No Job Joy #32 Mowing the lawn and playing to your strengths

The good news I got this done early today as it is forecast to reach 103 today. The funny thing is it taught me something.

Mowing the yard is one of those things that is met with mixed emotions at our house. The older son hates having to help sweep up and the younger one loves to mow. Like with anything else in life if you hate it you are unlikely to do it well. My oldest son hates sweeping. So instead of making him do something he hates and doesn't do well, I let the older one take full responsibility for another chore that he will have to do more often in exchange for having to sweep. I told him the main thing I wanted from him is for him to make a contribution to our family and our household.

Some might say I let him off easy by not making him get better at what may seem like a simple task. I know he can do it but he hates it. Just like in my job search, there are a lot of jobs out there I know I can do. If I hate them what good does that do me or the company that hires me? This may make my search for employment take longer but it will make me more successful and I will contribute more to my new company.

This is something we should all keep in mind whether we are looking for a job or figuring out who does the dishes. The closer we are to doing what we like the better we will do it and the happier we will be.

So today I am joyful about mowing the lawn and showing me to play to my strengths.