Here’s one little tip that will set you and your organization apart from the crowd:

“Always do more than you get paid for. Period.” —Colonel Littleton 1

Anybody can do just enough. Any business can do what they’re paid to do. But few take the time to go beyond that. Which is why if you do more than you’re paid to do, you’re going to stand out.

Maybe it’s that extra call or note to a client to make sure they’re doing ok. Or throwing in an extra feature that they weren’t expecting. Maybe it’s spending extra time polishing up a project or report, or regularly looking for ways to make things better.

It’s the little things—often unnecessary—that show people you care. It shows that your work is about more than just fulfilling an obligation, but about providing true service and value.

And when individuals and organizations go the extra mile, that effort will not go unnoticed—or unrewarded—by those they’re seeking to serve.

  1. From an interview with Colonel Littleton on the Art of Craftsmanship (the quote and a related story start at 20:00) ↩︎