One day this past week, one of my colleagues and I were discussing how so many of the people that we know just show up for work, do as little as possible, don’t care if they finish their assignments on time and are the first ones out the door at quitting time. If their supervisors point out to them that they are doing a poor job, they complain that they have too much to do, that their bosses are picking on them, that they aren’t getting paid enough to do more and that they are going to go and file a complaint with Human Resources. What is going on? I don’t understand how people can have this attitude, especially in these times when there are so many people who would be so grateful to have a job.
It seems to me that somewhere along the line, people have lost their sense of responsibility for their own behavior and have become so lazy. They feel that they are entitled to the jobs that they have even though they are not doing the work for which they are being paid and are not living up to the agreements that they made when they were offered their positions. I honestly do not understand this.
For as long as I can remember, when I agreed that I would do something, you could count on me unless there were circumstances that were beyond my control to do as I had promised. I was always so grateful for the job that I had and believed that I not only wanted to do what I was hired to do but also felt that I should exceed any expectations that others had. I always took pride in my work and I wanted those who chose to hire me to always feel that they had made the right choice. But most importantly, I wanted to be proud of the work that I had done at the end of each and every day.
For me, doing my best does not mean just doing the work to which I have been assigned. I have been given a good mind and I feel that it is my obligation to use it to the best of my ability. That means that I will always try to find better ways in which to do the work to which I have been assigned. It means that I will try to find programs that will allow for that work to be done in a more expeditious manner. It means that no matter how anyone else chooses to perform or not perform, it will not affect the standards that I have set for myself to always rise above. And it also means that I will always find the time to not only do my own work but to also be there to help others when they are in need.
For those I know who choose to only get through their lives by doing the minimum or less, I must tell you that I feel sorry for them. They will never know the sense of accomplishment that comes when a new program that you created is put into place and you get to see how it helps so many others. They will never know what it is like to pitch in and help out to reach a deadline that your colleagues will not reach in a timely fashion without additional help. They will never know how it feels to reach out and be there for a co-worker who is facing some tough times. They will miss out on the sense of pride in a job well done. And most importantly, not only will they miss out on the feeling of accomplishment at the end of the day but they will never know the feeling of excitement when you begin a new day looking forward to the fun and challenges that will next come your way. That is truly missing out on so much in life.
I would love your comments.
Barbara Jacoby is an award winning blogger that has contributed her writings to multiple online publications that have touched readers worldwide.