Is FaceBook turning you into a thief?

Everytime I hear about the expansion of FaceBook, thoughts of specticism flood my mind. I immediately wonder when people are using it. Is it during work hours or is it in their own time? After discussions with many people about this, I found that people frequently use FaceBook for personal reasons (not professional) during work hours. In my belief, this is a form of theft as they are being paid to work but in fact not doing so.

Well known Personal Development author Larry Wingett discusses this concept in his best selling book “It’s Called Work for a Reason“, a fantastic book about becoming more successful. He suggests that time stealing is no different to taking money out of the bosses bank account or cash register and I agree. This tendency to work on personal matters during work hours is not surprising, particularly as most Australians are unhappy in their jobs.

So why am I writing about this when my passion is really about improving the health of the nation you may ask. It is because I believe that many people who are unhappy in their jobs often turn to food, drugs and alcohol as forms of comfort or as a means of achieving happiness. As a result, their health is in jeopardy.

I am proud and fortunate enough to be able to say that I love what I do. I don’t feel like I have really worked since about 1992, when I switched from working in Accounting firm as a trainee accountant to “play” in the fitness industry. Hence, I don’t have the desire or need to turn to food, alcohol or drugs as a means of happiness. In fact I am proud to say that I have never taken drugs. 

To me surfing FaceBook for hours on end purely for personal reasons is a complete waste of time. Similarly, eating poorly quality food, drinking alcohol excessively or taking drugs simply prevents you from maximising your potential to achieve worthwhile goals.  My advice to those out there who are victims of these destructive behaviours is for them to find a career, sport and / hobby that ignites their passion. Once this is found, the need or desire to steal time from the boss or lead a destructive lifestyle will be a thing of the past.