I came across this terrific quote last week: “It doesn’t matter if your glass is half full or half empty; be thankful that you have a glass and it has something in it.” (author unknown). Good Thanksgiving week food for thought, isn’t it?
I think we can apply that line of thought to work, too.
Some people love their jobs. I was one of those people. I loved the people I worked with: team members, peers, bosses, and customers. Sure, some days were really, really hard, but overall I felt like I had challenging and important work that made a positive difference.
Sadly, I also hear a lot of people complaining about their jobs.
They don’t like the work. They don’t like their boss. They don’t like the hours. It’s not challenging enough. It’s too challenging. There’s no advancement. The raises are too small. Bonuses are too hard to earn. The food isn’t good. And, on and on.
What if we re-wrote the above quote to say: “It doesn’t matter if your job is great or not so great; be thankful that you have a job and work to do.”
You control your attitude. If you are consistently unhappy with your job, co-workers, boss, etc., don’t be a disruptive force by complaining. Do something about it. Talk to your boss or Human Resources about how you are feeling. Maybe there is something you can change. Or, perhaps there is another opportunity at the company that might be a better fit. And, ultimately, don’t be afraid to look elsewhere. Who wants to spend eight plus hours a day at a job they dislike or with people they don’t care for? Life is too short!
In the meantime, though, keep doing your best work. Appreciate that you are employed when many are not.
Remember, there is always something to be thankful for.
