I have done work that I didn’t love. I have done work that I literally hate. It made me sick to my stomach.
At night, I would stress about the next morning. In the morning, I would day dream about quitting.
Once I was at work, I resolved to make the best of it. But, I’m not sure that’s possible.
How do you create your best work, when your heart isn’t in it?
Even with a humble, and thankful heart, I don’t believe your best work is found in a job you hate.
So, let’s break this down.
What Makes Us Hate Work? – People
People. Some people can cause you to hate work.
It isn’t even the work itself. It is the people we have to be around while we are there.
Here’s a story:
I worked at my Uncle Mark’s Body Shop when I was in high school. “Saucier Automotive” Away from work, Uncle Mark was awesome!
At work, he sucked.
He wasn’t a screamer. He didn’t throw stuff. And, he never missed a paycheck. But, he knew exactly how to get under my skin.
It was his goal to piss me off, and make me do something stupid. Then, everybody at the shop got to have a big laugh.
One day he won. Big Time! I don’t remember what he said. But he pushed the right button.
I was so mad! I left the garage in reverse. Literally.
I got in my 1984 Nissan Sentra, and traveled down the 200 foot driveway in reverse. The whole way, I was taking out the hedges that separated his garage from his neighbor’s house.
It was totally awesome! It was also an accident. I didn’t do it on purpose, but I was too mad to see straight.
When I got home, my dad was waiting to have a “talk.” It was actually a really cool memory I have with my dad. He gave me some great advice about not letting people get under my skin. He also told me that my Uncle Mark thinks highly of me, he just likes to mess around.
After talking to my dad, I called my Uncle Mark.
I told him how I felt, and that I wouldn’t work there under that abuse. He apologized, and I went back to work.
He still picked on me. But there was a new respect between the 2 of us.
I worked there until I went to college. Uncle Mark sent me with loads of cash. He gave me a going away party, and he helped me become a man.
