Newsletter for September 2008: The Joy of Labor

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This Labor Day, give thanks for the work you do, and the difference it makes. Celebrate your contribution to your community, and our world. And, if you are not doing the “perfect” job for you, pledge that by next year, you WILL be doing the right work. Life is too short to spend it doing work for which you are not suited or passionate! You owe that to yourself and to the world. We need your best stuff, your best effort, your passion and your unique genius.


The Joy of Labor

In the U.S., today is our “Labor Day” holiday, a time when we generally do our best to avoid anything that looks like work. Many will go camping, spend the day at the beach, or perhaps at a family picnic.

Unfortunately, very few will pause to be thankful for the work they do. Only a handful will take time to honor and acknowledge the joy of work, and I find that very sad.

Most of us believe “work” is something to be avoided, and we wish for a path to instant wealth, because “then I’d never work again.” I suspect that’s one reason the universe makes sure most of us never acquire that kind of instant wealth!

I see work as a great honor and source of fulfillment, although I admit there is both “good” work and “bad” work.

“Bad” work is something for which we are not suited, or which we do for the wrong motives. For me, “bad” work would be trying to earn a living as an artist. I have a dear friend who is an accomplished painter. He creates beautiful images of cowboys, cattle and western mountain backgrounds. He was blessed with great talent and he loves it. I can’t paint a wall in a house without making a mess.

Doing work for which we are ill-suited, it seems to me, is so stressful that it borders on the immoral. Life is meant to be lived, to be joyful, and to be productive. Doing “work” we hate gives honorable work a bad name.

As I see it, work is our chance to partner with God in the creation of a better, richer, more exciting world. Work is our opportunity to build, to create, to leave our footprints in the sands of time. Work is our chance to say, “I was here, and I made a difference.”

Over the years, through my various jobs and hobbies, I’ve met wonderful people who reflected their life’s meaning and purpose in their work. Some were artists in how they drove delivery trucks, others found joy in Police work, writing, doing therapy, or in construction. One of my golfing buddies loves working with troubled kids, and it shows in his attitude and in how kids respond to his direction.

One of the wisest things anyone ever said to me is, “Find something you truly love to do, and you’ll never work another day the rest of your life.” Now, while I disagree with that disparaging definition of the word “work,” the point is essential. In our technological age, we have the greatest freedom in history to find work that is “perfect” for us.

Work is a very personal thing. It’s about combining your time and effort with your talents, skills and the situation around you to make things better. It’s about making a difference. It’s about making your contribution, and being productive.

This Labor Day, give thanks for the work you do, and the difference it makes. Celebrate your contribution to your community, and our world. And, if you are not doing the “perfect” job for you, pledge that by next year, you WILL be doing the right work. Life is too short to spend it doing work for which you are not suited or passionate! You owe that to yourself and to the world. We need your best stuff, your best effort, your passion and your unique genius.

Quotes of the Month

"To follow, without halt, one aim: That's the secret of success." -- Anna Pavlova

"Inspiration grows into full-scale creation through persistence and imagination." -- Carol Lloyd

"We have to do the best we can. This is our sacred human responsibility." -- Albert Einstein

"Work and play are the same. When you're following your energy and doing what you want all the time, the distinction between work and play dissolves." -- Shakti Gawain

Strictly Business: Reality Never Lies

I recently listened to an old recording of Laura Berman Fortgang’s speech to the International Coach Federation’s convention in Chicago a few years ago. In her presentation, she talked about the fact that reality never lies.

While her focus was on coaching, I immediately connected her words to the fact that in business, our sales, productivity, profits and customer satisfaction are ALWAYS precisely accurate measures of the service we provide.

From the dawn of history, human beings have searched for bargains. We love great products, at bargain prices. We love getting the goods or services we need, at a fair price, delivered on time, and hopefully, with an extra “bonus”. In the words of the old saying, “build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door.”

Because of this, your bank account is an accurate reflection of the value the world places on your products and services. The facts and numbers do not lie. They may contain a message you don’t like, or one with which you disagree, but they do not lie.

To increase your sales and profits, you must increase the value of your services. Cutting costs or raising prices may temporarily increase profits and give the illusion that things are “better,” but illusions never last.

The key to the growth of your enterprise is providing more value, to more people, and preferably at a lower price. Fortunately, this is not difficult. “Value” can be many things, from faster delivery, to larger quantities, to more pleasing colors. The opportunity to innovate, add value, and increase sales is endless.

Reality does not lie. Study the numbers, notice where you can increase value to your customer, and adjust accordingly. Your financial future depends upon it.


Humor: Some Days Are Like This

A friend and frequent source of humor sent me this. Enjoy, and if you recognize anyone you know, consider giving them the gift of a time-management coach!

“I just wanted to let everyone know that I have recently been diagnosed with Age-Activated Attention Deficit Disorder (AAADD).

Symptoms: This is how it goes... I decide to do the laundry, start down the hall and notice the newspaper on the table. OK, I'm going to do the laundry...

BUT FIRST I'm going to read the newspaper. After that, I notice the mail on the table... OK, I'll just put the newspaper in the recycle stack....

BUT FIRST I'll look through the mail and see if there are any bills to be paid. Yes.

Now where is the checkbook? Oops... there's the empty glass from yesterday on the coffee table. I'm going to look for that  checkbook...

BUT FIRST I need to put the glass in the sink. I head for the kitchen, look out the window, notice my poor flowers need a drink of water. I put the glass in the sink and there's the remote for the TV on the kitchen counter. What's it doing here? I'll just put it away...

BUT FIRST I need to water those plants. I head for the door and... Aaaagh! Stepped on the dog’s tail.

Dog needs to be fed. Okay, I'll put the remote away and water the plants... BUT FIRST I need to feed the dog.

END OF DAY: Laundry is not done, newspapers are still on the floor, glass is still in the sink, bills are not paid, checkbook is still lost, and the dog ate the remote control. And, when I try to figure out how come nothing got done today, I'm baffled! Because... I KNOW I WAS BUSY ALL DAY! I realize this condition is serious.... I'll get help...

BUT FIRST...I need to check my e-mail....”
 

Rodger Blaker works with executives, small business owners and professionals who want to grow in their business and create an extraordinary life!

Please forward this copy to your friends and colleagues! That's how I grow!