Don’t Shove It... Love It!

“The grass may look greener on the other side, but it still has to be mowed.”

B.C. Forbes

I’ve Been Thinking. . . how to make my grass greener.

When you have one of those days at work when the grass looks greener on the other side or you want to scream, “Take This Job and Shove It,” consider the advice of Dr. Nickolas Hall:

On your way home from work, stop at your pharmacy and go to the section where they have thermometers. You will need to purchase a rectal thermometer made by Q-Tip. Be very sure that you get this brand. When you get home, lock your doors, draw the drapes, and disconnect the phone so you will not be disturbed during your therapy.

Change to very comfortable clothing, such as a sweat suit and lie down on the bed. Open the package and remove the thermometer. Carefully place it on the bedside table so that it will not become chipped or broken. Take out the written material that accompanies the thermometer and read it.

You will notice in small print the statement reads, “Every rectal thermometer made by Q-Tip is PERSONALLY tested.” Now, close your eyes and repeat out loud five times, “I am so glad I do not work in quality control at the Q-Tip Company.”

Puts things in perspective doesn’t it?

Let’s say you have reached the point where you want to ‘shove’ your job. It’s not energizing and inspiring you like you want. Consider your options:

1. Do absolutely nothing and hope for a magical intervention by the tooth fairy.
2. Leave your position so you don’t suck the energy out of other people.
3. Take some time to consider what you could do to transform your current job into something you would enjoy.
4. Figure out what your ideal job is and create it or go find it.

If you think the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, it might be because someone is fertilizing it. I’m sure the water bill is higher there as well. The perfect lawn doesn’t just happen.

Neither does the perfect job.

Francis Ford Coppola once said, “If you love something, you’ll bring so much of yourself to it that it will create your future.” People who love what they do invest their heart, mind and spirit into everything they do. They are totally immersed and invested in what they are doing. How do you get there? Explore some new ways of thinking and approaching your job.

First, increase your competence. Find a way to get better at what you do. Take one of the basics of your position and become a master at it. Denis Waitley and Reni L. Witt are convinced that, “Enjoyment comes from doing our best. At our best, we want to do and be our best, even when the work we are doing is not our first choice and does not give us the joy we want…”

Do yourself a favor and throw yourself wholeheartedly into becoming a master at what you do. Work as hard as you can to be the best you can be at what you choose to do.

Secondly, light yourself on fire. There’s an old Texas proverb that says, “You can’t light a fire with a wet match.” The world is full of soggy matches waiting for someone to come along and light their fire. Find a way to become your own personal arsonist. If you don’t set the kindling on fire, don’t expect anyone to do it for you.

Simply stated, each of us is responsible to take the initiative to create a passion for what we do. The fast track to this experience is doing what you love. If that isn’t happening for you try pouring your heart into what you do and see what happens.

Take it from Reggie Leach: “Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.”

Another “love it” strategy is to focus on people. Ironically, when I unselfishly brighten another person’s world, my world becomes a bit brighter. Who needs you to show a measure of concern? What are the strengths of your co-workers? Show kindness to someone who is unable to return your gesture. Give up fifteen minutes in your day to build a better relationship with one person. You get the idea.

Ben Stein believes that, “Personal relationships are the fertile soil from which all advancement, all success, all achievement in real life grows.” Give it a try. If you are feeling a little disheartened about your life or job, find a way to enrich the life of someone else. You’ll be amazed at the result.

Finally, stretch yourself. Heighten your personal expectations. Challenge the walls of your current responsibilities. Be imaginative. Confront the status quo and take responsibility to work toward achievements uncommon to your position. Choose to make a difference. Dig in and find a way to produce the unexpected.

William Demille said, “I have always admired the ability to bite off more than one can chew and then chew it.” Feeling restless? Disillusioned? Bored? Uninterested? Try biting off a bigger challenge that stretches you to new levels of achievement. . . and most likely a greater love for what you do.

Don’t shove it, love it is a pursuit worth considering. We tend to enjoy whatever we are doing the most when we choose to find positive ways to engage our talents. Commit now to creating a renewed fascination for what you do.

“Are you bored with life? Then throw yourself into some work you believe in with all your heart, live for it, die for it, and you will find happiness that you had thought could never be yours.”

Dale Carnegie