How would you define a blue-collar worker?

Typically, blue-collar workers tend to be in the middle class who perform manual labor jobs. Jobs like construction work, sanitation, custodial work, those who work in the oil fields, maintenance workers and miners. These types of jobs are considered blue-collar because of the physical manual labor involved in the job. Blue-collar jobs tend to have tangible results. On the other hand, white-collar professions typically involve working in an office setting or behind a computer. Most white-collar jobs produce a product that doesn’t require physical labor. The term comes from a literal blue shirt. Workers often wore light blue or navy blue durable work shirts. Since the color blue conceals oil and dirt better than others, the blue-collar work shirt is iconic in it’s association with a hard work ethic.

Hard work sets up future generations for success.

My grandpa worked for Defoe Shipbuilding in Bay City, Michigan building ships for the US Navy and building bulk freight vessels. Everyday, he put on his work shirt and put in hours on end to support his family. He wore a blue work shirt that said “Bob.” That was his name, Bob Anderson. That’s my dad’s dad. My mom’s dad owned a small convenience store in Saginaw, Michigan. His shirt said “Ed.” He too would work countless hours to support his family. Thanks to the work that these two men put in, my father, who put in a ton of hours running his small business, and my mom, who worked countless jobs as we were growing up, they were able to get me into and through college. The point is that somewhere along the line, somebody put in the hours and the manual work. Someone worked 2 jobs. Someone worked 60 hour work weeks in order to set their entire family tree. It’s due to their work that I have the life that I do. I understand the sacrifices made by those before me and work every day to honor my family.

“Work smarter, not harder” is a terrible concept.

When looking at a blue-collar work ethic, it’s meant to imply a hard worker. Someone who puts forth effort. Recently, the concept of hard work has gotten a negative connotation. People have been using the “Working Hard vs Working Smart” argument to devalue effort. The value of the work smart philosophy is in efficiency. I’m a big fan of efficiency, but I’m not foolish enough to think that Tim Ferriss only works 4 hours a week. True results come from persistence, patience, and perspiration. Working smart is not an excuse to not work hard, and vice versa. There’s no point in working hard at something that doesn’t net results. You get really good at doing something with little or no value.

How to have a blue-collar work ethic outside of traditional industries.

As of 2012, blue-collar jobs still outnumber white-collar jobs by almost a wide margin. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 61% of American workers are in blue-collar careers. That leaves almost 40% of American jobs in industries that are not typically considered blue-collar. The lessons from those who have paved the road for our success though are still relevant. There are a few main keys that define a hard worker, and they are the same in any industry.

The single most important thing you can do to develop a hard work ethic is to care. Do what you love, and do it with people who you enjoy spending time with. We spend just as much time with our co-workers as we do with our family, so make sure that you’re in a group you care about and that push you to be better. Challenging yourself and others will go a long way toward giving a damn about what you do. There are plenty of opportunity out there and if you’re not happy, there’s nobody to blame but yourself. You need to love what you do and care about your success.

Once you’re doing something that you actually give a damn about, keep your word. When you have an opportunity, step up and take on additional responsibilities or projects, and make sure that you get done what you say you’re going to do. If you feel stretched too thin, raise concern as soon as you can. Always make sure you know what’s expected of you, and then exceed the expectations. Own your results and don’t accept barriers to your success.

Next big piece is to be able to prioritize your work and actually get things done. Too many people assume that busy means productive. That’s simply not true. Do you know what the most common distraction is at work? Email. People drop what they’re doing and jump from task to task very inefficiently. Block time out for your small tasks and focus on your larger projects. If you only get 3 things done today, what 3 things will combine to a successful day?

Hard workers grow as individuals. Consistently challenging yourself to improve. Whether your pushing yourself in the gym getting stronger, pushing yourself in a classroom getting smarter, or pushing yourself at work to be more productive, the consistent desire for growth is a common trait among hard workers.

Finally, those who are able to dedicate themselves professionally are able to separate their work and personal lives. You need to approach your job with a focus that isn’t impacted by anything outside the building. Take your personal problems and leave them parked in your car. Once you’re at work, you’re able to focus on your job. I’ve found that while going through personal woes, work becomes therapeutic. Separating personal from professional life doesn’t mean avoiding developing personal relationships with co-workers. Remember, you spend just as much time with them as you do your family. That being said, you’re at work to work.

You’ve developed into a hard worker. You’re consistently reaching for personal growth. You want to be better. Put on your blue-collar work shirt and get to work. Wear that shirt to the gym, to work, wear it to your kids sports games and be a hard working parent. Let your hard work ethic define you and own your results.

-Tim

Photos: Saad Akhtar