For years now, in addition to the local papers, I subscribe to The Wall Street Journal, International Herald Tribune (now renamed International New York Times) and Financial Times.
These are delivered to my residence every morning.
TODAY is a local tabloid given free of charge but residents of only certain locales receive it. Since I wanted another view (as opposed to the staid Straits Times) I actually pay for TODAY to be delivered as well.
The people behind TODAY tells me that what I pay goes to the delivery person.
But the delivery person sure behaves as if someone has put a gun to his head and forced him to deliver the paper to me grudgingly.
Let me explain.
All the papers I receive every morning, other than TODAY, are delivered with meticulous care – the delivery personnel either puts them at the grills of my gate or on a shelf next to my door. They take care delivering these papers.
On the contrary the TODAY delivery person simply carelessly dumps TODAY on the floor outside my house, often with the pages of the papers strewn askew.
Not a big deal but it reminded me of an old story about two bricklayers.
When asked what they were doing, one said he’s building “just another church” while the other announced with pride “I’m building a house of God.”
It’s all about attitudes isn’t it?
Though it is said that work defines a person – since so much time is spent at work – you’ll be surprised at the way some people go about doing their work.
There are those who put in more than they should but far too many exhibit poor work ethics.
They do the barest minimum to get by. They take advantage of their employers’ kindness whenever possible. They have no passion for what they do. They will not go the extra mile, or put in extra effort. The output of a person’s work is a testament of a person’s character but these people don’t seem to know this, and if they do, they don’t seem to care.
Yet they gripe about others taking over their jobs, or getting bypassed for promotions, or complain that they are not getting a bonus at year end.
These slackers are audacious enough to think that they deserve promotions and bonuses when a simple no-brainer act like delivering a newspaper cannot be done well.
The fruits of your labor give a glimpse into the type of person you are.
I always ask the people who work with me three questions:
- Have you done your best?
- Is this the best you can do?
- How can you do better than this?
It’s high time some people change their attitude towards work.
You will be judged by the fruits of your labor.