“Find something you love to do and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” — Harvey Mackay
This past Friday will stand out as one of the best days I’ve had at work for a long time. I started the day by checking the feedback on the Fearless Friday blog I’d posted before bed and was very happy with the responses, and even happier for my interviewee. Then it was off to my day job. Our hospice participated in a community event at the local Senior Citizens Center. The theme was Hawaiian and we got to wear flowered dresses and leis. I thought that our marketing director was out of her mind when she asked me to bring my Jafra bag. When I asked why, she just kept saying, “Oh, they want stuff like that.” Although I was still puzzled as to how this was going to work – it’s a little inappropriate to work your own business while at your day job – I brought it. Her idea was to set me up to give the attendees hand facials – and they absolutely loved it! I think I enjoyed it more than they did. Holding their hands, making eye contact and knowing that they were feeling pampered and that someone was interested in what they had to say was a very touching reward. It did not feel like work at all.
No, I didn’t make any sales because that would have been stretching it but I was grateful to have this unexpected opportunity. Many of the staff took catalogs that I brought and the word is out. Now all I have to do is to keep the energy going and trust that extra points have been scored.
This is what work should be like every day. There are many people who stepped out beyond fear and created their right work and I admire them. Then there are the rest of us, who allow the fear of losing a paycheck that doesn’t cover our needs anyway to be one of our main obstacles. We bitch about our jobs but don’t do anything about it. Even when we do leave for a “better” one, we often find ourselves in the same situation within a year or two – or that we’ve gone from the frying pan into the fire. Sometimes it is quite possible to manipulate our jobs into the job that we want it to be. This requires courage as well. Perhaps the boss is intimidating or we expect to receive “no” as an answer. If the worst that can happen is being told “No,” then what stops us?
Things that have occurred at my day job over the past six months or so have made me more than ready to stare my fears in the face and get past them. I’m taking those steps even though I’m scared to death more than half the time.
When asked what they would do differently if they had life to live over again, the elderly that I work with always give the same answer. They don’t regret the things they’ve done. They regret the things they didn’t do because they were too busy working and saving. Those savings are now going to pay for their long-term care instead of supporting an enjoyable retirement or being left to their children.
This week, give some thought to whether you are happy with your work, if you’re brave enough to go there. I recently heard someone call our “comfort zone” the “discomfort zone,” which is so much more accurate. Which one are you living in?
Have a wonderful week!
This Time I Dance! Trusting the Journey of Creating the Work You Love: How One Harvard Lawyer Left It All to Have It All!
Both zones!
Thanks so much for taking the time, my dear friend and Diva!