Helloo0O Ladies
and Gentlemen!!!
Welcome back to
Graceland Ontario, your one stop location in researching the success lessons of
the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll so you can implement them into YOUR OWN life! Today,
we’re returning to that classic topic of enjoying your job.
Check out this BBC video:
In it, the BBC meet Dr Russell Dohner, a practicing
doctor of medicine in Rushville, Illinois who’s 87 years old − he’s been
running his practice for 57 years and has no intention of retiring. Furthermore,
he still charges $5 a visit, the same price he charged 30 years ago.
When asked
about his price, he says he never felt doctoring was for money anyways, only
healing, so maintaining his $5 charge doesn’t surprise him. Locally, he’s a
hero for doing what he has for so long. A patient at the end says the doctor’s secret
is his spirit and the doc says as long as he’s living he intends to be doing
what he loves most.
This brought me
into Elvis mode. I mean, Elvis loved his job, too. He was in the army for a bit
and then in the movies but he always came back to singing. Some people say he
lost his mood in his later years − perhaps for the rock ‘n’ roll songs, but the
gospel songs and ballads were more powerful than ever. Listen to “Hurt” from
1976 if you don’t believe me. Man, Elvis had passion when he wanted to.
So, Elvis loved
his job, Doctor Dohner does, but how many do? How many would be willing to work
for the rest of their lives? To enjoy their work so much they wouldn’t want to
retire even when they have the opportunity? Plenty of people I know would.
Maybe even you would.
Like the
patient said when he described Doctor Dohner’s spirit, or when people describe
Elvis’s soul in music, these individuals enjoy their work so much they act like
superheroes. It’s kinda like Batman; he’s only human like the rest of us, but
he’s still able to tackle supervillains because of his superhuman mindset, his
love of maintaining justice (and his Batmobile, but that’s another story).
And when people
work their jobs like superheroes, they become heroes, like Elvis or Dr. Dohner.
People look at these others and are inspired. They ask, “How can they be so
amazing?” The answer’s simple.
They love their
job.
And the added
respect they get, plus achievement within their work, makes the extra work they
put in over others worth the pain.
So, now you’re
hopefully convinced of the importance of loving your job (which hopefully you
already recognised before), let’s talk about getting that way.
So, of course
the best way to find a job you love is to find
your passion. We all have something we’re good at, something we’d do even
if we weren’t paid for it. For some, it’s music, for others it’s writing, for
others it’s video games. When you know what you love, it’s easy to work at it.
In fact, it’s not even work, just paid play.
That said, it might
require a career change which you might not be able to make if you have a wife
(or husband), house, car and kids. It’s scary jumping out of a safe job for
that (though, having your dream job might be worth it). Anyways, you can still do your dream job on the side. Some
people play gigs with a local band on top of what they do at the office because
they love playing but don’t have the guts to throw away their day job and live
on Mac and Cheese while they tour. Others sell stuff at Trunk sales and shows
around the country on top of being factory workers and janitors. Fitting in
your passion alongside your regular job can make coping with your existing job
much more bearable. And heck, if it becomes profitable enough, you might even
be able to drop your regular job and take your passion, Mac and Cheese free.
So, what
happens if you cannot leave your
present employment? Maybe your Dad works there still, maybe your family’s
always worked there, maybe you’re in a contract, or maybe they’ll just send a
hitman after you if you put in your resignation. Ok, I get it (though again, if
you do get the chance, I’m backing you all the way if you decide to change).
You can still find the fun in your job.
It’s not always easy, like trying to enjoy broccoli (which is just a metaphor I
thought you might agree with − I personally love broccoli…) For me, when I get
to know my co-workers, joking about with them and the like, the job breezes by.
It’s like the job becomes background noise compared to the good times you’re
having with your mates. Another strategy is being competitive, like trying to
overtake people on a track. When you try to get things done faster and better
than before, it moves your concentration away from the present situation. Also,
you can aim to get that feeling of accomplishment, so you can say “WHOO!!! I JUST RANG MY 1000th CALL TODAY!
I’M A ROCKSTARRRR!!!!” when you’re finished. You can even try to feel like
you’re doing something useful. Saying to yourself, “just because I work at
McDonald’s doesn’t mean I don’t have a serious job. Most of the people in this
country eat here AT LEAST once a week and I’m fulfilling a useful purpose in
society for being the guy who makes that dinner happen − like the guys at a pit
stop who keep the Formula One racer rolling”.
I hope this
post will improve your day and week and I look forward to seeing you soon in
the future!
Elvis’s Lessons:
Doctor Russell
Dohner is an 87 year old doctor with a 57 year old practice. His deal? He loves
his job so much he’s still going all these years later − and he never wants to
stop! Like Elvis, he has a passion for his job so huge it is his life. And like
Elvis, he’s now become a hero (albeit a more local one). When you love your job
to bits, too, it gives you the opportunity to be a hero as well. Plus, you
don’t feel like your working at all. When you find your passion, fit your dream
job in on the side of your day job or find the fun in your work, you’re giving
yourself the chance to improve your life AND do better at your job. Three cheers for
Dr. Dohner! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray!! Hip Hip Hooray!!!
P.S. If you
appreciate this post, remember to put a comment below or email me at alexghilson@gmail.com. I’d love to hear
what you’re got to say.
P.P.S. If you’d
like to hear Elvis singing Hurt, that passionate work from 1976, here’s a Youtube video with it.
If you like this post, you may also like these:
- The Time Trap
- Have a Job You Love (or "Don't Do a 'Normal' Job"!)
- Getting Into It
- Doing All You Can
- Be Really Good At Something
- He Who Does Not Sympathize, Loses...
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