It fulfils to make peace with work

“We often miss opportunity because it’s dressed in overalls and looks like work” Thomas Edison

If you want to teach your child the honour of labour, get them to clean the toilet. If the thought grosses you out, let them clean the toilet they use most frequently even if you employ someone to clean the house.

There was a time I always complained about the messy bathrooms in my house. Then one school holiday I got a brainwave. It was so alien I am sure it came from above.

“Let the children clean the toilet and bathroom,” the crazy idea came into my head. “What if they don’t know how to do it? What if they get it wrong? What if they hate me for it?” Putting aside my misgivings, I created a roster for labour in the house.

They would take turns to clean different parts of the house everyday.  Sure enough, whoever was on toilet duty would complain loudly and then when he couldn’t wiggle out of it, make regular inspection visits visited the room.

I had never imagined that I would have ever gotten that kind of dedication to toilet cleaning. When it was each child’s turn to clean, I would walk in with them, give them a demonstration and a short lecture. “I want a toilet that is clean enough to eat in!” I would say.

LOVE WHAT YOU DO

They would crinkle their noses, eyeing the various cleaning tools like they were serpents. Yet something important happened that week. I noticed that complaints about other chores ceased and the toilet was always clean. I hoped that they were learning that work, all work, even the one that we think is beneath us and demeaning, can redeem our lives. You see, someone gave work a bad rap. They may even have called it a curse.

That notion has sadly infiltrated our minds so much that many middle class parents do not want their children to work.

They will employ someone to do their laundry, cook their food, clean up after them and drive them to school or the office. Then these children grow up and expect to be handed managerial jobs simply because they showed up. They come into offices and expect to be served. When they hit a snag on the job, they quit and announce that they want to seek their ‘passion’, whatever that is. I’ve lived long enough to know that being passionate and broke is not good.

Our children believe that there is something wrong if they don’t “love” their job. They believe there is a problem if their employer is not “motivating” them to do a good job. In short, they want to be served, paid and cheered along the way.  It’s great if you enjoy your job. It is not always necessary. After-all, how many people enjoy cleaning toilets? But it has to be done.

Love what your job can do for you. Can it give you a better life? If yes, then work hard at it. Get very good at your job. Over the years, I’ve come to the conclusion that some people want a salary, not a job. We are familiar with ghost employees, false sick off claims and fake compensation requests. We might have employed a few hapless fellows who expected to be paid regardless of their output. The sad reality is that very few things in life work, unless you do.

If you dislike work, you need to change your perspective if you desire prosperity. Even God worked for six days, then He rested on the seventh. Use the same approach. Work first and rest later.

See work as a gift, a calling, a chance to spend your life in the pursuit of something meaningful, if not for you, then for those you love. Work is always more than a job. When you make peace with work, it will bless you right back.