The Fifth Deadly Workplace Sin: Sloth

Mr. Trump:
Your "no relaxation, no time-off" philosophy sounds more like the ravings of a desperate insane man than a healthy prosperous one. It is little wonder with more and more business people refusing to lead balanced lives that we have the highest rate of depression, cancer and other illness in America than at any other time in our history. Frankly, I don't want an airline pilot who was afraid to get enough rest, nor a truck driver barreling down the highway who refused to take the time to make a rest stop; or a sales clerk who's irritable because he or she is forced to constantly multi-task. Taking an appropriate rest (yes a vacation AWAY from phones and e-mail) from time to time works wonders to restore the spirit. I am truly sorry that you are advocating that even more people become humorless, soulless drones afraid to miss one turn of the revolving door. Sincerely, Dee Long, Rising Star Communications, Van Nuys, CA

Every action of mine is dedication to God.

Than, work becomes worship,
fruit of work is state of Mind,
projected on Creation,
for five senses to perceive metaphysical.

Ultimate goal of work: God is the doer, God is the receiver.


Ina Matijevic

I agree with Mr. Trump. I have heard Him say something on the lines that you have to like what you do. I'm Just an Air Conditioner Tech, and I like my Job. So Much that, I haven't taken a vacation in 5 years. They Make Me take a vacation, but I always manage to at least work 4 out of the 7 days that I have to take off. I am always the first one to work in the morning, and the last one to leave. I have no problem doing the work nobody wants to do. What does all this get me? First off satisfaction. Second I was brought up that, "If you like your job, you should never ask for a raise". I have never asked for a raise. So Far, I am the highest paid employee, The company bought me my own personal truck, they pay for my Apartment, and I get raise about 4 times a year. Plus I have learned a lot from Mr. Trump and it has helped to get me where I am today.

Everytime you speak, I listen. I want to be like you, but fear I am more like that loser Mark Cuban. I bet on your deathbed, you'd be that guy that said "I wish I could have worked harder."

Damn, I love you man.

Mark Mason

Mr Trump, Working with a lazy person, is worse than watching paint dry. My inner judge has been trained by me, to do what I want. No pity party for this girl, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. I have had to work with lazy people. Just kick it into high gear, and watch the lazy one, fade away. Lazy people can't work with me, they get so frustrated, and find away to get away from me. This makes me laugh, because I don't have to say anything, just work hard focus, and the lazy person can't handle it. It's a choice, I choose to make the best of every minute of every day. However Donald, relaxing the mind and spirit is necessary when I work hard and long. If I did not relax, I would suffer tension headaches and body pains. Relaxing while you work, does not mean moving or thinking like a sloth. To those moving in low gear, sorry , I will leave you in the Dust!

take care
farm girl, Yelm, WA

I think Sloth can even undermine us after having worked very hard and already achieved success as well. There may be a tendency to slacken off, take it easy, and be content with the status quo at work, after achieving success. We should not allow that to happen. To ensure our continued success,we should always be trying to set the bar higher for ourselves, even if no one else does, and continue to grow and learn and challenge ourself in our jobs, and set even higher goals so that Sloth doesn't have a chance..

Sloth is a disease, when you feel that you are making enough money and are comfortable in your business, you loose the fire in the belly. An example I have recently come across is a family company that produces Bread, Cakes, Pastries and Bagels ( you guessed it - Jewish food company ). I asked why they did not bother with any advertising and signs on their retail outlets that highlight the advantages and features that their merchandise has to offer. I was shocked to hear that they assume that the Jewish population are all aware of what they have to offer. I have commenced a Business Strategy Consultancy for which I charge $ 500 Australian to advise businesses where they can increase turnover and increase their profile within shopping centres. They do not see the big picture. My advice which will cost them is to highlight the basic and healthy differences of their business and market to all of the potential customers that they do nothing to attract. It is ludicrous that they are happy with 5 % of the population as customers where they could get 20% - easily. I have been networking and see that in the majority of businesses that I walk in to, they are doing so many things that reduce their potential to increase income and be more profitable. Sloth is in many instances the lazy way of not using your brains and looking for ways to be more reactive to the market place and generate more turnover.
It is easy to open your business and close it daily and do everything the way you think it should be done without even considering that there are many things that can be done to achieve better results and time off is ideal to check out your industry peers and competition, analyse what they are doing and see if they have better strategies in place.

Moishe Wolf
Australia.

"Beware the path of least resistance, it makes both rivers and people crooked" - unknown

I hate laziness. I cannot respect a person who is lazy. I can respect hard work if it is smart work - in other words if it is done productively so it isn't wasting time and effort. My present job is to supervise others as they work, and it is very hard to stand and not physically become involved in the process, but to ensure the safety of the youth, and to make the necessary observations for my reports, I am not supposed to do the task at hand. I think that is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, because usually, when I am doing anything, I am multi-tasking. So if I must sit, I will also be fixing something, reading, planning, writing, etc.