Run, little fishes, run

If you live in a western big city like New York or Paris, chances are you commute to work and back. And more often than not that commute is done via public transport, assuming your city has a public transport system. European cities are pretty good about that - their public transport is second to none. Such is the case with Madrid where I live.

I commute to work and back daily. The morning journey to my work station, in particular, is a source of amazement and wonderment. At 8:30 every morning I see all sorts of people rushing about racing to make their trains or buses on time. "Run little fishes. Run!" I always seem to be silently yelling at all these minnows. I mean, let's face it, what's the point? Who in their right mind is so eager to get to work on time? My guess is only those who are making the big bucks. And if you're making the big bucks then you don't have to commute, you get chauffered around. If you're not making the big bucks, then you're just a low paid nobody and work is just a means to an end. In other words, the 95 percent of us.

So, if you're rushing to make your bus or train, it means you're already late. All your running around like a chicken without a head will not get you to work any sooner. If you're trying to get to work early to impress your boss, forget it. By the time you get to the office, you'll probably be a sweating, breathless mass of jelly from all that running around. Chances are you won't be smelling none too sweet, either.

Trust me, your boss is not going to be impressed with your show of feigned dedication. The fact that you arrive a disheveled mess every morning will tell him you are highly disorganized and have no notion of time management. Far from being impressed, he'll probably think you're trying too hard and have nothing to show for it. Result: you'll get passed over on the next job evaluation.

If you really want to impress your boss, arrive late! Yes, that's right - arrive late. Relax and take it easy on your morning commute. Don't get all flustered because you're running late, enjoy it. This will tell your boss a couple of things. First, you're boss will think you have balls, big heavy balls. Second, it'll show you have confidence and self-assurance. If you strut into the office with an easy swagger 30 minutes late every morning with your head held high while everybody else is scrambling about trying to look busy, your boss will think, "That's the kind of person I want working here. Someone with dogged self-assuredness; a self-starter who doesn't care what anybody else thinks and who doesn't take crap from anyone." Going against the flow shows you are your own person, an individual who thinks outside the box.

So remember, if you want to impress your boss and get that raise or promotion, arrive late and enjoy watching the little fishes run.