Work isn’t supposed to be easy. If it was, it wouldn’t be called work.
My father would say how good it felt to be tired after a day of hard work. And even though I am not laboring manually like my father did throughout his life, I wholeheartedly agree. Our muscles and our mind should both be used to their fullest most days. We also need time to rest, relax and rejuvenate — a renewal of sorts. This is what author Stephen Covey called time to “sharpen the saw.” Then we should get back to our chosen work or purpose.
Michael Gartner has often said that 20% of every job stinks. Doesn’t matter what job it is, it won’t be perfect. There will be bad work days, probably one out of five every single week — and that’s normal. He has also said that if more than 20% of the job stinks, it might be time to look for another job. True. Unfortunately, for employers and employees, we live in a world where many staff members seek new jobs annually or sooner with unrealistic expectations that the next job will be the perfect fit. There is no such thing.
I am fortunate that I do have a job I enjoy. I look forward to going to work every day. Yes, some days stink, but I relish the challenges of those times, too. From writing to editing to designing to selling to distributing (and more), this job provides plenty of variety. But what can appear to be the simplest of jobs can be quite satisfying, too. Russell Martinson proved it.
In his “retirement,” Russell worked in our mailroom at a printing plant I once managed in Syracuse, Nebraska. He served in the Army during WWII, owned and operated a sanitation business for more than 30 years and was a volunteer fireman. But what amazed me the most about him was his respect for work. He was a serious and stern man, but he greeted me every day with, “Good morning, Mr. Goodman.” Keep in mind I was half his age. Russell organized the mail room floor, moving postal cages and keeping supplies ready for who were processing jobs. He was in his seventies at the time, but you wouldn’t have known it by his work ethic.
Some may have seen Russell’s job as mundane, but he took great pride in every task, and not just at work. We would have a company cookout each summer, and Russell would come to the picnic in the July Nebraska heat in dress pants, a shirt and a tie — every year. He was a man of very few words, but he would seek me out each time, shake my hand, look me in the eyes, and say, “Thank you for the picnic, and for my job.”
Russell died in 2018 at the age of 93. He left a wonderful example of work ethic, respect and loyalty to all who knew him then and to those of you who are reading about him now.
Have a fantastic Friday, and, as always, thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305 |
