Business owners, managers, workers. A lot of us will push ourselves to the point where we can't even see straight anymore. One more shift. One more sale. One more errand. One more this, that, and the other thing. Always trying to get ahead, always trying to get in just a lil' bit more time than the other guy. Now, mostly? I thought that I had a pretty good bead on things. I would push myself, sure. We all must push in order to find out how hard the world will push back. And I thought that I knew my limits.
I did not.
Instead, I pushed past them. Which is good, yes. We should always try and be a little bit better than we were yesterday. But I realized that when you push too hard, you do more harm than good. The last three weeks have been very busy for me. I had a grueling martial arts proficiency test (I passed!), and then a lot of extra physical jobs like carpet cleanings, and the like. I would work through weekends, or take only one day off, and I would push myself further and further mentally and physically. I pushed too hard, and now I'm sick.
Yeah, I got a cold n' shit. Awesome, right? I worked out only ONCE last week, and none this week. I've been tired at work, tired at home, and now I'm sick. Because I pushed myself too. Hard.
This entry is a cautionary one. Work hard. Push yourself. Never settle, never be in your comfort zone for too long. Work baby, work. But for the love of god, don't forget to slow down and just...eat an ice cream cone with your girl/boyfriend. Watch a stupid comedy movie rife with crude humor and gratuitous nudity. Laugh with a friend over a few shots and a brew. HAVE FUN!
If you're always pushing yourself, eventually? You'll be so far past your limit that you'll have to backtrack. And then? All that hard work was for nothing.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Friday, September 21, 2012
Struggle and Reward
Business is hard. Whether you're in the workforce, or running a company of your own, sometimes business stops being work and starts becoming your life. It's a never-ending struggle- it truly is. Between problems with equipment, supplies, timing, vehicles, payment, hiring, AAAAAGGGHHHH! It gets really difficult.
But, most people don't stop. If they do stop, it could be for a whole variety of reasons, but for now, let's focus on not giving up. What does it mean, not to give up? Does it mean to abandon an concept of failure? Or does it mean something more metaphorical? Sometimes, businesses fail not because their owners didn't beleive in them. Didn't work hard enough for them. Sometimes they do, which begs the question, what does not giving up mean?
With some things, the concept is easy to grasp. Like, learning to ride a bicycle, or learning to play your favorite song on an instrument. But with more grand ideas (by grand I mean large) the concept of "not giving up" gets lost in the sheer amount of problems and garbage and stress that men and women must endure. There is struggle. And there are rewards. Do we not give up because of rewards, or do we not give up because we don't want to struggle? Is freeing ourselves from struggle the reward? Hell, I dunno.
I work because I can. I don't have to do anything. I chose to do this, I am choosing to do this. Many other people are just like me. You don't' have to do anything you don't want to do, you just must be ready to deal with the consequences of your actions. So that's why I don't give up. Because I choose to. That's my reason. Whenever life gets difficult, or problems arise in my line of work, I don't just throw my hands up and submit. I choose to keep going, to keep solving, to keep evolving, thinking, doing, becoming. It's why I don't give up. My "reward" is the satisfaction of knowing that I didn't let random occurances in life beat me. My "reward" is knowing I have the freedom to quit at any time, but never do. My "reward" is being alive, struggling, and then laughing the in the face of my obstacles when I overcome them, in business, and in life.
What's your reason for not giving up? I hope you have an answer, because if you don't...I fear for you.
But, most people don't stop. If they do stop, it could be for a whole variety of reasons, but for now, let's focus on not giving up. What does it mean, not to give up? Does it mean to abandon an concept of failure? Or does it mean something more metaphorical? Sometimes, businesses fail not because their owners didn't beleive in them. Didn't work hard enough for them. Sometimes they do, which begs the question, what does not giving up mean?
With some things, the concept is easy to grasp. Like, learning to ride a bicycle, or learning to play your favorite song on an instrument. But with more grand ideas (by grand I mean large) the concept of "not giving up" gets lost in the sheer amount of problems and garbage and stress that men and women must endure. There is struggle. And there are rewards. Do we not give up because of rewards, or do we not give up because we don't want to struggle? Is freeing ourselves from struggle the reward? Hell, I dunno.
I work because I can. I don't have to do anything. I chose to do this, I am choosing to do this. Many other people are just like me. You don't' have to do anything you don't want to do, you just must be ready to deal with the consequences of your actions. So that's why I don't give up. Because I choose to. That's my reason. Whenever life gets difficult, or problems arise in my line of work, I don't just throw my hands up and submit. I choose to keep going, to keep solving, to keep evolving, thinking, doing, becoming. It's why I don't give up. My "reward" is the satisfaction of knowing that I didn't let random occurances in life beat me. My "reward" is knowing I have the freedom to quit at any time, but never do. My "reward" is being alive, struggling, and then laughing the in the face of my obstacles when I overcome them, in business, and in life.
What's your reason for not giving up? I hope you have an answer, because if you don't...I fear for you.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Frustration
There comes a time in all of our careers where things don't go so well. Don't get me wrong- Budget isn't closing her doors anytime soon. But, whether its lack of business, morale, hiring problems, et cetera, we all get angry and frustrated sometimes, no matter how much we love our jobs.
How much are you willing to take at your job? Are you in it for the long haul, or are you just balancing on a stepping stone? That's a scary answer I'm sure. Hell, it's a scary question too. But it's a question we must all ask ourselves if we are to be happy. Being in a job you tolerate or like can be rewarding. Can be.
In spite of your best efforts, sometimes there are road blocks, and other obstacles along the way that can stop you from doing you best. These road blocks can even stop you from caring. Being jaded and cynical in the business world is not a good way to be. Being naive and foolish is also a bad idea.
Like many things in life, business, a good one, is a delicate balance. You must take it seriously, but you must also be calm and lax about it. You must work hard, but you must also rest and slack off every once and awhile. This is your job. Maybe even your career. What's the point in doing anything if you can't enjoy it somehow? Because you stop living after a while of being stuck in a place you hate. You just...survive.
I am frustrated at work. We are having morale and hiring issues, and this is augmented by the fact that we had a very rough and very slow August (as was expect, summer is our slow season). And my stress can leak through and contaminate others very easily. As I try to claw my way out of my own negativity, the others around me must also be trying to better themselves and keep a positive attitude. Otherwise, why are we even here? What are we even doing? Why does it even matter? It fuckin' doesn't.
Sometimes, you're the only one that wants to make a change for the better. Or at least try to make a change. But you must also realize that just because others don't care as much as you do, don't listen to you enough, or ignore you too much, doesn't mean you have to yield to the status quo and become another mindless cog in the grave great machine of work.
We all get frustrated sometimes. We all wanna quit our jobs at least once in our lives. That's normal. But you must also ask yourself if your complaints are genuine feelings of anger and disgust, or just workplace Monday blues. Think about it.
How much are you willing to take at your job? Are you in it for the long haul, or are you just balancing on a stepping stone? That's a scary answer I'm sure. Hell, it's a scary question too. But it's a question we must all ask ourselves if we are to be happy. Being in a job you tolerate or like can be rewarding. Can be.
In spite of your best efforts, sometimes there are road blocks, and other obstacles along the way that can stop you from doing you best. These road blocks can even stop you from caring. Being jaded and cynical in the business world is not a good way to be. Being naive and foolish is also a bad idea.
Like many things in life, business, a good one, is a delicate balance. You must take it seriously, but you must also be calm and lax about it. You must work hard, but you must also rest and slack off every once and awhile. This is your job. Maybe even your career. What's the point in doing anything if you can't enjoy it somehow? Because you stop living after a while of being stuck in a place you hate. You just...survive.
I am frustrated at work. We are having morale and hiring issues, and this is augmented by the fact that we had a very rough and very slow August (as was expect, summer is our slow season). And my stress can leak through and contaminate others very easily. As I try to claw my way out of my own negativity, the others around me must also be trying to better themselves and keep a positive attitude. Otherwise, why are we even here? What are we even doing? Why does it even matter? It fuckin' doesn't.
Sometimes, you're the only one that wants to make a change for the better. Or at least try to make a change. But you must also realize that just because others don't care as much as you do, don't listen to you enough, or ignore you too much, doesn't mean you have to yield to the status quo and become another mindless cog in the grave great machine of work.
We all get frustrated sometimes. We all wanna quit our jobs at least once in our lives. That's normal. But you must also ask yourself if your complaints are genuine feelings of anger and disgust, or just workplace Monday blues. Think about it.
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