When Was The Last Time You’ve Done This One Thing At Work?

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” 

– Cisero

I’ve worked in the education industry for more than a decade and if there’s one thing I’ve learned about education it is this: it is hard to be a teacher. Teachers are not only responsible for having all of their students of different levels and backgrounds learn grade-level content but are also responsible for teaching the students life’s basics. In other words, teachers have a huge responsibility to turn little kids into adults that will one day be our future.

Yes, it’s hard to be a teacher for all these things I just mentioned, but to top things off, teachers hardly get a “thank you.” Year after year they work their butt off and it’s random or rare if a student tells the teacher, “thank you for teaching me,” or if a parent tells the teacher “thank you for helping my son.”

Saying Thank You

As we approach a day away from Thanksgiving, it is time to reflect. Although many of us might not be school teachers, we interact with our co-workers, executives, clients or vendors on a frequent basis. When was the last time you’ve said thank you to your boss for believing in you, or thank you to your ace for all her hard work?

At times, we like to get creative and send an e-card or even write a thank you card for someone. However, the simple words of “thank you” coming out of your mouth are much more powerful. It shows care, gratitude and it comes from the soul. How long has it been since you have actually said thank you?

The Thank You Challenge

I challenge you today to take some time to thank people in your office or in your branch. Ask them if they have a minute and give them a sincere thank you for their accomplishments. Think of at least three accomplishments you can thank them for. If you want to continue challenging yourself, don’t forget the other people that matter – those at home, your family.

Don't forget to share this blog so you can encourage others: family, co-workers, friends. Give them something to get motivated! You never know what they might be going through. A few words of encouragement can go a long way.  

5 Things To Be Thankful For At Work

“Be grateful for what you have and stop complaining - it bores everyone else, does you no good, and doesn't solve any problems.” 

– Zig Ziglar

About a month ago I met with a friend and we had a long conversation about our jobs. My friend, disappointed, complained about the job he’s been doing for almost 10 years and described the work he does as “terrible.”

“My boss is a jerk,” my friend exclaimed,”and they work us like crazy.” He summarized the rest of his conversation with the words “it sucks.”

I looked at my friend and asked him if there was anything he liked about the job. He pondered a bit and came up with a few things he liked about his job. I followed up with a second question: is it really that bad?

I feel as though many people like to play the ‘victim’ at times and would rather prove why their job is worse than someone else’s. My perspective is quite different because I’ve been homeless, jobless and broke all at once so I cherish certain things that others might not (Read How I Survived With $11 In My Pocket). Here are at least five things to be thankful for at work:

Be thankful you have a job – Is not having a job really much better than having the job you currently have? Be thankful you are currently employed and receive a pay check every month. Some people might not have that privilege.

Be thankful you have work – It is one thing to have a job and another thing to have plenty of work to do. Having a lot of work, or a lot of business, is good. It provides you with stability.

Be thankful for the people you work with – Sometimes the job requires long hours and you might see your co-workers more than you might see your wife. Be thankful for the comraderies, joy and experience you share with your team.  

Be thankful you’re learning – I can almost guarantee that the person you were when you first started working wherever you are is no longer the person you are now. You’ve grown professionally and will continue to learn. Be thankful for that opportunity.

Be thankful for the challenges – When your day becomes more challenging, you become stronger. Without challenges there is no effort, no growth and no strength. Be thankful that you have been challenged physically and/or mentally and you are a smarter, stronger person.

There are other things to be thankful for. Make sure to show your gratitude at work this week and reflect on the positive things your job has to offer. 

Don't forget to share this blog so you can encourage others: family, co-workers, friends. Give them something to get motivated! You never know what they might be going through. A few words of encouragement can go a long way.