Frankie Lymon and M. Levy asked in their famous song, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" You are going to meet some wonderful people at work. You might even meet a future spouse. Be cautious. Before jumping into an office romance, find out what the company's policy is regarding romances among co-workers. Companies often have policies against personal relationships between supervisors and employees, to guard against sexual harassment suits. If a long-term relationship develops it could require one or both of you to change jobs — or lose your job altogether. If it doesn't work out, will you still be able to work with that person? In any case, when it comes to on the job romance, use discretion. If Boeing CEO Harry Stonecipher can lose his job over an office romance, it can happen to anyone.

"Cato used to assert that wise men profited more by fools, than fools by wise men; for that wise men avoided the faults of fools, but that fools would not imitate the good examples of wise men." — Plutarch.

That all sounds like Greek to me, but what they were trying to say is, some people learn from their own mistakes, wise men learn from the mistakes of others, but fools never learn. Those who observe the mistakes of others and avoid repeating them will avoid wasting time and effort. Often things are done at work or in organizations because they have always been done that way. This doesn't mean that tradition should be followed religiously. Perhaps that meeting on Monday isn't necessary. Perhaps that procedure is obsolete. Take time to analyze your job and if there are ways to improve what you do, try to implement them.

Alexander Pope believed that, "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread." Many innovations have changed the world which others thought foolish. A portable phone that takes pictures? A computer in your own home? A car that runs on gas and electricity? Others may think you a fool to quit a solid company to join a start up, but taking risks can lead to great rewards.

William Shakespeare declared, "Thus we play the fools with the time." A sign in a Lockheed plant during WWII read, "Waste anything but time." Don't fool around and waste time. This is your most precious commodity. Use it well. When you're at work be diligent. Make the hours count. You'll accomplish more and advance more quickly.

Seneca exclaimed, "What fools these mortals be." We are all mortals, and life is short. The most foolish thing you can do is work all your life at a job that makes you miserable. Your job is to find work that is fulfilling, challenging and worthwhile and devote yourself to doing it well. Anything else would be, well — foolish.

Pamela Kleibrink Thompson is a recruiter/hiring strategist and career coach. Her most recent recruiting clients include Paramount’s feature film Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and Toybox, a Canadian visual effects company. She speaks regularly on career issues at colleges and universities.