It’s all about perspective

Ancient cathedrals are some of the most magnificent structures on earth. Most of them took hundreds of years and several generations to construct. St. Paul’s cathedral in London was burned to the ground in the fire of 1666. After the great conflagration, the world’s most famous architect, Christopher Wren, was commissioned to rebuild the grand structure. He planned the design for ten years, and then it took four decades to rebuild.

One day in 1671, Wren observed three bricklayers on a scaffold, one crouched, one half-standing, and one standing tall, working very hard and fast. To the first bricklayer, Christopher Wren asked, “What are you doing?” to which the bricklayer replied, “I’m a bricklayer. I’m working hard, laying bricks to feed my family.” The second bricklayer responded, “I’m a builder. I’m building a wall.” But the third bricklayer, the most productive of the three and the group's future leader, when asked the question, “What are you doing?” replied with a gleam in his eye, “I’m a cathedral builder. I’m building a great cathedral to The Almighty.”

(Jim Baker, Sacred Structures, Blogpost, April 9, 2019)

Enjoyment of your labor, or just about anything for that matter, is heavily dependent upon your perspective, which you have control over.

I have a good friend who works at a local hotel near two hospitals, preparing and serving breakfast for the guests. Five early mornings a week, she prepares various breakfast foods for the buffet that comes with their stay. The work is sometimes intense since people often flood the restaurant simultaneously. For many people, this labor would be simply a job, a way to earn some extra income. This is not true of my friend.

She loves this work because it offers her a daily opportunity to meet new people and help start their day on a positive, enjoyable note. An inspector recently approached her and said, “You greeted me before you knew who I was. I’ve noticed that you greet many people with a smile and some positive words.” My friend replied, “Yes, I greet everyone. It’s my job, and I like it.”

I often hear stories of guests she has conversed with while keeping the buffet well-stocked. Many have family members in the hospitals nearby and stay for extended periods. She always has a prayer list of those she serves and often prays with them in the restaurant. Tips, which are not openly encouraged, flow freely in her direction, as well as compliments and words of appreciation.

Job and life satisfaction are all about perspective. What’s yours?

Her story reminds me of an old Jimmy Buffett song.

In the middle of late last night, I was sittin' on a curb
I didn't know what about but I was feeling quite disturbed
A street sweeper came whistlin' by
He was bouncin' every step
It seemed strange how good he felt
So I asked him while he swept

He said "It's my job to be cleaning up this mess
And that's enough reason to go for me
It's my job to be better than the rest
And that makes the day for me"

 Verse 3:

I've been lazy most all of my life
Writing songs and sleeping late
Any manual labor I've done purely by mistake
If street sweepers can smile then
I've got no right to feel upset
But sometimes I still forget
Till the lights go on and the stage is set
And the song hits home and you feel that sweat

It's my job to be different than the rest
and that's enough reason to go for me

It's my job to be better than the best
and that's a tough break for me
It's my job to be cleaning up this mess
and that's enough reason to go for me

It's my job to be better than the best
and that makes the day for me

(Written by Lyman C. Jr. Mcanally)

Many years ago, I worked the night shift at a Hyatt hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the stewarding department. I was the head of the night shift while I attended college, and I enjoyed the challenge. Of course, I did not start in that position. My boss set the rules, made the schedule, and honestly did a crummy job of it. Men who worked the night shift were often less than model employees, and there was one thing they loved – long weekends. 

I came to work one evening to find one of the tough night stewards banging on the bosses’ door. The manager was cowering inside, hoping his nemesis would go away. I helped settle the employee and inquired about his issue. He explained the situation, which I understood. Once the aggressor left, the boss opened the door and invited me inside. He was frustrated that he always had trouble with night shift employees and didn’t know what to do. I explained that I thought I understood them and asked if he would put me in charge. “Give me three months, and I’ll make this problem disappear,” I said. He was desperate and agreed.

Stewarding is the lowest rung on the totem pole in a hotel, and frequent employee turnover is a problem. The job involved washing dishes, cleaning floors and tables, scrubbing messy pots and pans, and, worst of all, cleaning the huge hoods above the cooking surfaces, which were covered with grease every day. It is generally a thankless job, and few want to do it. I needed the money and to work nightshift so that I could attend classes during the day, so I did what had to be done. However, I liked the job. It was hard work but laboring all night meant there were few interruptions or hassles, and when I left the hotel at 5:00 a.m., all three kitchens were sparkling clean and ready for another busy day. I jogged home in the early morning hours with a sense of pride.

Late one night, Mr. Buffett arrived in his tour bus and sauntered across the vast hotel lobby to his room. He was doing a concert there the next day, and I was excited to see one of my favorite performers. I often sang his song, “It’s my job . . .” as I cleaned. It was like a mantra expressing how I felt about cleaning.

I understood that, more than anything else, my co-workers liked to have long weekends off work so they could party. So, I devised a schedule where every worker would receive one four-day weekend a month if our labor passed inspections. They thought this plan was outstanding, and most of the night stewarding problems vanished. Their perspective became more positive, and it affected the quality of their work.

It's all about perspective, and a positive one changes even the worst of jobs or situations. For managers this means creating a positive, appreciative atmosphere that makes it easier for employees to maintain a fruitful outlook.

You may not possess your dream job or optimal life situation, but you can choose your attitude, and a positive, can-do outlook makes the day smoother and more enjoyable. You might even make someone else’s load a bit lighter along the way.

Live Inspired!

Don Mark

 P.S. I'll visit Ireland with my daughter in a couple of weeks. Watch for videos on Facebook chronicling my journey. Ireland is a beautiful country with delightful people.