"YOU are not the boss of me!" My nephew made it clear as a toddler that attempts by anyone—sometimes including his parental units—to try to exert authority over his world were not welcome. And who can blame him. None of us respond well to those who try to boss us without our consent.

But how do you do as boss of you? Even if you aren't self employed, you're your own best boss. In What Makes the Best Jobs Best? we had some great conversations about memories of everything from retaliatory bosses who controlled restroom breaks and personal property, to the best bosses—the ones who nurtured careers and provided guidance and understanding that led to true professional development.

Looking at our lives from the perspective of workplace psychology, we each have the opportunity to go about our work of living each day being the best boss and the best employee ever!

As your own boss, how do you handle or acknowledge your own...

Under performance
Fear
Failure
Success
Dedication
Creativity
Humor

As your own best producer and star employee, do you...

Hold yourself accountable for managing tasks and meeting goals
Use time efficiently (so you can live effectively)
Emulate the corporate mission
Work as hard for yourself as you do when you're working for someone else

It's difficult to work alone because much of what we grow up doing is reinforced by the systems that support the activity—the academic world supports good grades; the corporate world promotes top performers; great athletes win cups, trophies and medals. But when it comes to our relationships with ourselves—in our private lives and in the personal management of our professional lives—we must reach a point when our sense of sufficiency meets our need for affirmation, motivation and celebration. If we can be a great one-man or one-woman band, then we will greatly improve our performance when we're called upon to join life's symphony.

Spend a bit of time being a better boss, and being a better direct report to yourself. (I can hear the conversations I'll have now..."So Mimi, how did it go today? Well actually, I have some ideas I'd like to run past you...")Let me know how it feels to look at the work of your life from that perspective and if you see any new results.

Here's to growing greater goodness!