No One is Looking
Replacing your hot water heater... sealing your granite counter tops... matching your socks...
There are things in life we do that most people don't notice. Sometimes they are for our own piece of mind. Sometimes, they are just because we feel good about doing them.
This weekend, I did two of those tasks. If you swing by my house or work with me, you'd never recognize that either had been touched even though I spent 8 hours on each job.
As exciting as a three-day weekend can be, I spent most of it fixing people's titles in our membership database and regrouting our patio. Exciting huh. Yeah, welcome to the gay agenda; totally boring, isn't it? But also I know that two jobs have been well done.
As a marketer, There is great importance being able to connect with the right people. Sadly, that same feeling wasn't really inside our database manager before he left. Although, I have tons of work on my plate right now, it's getting done right which will benefit me – and company as a whole – in the long run.
Three years ago when we put in our patio, we took the cheaper route and had it laid in sand instead of concrete. Big mistake. The weeds began growing through the next year and it's been a constant battle since. So now I'm mixing concrete in 1/2 gallon containers and removing dirt & sand with a screwdriver. You'll be happy to know it took about eight hours to do a 20 x 10 section of cut flagstone. I estimate only 20 hours to go.
On the surface, both are pretty meaningless to the average person. But to me, I can look back and see what a difference they will make. It feels good to look at what I've done even though you would glance right over it not even noticing the difference.
Don't avoid something just because you think it doesn't have meaning. It most likely does...if not to anyone but yourself.
There are things in life we do that most people don't notice. Sometimes they are for our own piece of mind. Sometimes, they are just because we feel good about doing them.
This weekend, I did two of those tasks. If you swing by my house or work with me, you'd never recognize that either had been touched even though I spent 8 hours on each job.
As exciting as a three-day weekend can be, I spent most of it fixing people's titles in our membership database and regrouting our patio. Exciting huh. Yeah, welcome to the gay agenda; totally boring, isn't it? But also I know that two jobs have been well done.
As a marketer, There is great importance being able to connect with the right people. Sadly, that same feeling wasn't really inside our database manager before he left. Although, I have tons of work on my plate right now, it's getting done right which will benefit me – and company as a whole – in the long run.
Three years ago when we put in our patio, we took the cheaper route and had it laid in sand instead of concrete. Big mistake. The weeds began growing through the next year and it's been a constant battle since. So now I'm mixing concrete in 1/2 gallon containers and removing dirt & sand with a screwdriver. You'll be happy to know it took about eight hours to do a 20 x 10 section of cut flagstone. I estimate only 20 hours to go.
On the surface, both are pretty meaningless to the average person. But to me, I can look back and see what a difference they will make. It feels good to look at what I've done even though you would glance right over it not even noticing the difference.
Don't avoid something just because you think it doesn't have meaning. It most likely does...if not to anyone but yourself.
posted by Anonymous at
6:33:00 AM
4 Comments:
So much of what I do does not show long term results -- or does not show them where I can see them. I teach, the students move on and only a very small fraction of them come back. Even then, I can't take credit for what they've become. I was just one small piece of the process. So sometimes the other sort of work is very satisfying. Something you can LOOK at when you are done.
Did Falwesll know how boring the gay agenda is?
I like your work ethic, if you ever want to get away from it all and spend some time in CA, I have tons of detail-oriented projects that need some attention.
Ack, I could have saved you a bit of time with the patio... ah, well.
I blew my long weekend painting a room the size of your car interior and, for some reason, it took me all three days to do it. I give up.
Ah, database work. The tedium, the precision, the lack of caring or responsibility by anyone else in the workplace... until they want it segmented for some important project.
I feel your pain.
(Marketers are so misunderstood.)
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