Work Credo

I had dinner with some corporate people from work last evening.  They asked me how, as a warehouse operator, I get along with the main warehouse in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania... these are my thoughts:

 

Last evening you asked me why I get along with Fairless when most of the other sites don’t, to which I replied, “I treat them how I want to be treated.”  I just want to take this opportunity to expound on that a little more.

My work ethic is as follows:

·         First and foremost, I work to bring glory to God (1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV) So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.)

·         Secondly, I work to make the people around me look better in the eyes of others and become better men and women (Mark 10:43-44 (NIV) Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.)

·         Lastly, I work for a paycheck.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, I think people are more important than parts.  I think the attitude from the field to the warehouse is a little bit messed up.  Society has taught us that if you ask someone for something that they are supposed to provide to you then somehow that means they work for you and that they answer to you.  We’ve become an “Entitlement Society” where we feel that everyone around us owes it to us to make our lives easier.

The reason I get along with Fairless (and most of the people I come into contact with) is because I try to flip that idea around…I ask myself, how can I make your job better?  How can I make your life easier?  How can I encourage you today?  Ask anyone who knows me, I’ve probably called them “Boss” at one time or another.  I do this to remind myself that that person is more important than I am.  That’s not to belittle myself in any way, but it’s an act of humility, realizing that in God’s eyes I am no better.

 

I recently saw this quote on Facebook and it really grabbed me.  “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.  Be kind.  Always.”  If I can keep that in mind with everyone I talk to imagine what the impact would be.

 

I’m not saying that I’m perfect with all this in any way, shape, or form; but this is how I strive to be.  These are the attitudes I try to maintain.

 

Will this work ethic get me to the top of the corporate ladder?  Probably not, it’s far from the “American Way”.  What this work ethic does get me is this…when I lay my head down on my pillow at night and thank God that He has blessed me with a warm house, a working car, a job I truly enjoy, a relatively comfortable life I know I can sleep peacefully with the assurance that I have given my 110% best effort to make someone’s life easier that day.  And I sleep with the hope that God will allow me to do it again tomorrow.

 

Luke 6:31 (NIV) Do to others as you would have them do to you.