In order to achieve success, one has to work very hard or just be very lucky. I have learned, the hard way, “you can’t always get what you want.“
Achieving desired success…
Unfortunately, what we want isn’t always what we need. Sometimes, our desires are more deeply rooted than our needs.
Money is the obvious payoff for work but it is not my reward. My first job, when I was twelve years old was ironing and I charged $.25 per item ironed. I learned early on how hard work pays: not enough, so you better want to work. My mother taught me the value of hard work and my father taught me how to love to work. These lessons are part of what push me forward in my never-ending quest: fulfillment and success; avoidance of failure. My greatest fear is failure and I am not alone.
That fear is what drives me to work hard. Work is work, whether you are digging ditches or sitting at a computer. There have been those in my life who have said, “I wish I could sit on my butt and talk on the phone all day.” “Me too,” I usually grumbled. I have been more exhausted spending my days strategically laying out plans on how to approach a particular recruitment or project then when I ironed thirty t-shirts stuffed in a laundry bag. Days of mindless tasks can be less taxing than an afternoon of a battle of the wits and brainstorming about how to change your company’s website or the best maneuver to land that illusive client. Mind work is tiring and most definitely work.
Each of us approaches the work day differently. It is good to view past achievements and/or failure as lessons. When something doesn’t work, move on. When you learn you made the wrong choice, move on. Wallowing in regret or wishing a different path had been chosen will not make a difference nor change the outcome. It will cause “stagnation in choice.” Trials and errors are part of your continuing education, life lessons.
Humans make mistakes and thus, are subject to committing errors in judgment or, gasp, failing.
We usually aren’t even an authority on ourselves, let alone others or the projects to which we commit.
Recognize that same humanity in others.
“And if you try, sometimes…, you get what you need….” -rolling stones
Rayanne Thorn, @ray_anne is the Marketing Director for the online recruiting software company, Broadbean Technology. She is also a proud mother of four residing in Laguna Beach, California, and a contributor for Blogging4Jobs. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
