I started this blog primarily to refine my thoughts, but also to record them into a guide-to-life-lite for my future children. That being said, I want to give my children materially more than just polished thoughts on a blog, so I have been working a lot this past year and the blog has suffered. It doesn’t help that I often find it laborious to begin writing, while I almost always enjoy editing after the initial draft—how unfortunate that editing is the last bit. I also really do try and generate content people actually enjoy reading; material that would make someone excited to see a new article. So, there is a reluctancy to call it “good enough”, though some of the content has not been all that good at times. I digress. My extra time spent working has made one thing apparent to me: most people don’t take pride in their work.

Taking pride in your work, to me, means attaching your name to your work. You take it personally not only if error is found in your work, but also if your work ends in success. Many people scarcely care what the result of their work is, or if their signature is on it, so long as they get paid for it. I contend this results in a lower quality of work and life.

The advice that follows would benefit anyone personally, professionally, and spiritually. From the beginning, God made man to work (Genesis 2:15). He expects His followers to perform all work in His name, and everything we do is a reflection of that body of believers. Therefore, in all aspects of our lives we should lead by example, and work is just one facet of this. If we slack off at work, we are dishonoring God. Fortunately, ours is a loving God and all the things He asks of us are for our benefit; when we take pride in our work, we tend to experience worldly benefits as well.

Though not all work is preferable, you will find if you can take pride in your work, or some aspect of it, your job will be much more enjoyable (or at least tolerable) for you. Signing your name (figuratively or literally) on the product or service you’re offering will motivate you to deliver excellence and you will feel more rewarded when success comes. You will give increased attention to detail to ensure the diligent delivery of your product and this intense focus will help pass the time of your work day. This careful attention to your work will also garner more excitement as you approach the end of each task than if you were merely working aimlessly paycheck to paycheck.

With this much more care to your work, you will quickly rise above the majority of your colleagues as most of them, by natural probabilistic distribution, are average. Before long, you will achieve the status all employees should work towards: the person the company needs to show up the next day. If you can become the person that others depend on more than themselves, you will have ultimate job security and career prospects. Of course, with all this comes natural promotions and merited raises.

Enjoy the sweet smell of competence.

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