Grits

Going fishing

Almost anyone who has struggled with making a job or career change has asked themself, "What is it I want to DO with my life?"

This is a pretty good indication that you aren't all that satisfied with whatever you are doing in your job right now. There could be lots of outward reasons -- not enough money, no challenge in the work, too much challenge in the work, bad boss, etc.

Whenever I have asked the question of myself, and I have many times, once I get past the outward stuff, it always comes down to "no meaning." IOW, I didn't feel like I was making a difference or contribution, either to the workplace or to anyone else in the world. But it took me awhile to figure out what to do about this. Prayer helped a lot!

During one period of my life (about 10 years), I actually worked at one advertising agency THREE TIMES because I was escaping other jobs that didn't satisfy me. Now, in all fairness, each time I returned to the ad agency it was for a better position, but I wonder if it wasn't because it was "familiar"?

Now I am in a different position. About a year and a half ago I finished a 7-year job that was the MOST fun, MOST fulfilling and HARDEST job I have ever had. Seriously. It was like everything I had learned in my 25-year working career was brought to the table to be used and then WAY MORE was required to achieve results.

When it was time to leave (and it was time), I was even satisfied that I had left nothing of myself on the table. IOW, I gave it my all (and more than I thought I had!). And I NEVER asked myself, "What do I want to DO with my life" because I was doing exactly what I wanted to do: make a contribution, to my workplace and to the larger world.

So, back to where I am now. Once you have had that feeling of fulfillment and meaning, nothing else will do. Sure, you could say "OK, I have done it!" But that is not for me. There is more to do. That's how I am feeling now....I don't ask myself what do I do, cuz I know. But what form should it take now?

I pray a LOT about this because I know in my heart that God wants the talents that He has given me to be used...to be expressed. These aren't "my" talents, they are His that I am reflecting. He wouldn't give them without creating the opportunity for them to be expressed. There is no doubt in my mind that the most wonderful job I have had to date was made possible by God. He hasn't stopped being God, has He? Then He hasn't stopped loving me and giving me the opportunities to express His nature.

This week I was reading the Bible story from John about the disciples meeting Jesus after he had been crucified. When he died, they just seemed to scatter...and many of them immediately returned to their former occupation of fishing (sounded familiar to me!). Only, this time they caught absolutely nothing. What's up with that? These guys were professional fishermen, following many generations of fishermen, and still they caught nothing.

And then Jesus appears on the shore, only they didn't recognize him (they thought he was dead, so how could they see him?). And he kinda drives it home by asking them if they have any fish. SInce they didn't he gives them a tip (I think this is funny, coming from a carpenter): "Fish on the RIGHT side of the ship..."

Lo and behold, they couldn't even bring up the nets because there were so many fish!

And when they came to shore, and there was fish on the barby, they finally recognized Jesus. They must have known this was a bigger deal than just going fishing.

In Science and Health, by Mary Baker Eddy, the author describes her understanding of this experience:

"Convinced of the fruitlessness of their toil in the dark and wakened by their Master's voice, they changed their methods, turned away from material things, and cast their net on the right side."

Many Bible scholars consider this "right side" as meaning the right motive or purpose of the disciples' work. Evidently what Jesus wanted them to do was be "fishers of MEN"...to continue the work of teaching humanity about their true spiritual natures as children of the one God.

So, Jesus wasn't teaching them new technical aspects of being fishermen, they had that nailed. But he was enlightening them as to their true purpose in life.

Here is another tip from Ecclesiastes:

Be generous: Invest in acts of charity. Charity yields high returns.

For me, this message is clear: to continue in some form the good work of serving humanity. I won't -- can't-- return to my previous life of marketing and strategic planning ...unless these are part of my tacklebox in being a fisher of men :-).

Want a better boss? Be a better mirror.

Ouch. A survey just published by Florida State University finds that many, MANY workers mistrust their bosses. Not a surprise to you? Well, I am not surprised, but I am disappointed. Come ON, how hard can this be???

Here are the stats about Bad Boss Behavior (700 workers interviewed across industries):

39% said their supervisor failed to keep promises.
37% said their supervisor failed to give credit when due.
31% said their supervisor gave them the "silent treatment" in the past year.
27% said their supervisor made negative comments about them to other employees or managers.
24% said their supervisor invaded their privacy.
23% said their supervisor blames others to cover up mistakes or minimize embarrassment.

To me, this is a checklist for what NOT to do and seriously, does this sound impossible? In fact, when I look at this list I ask myself, would I treat my family this way? Or my friends? Hmmm, I don't think I would have any friends if I did and the family would avoid me!

Ok, maybe this kind of stuff happens to you by your boss, but you gotta ask yourself: have I done anything like this to my colleagues? I am all for changing other people but I have learned that when I want better behavior from others I look at my own actions and ask, What can I do better?

It's kinda like a mirror. You know how when you get wigged out about something, others around you pick up the vibe and start doing the same...the bad mojo escalates, until (hopefully) someone with a calmer attitude shows up. The "spell" is broken.

I figure that being a "better mirror" might be a way to get a better boss.

One way to being a better mirror is to think about yourself as the reflection of God. Reflection like a mirror and reflection like the "thought" or "consideration" of God.  Think of all the good qualities of God, like love, goodness, creativity, compassion, justice, fairness, kindness...there are tons. Now, if you are the creation of God, then She must have made a creation like Herself with the same qualities. (IOW, how could She make something unlike Herself? Doesn't sound logical or even possible, seems to me.) That wonderful, God-like creation is YOU!

Ok then, say you are the mirror reflecting these qualities from the Original. This is the mirror you reflect to your boss, your colleagues, friends and family. Regardless of what swirls around you, your reflection of good qualities at the very least brings calm to tense situations (a good thing) and at the most can be the example others want to emulate (a GREAT thing!). No downside.

Try it. Expect to see signs of progress...but don't be disappointed if everything doesn't change all at once. In my experience as a manager, it has been more of a "work in progress." Almost every night, before I go to sleep, I review the events of the day and ask, could I have handled that better? Could I have been a better reflection of the good Spirit? Always, ALWAYS the answer is yes. And so, it is a step by step improvement.

Hmmm, a daily improvement on how you treat people by being a better mirror. Sounds like a successful management style to me!