This past week my two fantastic kids went BACK to school !! My wife and I are truly blessed with two great kids. Our daughter is now a Senior and our son is a Freshman at Lakota East High School. What was so intriguing about their return to school is that when you asked them about the impending school year, they would both huff, sigh and drop their shoulders and say, “Yeah, we have to go BACK to school.”
Now, I know they’re both anxious about what the new year will bring and I’m sure they look forward to seeing old friends, and possibly making new ones. They also will do amazing things this year that they don’t even know exist yet. However, they look at the drudgery of the end of summer and the regiment of school.
It made me think . . . Isn’t this the same thing that the vast majority of workforces do each week?
Seriously. How many of you reading this on Monday morning said, “Ugh, I have to go BACK to work !!”
Even if our weekend was absolutely horrific, we feel it has more value than going back to our jobs. Now, I understand that there are tons of bosses, workplaces and cultures that aren’t going to make the “Best Places to Work” list soon. However, you’re working. Think of those, maybe even in your family, who aren’t working.
Your attitude is the difference when you either go BACK to work, or go TO work. Sure you will face challenges, but isn’t it cool that you have challenges to face? Sure, people will disappoint you and let you down, but couldn’t you do the same?
In order for workplace culture to excel and be truly “engaging,” then it starts with each individual and their approach. It isn’t someone else’s responsibility to make Monday great – it’s yours !!
I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but I make sure that the weekly entry from this blog comes out on Monday. Do you know why I do that? I’m not into SEO rankings or other quantitative metrics to determine my reach.
I want you to have a great start to the week !! Really. I may never meet those of you kind enough to read this blog, but I’ve chosen to be encouraging because it’s needed in all of our lives.
So, I’m off TO work. Can’t wait to see what the next week brings. I’m sure it will be an adventure !!
Like your kids, its back to school for me starting tomorrow. It’ll be interesting to see what the new semester brings.
Love this post Steve. Life, and work, is what we make it. When “it’s all good” we can make even the most mundane things seem somehow more meaningful. If we are blessed with a challengning job that pushes us we shouldn’t complain. Rather, we should be thankful and kick butt.
So often people wish their Mondays away. Mondays make up 1/7 of our lives, so wishing them away is like voluntarily deciding to cut a decade out of one’s life.
Having said that, I’m a little sluggish this morning, so your post came at a great time to pep me up!
Steve,
I always appreciate the optimistic and energetic perspective on the world. You are absolutely right about how people view work. I am coming to think that your enjoyment of work is more about how you choose to view it versus what actually happens. Which begs the question, how could we in HR help people change how they view their work (or simply just the opportunity to come TO work)? Maybe if we spent more time shaping the attitudes of our workforce, they could make the existing work environment work better for them.
Good stuff. Got the brain rolling bright and early today. Happy Monday.
Great post. Although my weekend was a great opportunity to spend some quality time with my family and friends, I am anxious to get back to work! There is something magical about utilizing the talents that I have been blessed with to create something and this is what work is all about. The great thing about my business (construction) is that at the end of a work week you can look back at where that pile of steel used to be and see something of value that did not exist last weekend. Happy Monday!
I love this post….it certainly reiterates that being proactive instead of reactive to a situation can make all the difference in the outcome of your day-to-day activities. Yes, I’ve been among those who have dreaded going “back” on Monday, but I can attest that when I go with a positive mind to accomplish goals/tasks for a day, it makes it all that more rewarding. Thanks for the upbeat message Steve!!
I am with you 100% on taking the “upbeat” approach. My favorite statement to my co-workers who start on Weds (hump day) of Thursday, looking toward the weekend is: You know what I love about Friday?? They look at me and say what?? “It’s only two days till Monday!!!!” For the most part they just look at me and shake their heads!