I have a brother who is a very successful business man. He has come to a stage in his business that most successful entrepreneurs probably come. This is a stage of transition from "hands in everything" to "hands off most things". Though I don't know personally, I can imagine that the passage from knowing every intricate detail of your business to trusting other people with these details could be daunting. The feeling of lost control haunts us all.
He has coped quite well, it seems, and he actually seems less stressed. I certainly hope this perception is correct. Through this success and transition, he continues to reach out and share a joy of "work". My brother has an intrinsic ability to trust people for who they are, not what they have become. He has this wonderful dedication to family, friends and family friends. He not only has a soft heart but a deep sense of responsibility to help. He trusts that people have the ability, but sometimes they just need a little tweaking in the desire category. If you have ever been long on need and short on a chance, this man would be the employer for you.
There is one criteria attached to working for this brother of mine...you must do just that...work. He doesn't like to pay people for sleeping in or acting out. This doesn't seem to be too unruly since it is a "job".
He knows this employer "stuff" is somewhat of a risk, therefore, he doesn't leave this chance to chance. He must perform maintenance along the way creating as much character in these employees as possible. He teaches them difficult traits such as; if you start at 8:00 am, you start at 8:00 am. Or maybe that most people feel sick in the morning if one stays out and parties all night. He helps with solution oriented decisions like; if you work early don't party late. He shows that better decisions are better for you. Once he helps them make their sense common he has a very good chance to have a very good employee who not only appreciates their employer but their labor as well.
Are times as hard as they feel? Are problems as big as we make them? Are people as irritating as they seem? I think our mind develops more stress than our life. We miss out on the joys of our labor because we get hung up on the expectation of our desires.
I deliver groceries to a dear old lady. Her house is in shambles, her family lives far away and her health is not good. She comes to her door and meets me in her wheelchair as she shakes uncontrollably. Her labor of the day is to make it to the door and welcome me. Her joy is intense, her smile is insatiable, she has infected me with her thankfulness. Does my joy and appreciation for my labor infect people or will I celebrate this holiday with a criticism that my steak was grilled a bit too long?
We all have some labor to attend to. Are you a CEO? Do you flip burgers? Do you dedicate your life to caring for your family? Labor is a good thing! Not only does it give us something to do, but it allows us a chance to infuse our thankfulness into the world.
Happy Labor Day!
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