Accept it. Love it. Live it.
I heard this at a presentation the other day (Matthew Downey of the Johnson Center for Philanthropy) and it’s really made an impression on me. Think about how this is relevant for the workplace:
Accept It. What things must you accept at work? What things must you absolutely not tolerate? In what ways does acceptance help you achieve the “loving” and “living” part of this motto? In what ways might acceptance hinder you?
Love it. There are very few of us who truly love all aspects of our work. As you reflect on the daily work that you do, what parts do you love? What are you sort of “meh” about? What parts do you despise? What, in your opinion, is a reasonable ratio of love it/neutral/hate it?
Live it. What does your occupation look like if you’re truly “living it” to the fullest? If you’re not living up to your professional standards, what steps can you take to move toward that goal?
To me, these six words are an easy-to-remember acid test for how to make the most of your work experience while contributing to the greater good.
Are you equally taken with this set of words? What images or applications do they conjure up for you in the workplace?
photo credit: istockphoto.com © Tatiana Popova
Jennifer,
I like your idea of using these 6 words as an acid test. It can also serve as a reminder not to let ourselves succumb to the mindset that work is a burden. We should be happy and proud of our contributions! And managers and employers can encourage that feeling by expressing their appreciation for employees when they perform above expectations.
Thanks again!
Cori,
Thanks for stopping by The People Equation! There are two parts to the satisfaction equation– intrinsic and extrinsic. Your comment highlights the extrinsic piece– it can certainly help workers feel “satisfied” when their bosses provide appreciation and encouragement.
The intrinsic piece– that speaks to the “mindset” that you mention– if people feel that work is a burden, there is very little an external source like appreciation can do to mitigate a feeling of woe.