Doing Good Work

I find it confusing, upsetting, and downright alarming to discover that many people are completely amazed when they find a person, organization, or company that strives to do amazing work.

The perplexed part of me asks, “don't people feel better when they can help someone else?”

The distressed part asks, “isn't respect an important part of our culture?”

And the shocked part asks, “if you don't care about your work, who will?” And, “how is it that as a society, we do not have the expectation that everyone is ethical, empathetic, and kind?”

How has our society arrived at this deplorable and downright despicable state of affairs? As you have probably guessed --- I have a few ideas.

Instead of enumerating those, however, I will focus on the positive aspects and identify what doing good work entails: meeting everyone with respect without prejudice, taking responsibility without taking over, be willing to change the rules without compromising your organizations principles, be willing to go the extra mile without becoming a doormat, offer empathy without pity, apologizing when you mess up without blaming, listening without speaking over the other person, and be willing to change your mind without expecting the other person to change theirs.

We all do important work and we are all equals; although, some of us are leaders and others are the worker bees, all occupation and diversity of beings is important and vital to our society. Take pride in all you are and all you do whether you sweep the floors, talk to customers on the phone all day, stand at a cash register, teach, farm, paint, or run a large corporation. 

This pertains to your everyday life as well; everything you do shows the world how much you really care about yourself and others. Because, when it comes right down to it, actions will always speak louder than words.

Make “doing good work” your default mode and lead by example. We will all benefit from your efforts.

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