooperation in correcting person’s cooperation in correcting whatever is bugging you.whatever is bugging you.

Give and Earn RespectGive and Earn Respect Treat everyone with dignity,

courtesy and equality Appreciate “different”

backgrounds, cultures and ideas Talk with people – not at them or

about them.

We all deserve it

Be PatientBe Patient Be understandingBe understanding

Not everyone will be as smart as youNot everyone will be as smart as youOr really know what they needOr really know what they needOr be as talented as youOr be as talented as youOr communicate as well as youOr communicate as well as youOr understand what you have to go Or understand what you have to go

through…through… And some of your co-workers will be And some of your co-workers will be

better at all of the above than youbetter at all of the above than you

Be PatientBe Patient So how do you deal with these facts So how do you deal with these facts

of business life?of business life?

Cut others – including yourself – a little slackCut others – including yourself – a little slack

Avoid responsive behaviors that make people (including yourself) feel bad, inadequate or just plain stupid

Be AppreciativeBe Appreciative Successful people tend to be Successful people tend to be gratefulgrateful

peoplepeople What should you appreciate?What should you appreciate?

The fact you have a jobThe fact you have a job Development opportunities you receiveDevelopment opportunities you receive Efforts & contributions of your coworkersEfforts & contributions of your coworkers Customers who give you businessCustomers who give you business

Take stock in the “good stuff”. You’ll wind up feeling better about yourself and others will feel better about you, too!

Think “Safety”Think “Safety” You can’t be a success at work You can’t be a success at work

unless you’re unless you’re totallytotally committed to committed to safe work practicessafe work practices

Most safety rules are about Most safety rules are about common sense standards and common sense standards and behaviorsbehaviors

Safety rules are there to protect Safety rules are there to protect you & your coworkers you & your coworkers

Think “Safety”Think “Safety” So, when it comes to safety:So, when it comes to safety:

Know the rulesFollow the rulesUse your headDon’t take risks or cut cornersProtect yourself, your

coworkers & your customers

Think “Health” &Think “Health” & Look your Best Look your Best

Rest, exercise & eat rightRest, exercise & eat rightThere’s no way you can be your best There’s no way you can be your best

if you’re tired and hungryif you’re tired and hungry Health & Success go hand in handHealth & Success go hand in hand Make an effort to look your bestMake an effort to look your best

Take pride in your appearanceTake pride in your appearanceBe clean & neatBe clean & neat

Make an effort to look your best & you will feel better about yourself

Keep the Boss Keep the Boss informedinformed Keep your boss “in the loop”.Keep your boss “in the loop”. Immediately inform your boss of any Immediately inform your boss of any

problems & what you are doing to problems & what you are doing to take care of ittake care of it

Working late, need help on a project, Working late, need help on a project, or big project almost done? or big project almost done? Let the boss know.Let the boss know.

Not sure what your boss wants to Not sure what your boss wants to know – ASK!!know – ASK!!

Perform withPerform with Ethics & Integrity Ethics & Integrity

Be proud of yourselfBe proud of yourself Earn the respect of othersEarn the respect of others Be a “team player”Be a “team player” ““Do the Right thing”Do the Right thing” Think before you actThink before you actYou are the one whose name is attached to everything you do.

Start Right….Start Right…. Stay Stay RightRightCare about your organization. Care about your organization. But more importantly, care But more importantly, care about yourself.about yourself.