One of my favorite actresses has earned a lot of money asking me on a regular basis, “What’s in YOUR wallet?” So I decided to use her question and ask you a slightly different version, “What’s in YOUR belly?” Not literally, because I really don’t care about your bedtime snack last night. What I’m wondering is whether you have fire or the flu in your belly.

When you woke up this morning, were you charged up, ready to get into your day? Did you think about how you were going to make a contribution and a difference? Or was it more of dreading the pile of work on your desk, wishing it were still the weekend and hitting the snooze alarm a few times?

Do people see you as engaged in what you do, believing in what you do and proud of what you do? Or are you seen as sour and moping, going from one task to another, hoping just to get through the day?

If you have fire, keep it burning, but beware:
• If you demonstrate that you are engaged and enjoy your work, you won’t be accepted by the complainers around you. After all, nothing burns up belly aching like someone with fire.

• Being enthused takes energy, which means you can’t just settle into your normal, rote routines. You have to continually feed it and not take it for granted.

• You may like what you do, but if you have bad, lazy habits, it will fizzle out. Moseying around, procrastinating, being lackadaisical and disorganized are symptoms that look like you have the flu.

So, remember that your career IS important and your work DOES matter. Life is short and you must choose whether to live with fire or languish with the flu. Be responsible for yourself. Take charge and burn a path to greatness!