QUARANTINE LIFE: FRIDAY THOUGHTS

Think about YOUR job. 

It is not a hobby. 

You’re not going to lounge, or recreate. 

You are not a volunteer. You’re not just going to help out.

You are an employee. 

You were sought, and hired.

You have skills. 

You bring value, or you would not be there. 

Think about the effort, time, and preparation, away from the workplace—off the clock—necessary to carry out your assigned duties.

Think about what it costs to get to and from your place of employment, and have the things you need in order to do the job well.

Think about pay day, what you know your time and effort is worth, and what you expect to (and had better) see when you check your account balance. 

Think about receiving your full pay, not a fraction of it, an I.O.U., or nothing at all. What you will earn is never mysterious, or a surprise.

Think about the something you earn, as a result of the something you contribute. There’s a certain amount of equity.

Think about how you’d feel if EVERY single time you were asked to do something, the expectation is that you will just show up and do it for free—and be happy about receiving non-negotiable things that you neither need nor want, as fair, or adequate compensation.

Think about how long you’d continue to respect those project managers, planners, or supervisors who were always haggling with, trying to manipulate, or shortchanging you. Think about how opportunistic, stingy, selfish, and thoughtless you’d think they were.

Think about how long you’d even remain at a place of employment that consistently required you to pay to work— before, during, and after the work is done.

Think about how broke you’d be, if you didn’t take your own time and work seriously, and continuously allowed others to believe they could just use it—and you—to their advantage, and at their discretion.

Think about all of those things when you’re seeking others to work for you. If they’re any good at what they do, they have countless stories of people looking for hookups, handouts, and freebies—and they’re weary of them all. 

Do you want someone to work for you? Approach them with a healthy respect for their livelihood, time, and skill, if for no other reason than the fierce manner in which you demand respect for your own.