Passion for your job!

I recently went to buy a new scooter and when I got to the store I found it crowed.  I was going to have to wait a while before I could place my order.  I noticed a woman who kept looking at MY SCOOTER, the one that I was going to buy.  I am guessing that she was about my age.  I started a conversation with her about “MY SCOOTER” and found that this woman whom I thought might be a street person happened to be a retired professor from NY City University, with a doctor’s degree in languages.  (That made me think about books and judging their covers)  During the conversation I asked her why she retired from teaching so young and she gave the most amazing answer.

 “I retired from teaching because I lost my passion and I became a robot not looking forward to going to do my job. I knew it was time to get out.”  

Far too many teachers and social service worker go to work everyday doing their jobs but have lost their passion or enthusiasm for their chosen work.   Enthusiasm comes from the Greek meaning the spirit within.   When that spirit fizzles can it be rekindled or should we move on.  Do we want to just put in time for the next phase of our lives, retirement or do we want to make a difference.  The problem with teaching and social services is that you do not always see a change in a person right away

In a class that I had I stood at the door of the conference room and shook hands with the people as they came in and I asked what they did.   The majority of the people who came in gave me their civil service title I am a RS3 or Caseworker 1, then someone came in and said “I help people make their lives better.”  Not many people look at the big picture of their jobs.  We sometimes focus on what we do, like paper work instead of how we change people.  I would be interested in how you would describe your job from a bigger perspective. Do you help people improve the quality of their lives or are you a case worker.   What is the spiritual value in your job?  What kinds of things do you do to keep your passion?   Do you believe that passion can be renewed?  

RESPONSES

Boy, I can think of a few people for whom this bell tolls. Anonymous

This is a great question as I believe it's one we all wrestle with and many times aren't even aware of it.  I try to keep my job feeling fresh by remembering that I'm contributing to a greater good than just filling out forms, producing contracts and the like. I try to remember that behind each of these contracts and the dollars in them are the people they're meant to serve and the lives that will be affected by them.  Often times in my job, I look at spreadsheets, management reports, fiscal analysis, etc. and get bogged down by the day-to-day prosaic nature of them and consequently end up feeling like I'm not contributing a lot to the programs themselves. However, inherent in these documents are powerful forces that can dramatically change the life of the people they're serving. To help remember this fact, I try to get out of the office at least once a week and visit our WorkSource centers so I can see my work in action.  It truly has a profound effect on me and helps rejuvenate my soul! 

Thanks for asking Paul, just talking about this subject was therapeutic for me.  Have a great week too!  -Steve WA

I’ve always been a big picture person and felt that I was doing good work even as we struggle to meet organizational goals. I realize that I am also a small picture person. I have found that when my frustrations with achieving the required numbers and advocating with the organization to provide the best preparation for our students so they are ready for the job search cause me to become discouraged and robotic I look back to both the big and the small picture.

The small picture is the individual relationships we create; the excellence I strive for; the inspirations I attempt provide to each person as well as the job referrals; the thoughtful resume revisions; the ongoing encouragement to not give up. This work is appreciated by individuals. I am sent blessings, thanks, smiles, cards and letters so I know that I am achieving something special. This appreciation encourages me to stay focused on the work and the passion is renewed.

Sharon

In the job I had for the last 2 1/2 years, I supervised Employment Services Specialists. During this time one of the challenges I faced was to see that they all realized the importance of the success in a customer's life, not just what they were asked for through the welfare system. You must listen to them and see the little steps they're accomplishing each day and when they backslide, you remind them of what they had and could again succeed at. When you are dealing with people that are at the bottom of their luck, it's
hard for them to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We have to remind them constantly and then listen to see those small steps they make. These are the successes we hear about and often don't see when it’s not a huge accomplishment. I'm happy to hear about a class in school being finished, a client that's accepted that they need to finish high school and signs up for Adult Basic Ed or GED classes, the ones that have just finished an Educational Certificate program and is ready to look for a job in that field. All these are the small steps to self-sufficiency that can make our jobs be renewed daily. It takes patience to have people change a life style and when you see those little steps it makes your job a success too. Marge

I will have to tell you that in Anonymous County where you have to go on strike to protect your benefits, ones passions get redirected. The leadership can make or break a person’s motivation and passion.  Especially when they make comments like " your a dime a dozen, your easily replaced, your lazy, you don't have the guts to stand up and
fight", etc..

As for passion for my job, I sure have it, the passion is there, it is within me and stays motivated because I truly care about people and when we have the opportunity to teach others skills, tools, to improve their attitude, seek employment, enhance self, and education level, then we have done something wonderful and the end result is another person grows and becomes an asset to their community and each community enhances this way, and connects to another community, and the picture becomes larger and stronger with more of us doing what we are doing.

It is all by thought process.  If a teacher hits a burn out, it is because of the way they are doing things, either change their ways, or change professions, because the heart is no longer in it.

Patti

Staff helps me keep passion for my job.  I work with very talented, creative and innovative staff...so I am always learning from them.  I love the start of a new day because it gives me the opportunity to interact with staff and our participants.  I learn from our participants also.  It's really great to share with them, what I see, they are survivors!  If they weren't they would have given up long ago.  Yes many of their decisions keep them in their 'comfort zone' but they don't have to continue to exist there.  That's where our passion for our job comes from, we have the resources to make them aware of their options.  It's ok to fall on your face....it's not ok to stay there.  The true essence of a winner is to keep getting up and taking one step forward.  Even if at times, its only small baby steps.  Do I have passion for my job?  You bet, because we continue to change one life at a time...we assist in changing the lives of children.

Lulu

I think you really have to enjoy the job you do but even so there are times when it can get to be a bit much. Fay

Yes the Greek word "Enthusios" means within to me, because it is that foundation that is my reason to live. I am a caseworker in a homeless shelter, and hear a lot of very sad stories and fractured childhoods. What is important for me to remember, is that I can make a positive impact on these unfortunates lives. Doing that entails "Listening" with my inner ear, and applying what spiritual principles that have been given to me in order to try to direct these people in the right direction. If I try to do these things out of intellect, I am sure to burn out. I have pushed to read our mission statement at every staff meeting, so that people can stay focused on what we are trying to do on the core level. It is easy to create or get caught up in distractions. Staying focused allows you to re-create your dedication on a regular basis. One thing I have learned is that I am in no position to judge if what I have tried to do is a "success" or not. My job is to lay out the tools, demonstrate how to use them, and leave the results to the real Power in this world. Finally, to prevent burnout, I use art as a creative outlet to energize me and get me back on track.

         As far as knowing when to get out, it has been my experience that another very obvious door will open and beckon me in. Then I know its my time to proceed on this journey called life, into a new form of service. Whatever I do, I try to put the emphasis on what benefit I can have on improving the world around me. The worst thing that can happen is that I miss an opportunity to make the world a better place, and that includes things like picking up trash on a street as I pass by Damian Dittmer

Passion is a good topic since we're all risking burn-out these days, what with extreme cuts in every sector.  I have to admit that after four years in this business I have experienced severe frustration with my environment, with the system, and sometimes even with my co-workers.  However, I have never lost my passion for the work I do.  It's been a wonderful surprise.  In my former incarnation as a Director of Volunteers for such entities as the American Heart Association and the Red Cross, I struggled with the passion.  It seemed to me that I should feel great passion in working with volunteers committed to organizations that did such wonderful things in the community.  I did many of the same things I currently do in my job:  community outreach, recruitment, coaching, training, facilitating, program management, event coordination.  But while all these things were exciting in themselves, the passion was never there.  That is, until I found the One-Stop system.  For whatever reason, this is my niche.  This is where my passion lies and nothing has been able to dampen it. 

So when you ask if passion can be re-kindled, I am not sure.  For me it is either there or it's not there.  And when I talk about what I do and who I am, I speak in terms of helping businesses do business better; I talk about being a hub of information; I talk about coaching rather than consulting; and I feel like I am making a difference in the world.  It feels pretty darn good! All the best always... --Cindra--

I have an angel on my desk and written on her skirt is the saying, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it."  I always try to remember this when I have a customer at my desk, especially those who are more of a challenge to work with.  More often than not, I am pleasantly surprised with the rapport that we can share with each other. Julia, Illinois

Paul, to renew passion , at least for me and my administrative staff, I find we have to occasional go back to the "source" of why we are here. These little trips "back to the source" usually entail direct ( face to face) and open  ( informal if possible) contact or exposure with clients,  hearing their stories , and seeing their faces.

 A few years ago, a bunch of us were doing a site visit to a transition center we had established for a big pulp mill closure. We had done the standard rounds of performance monitoring, measuring, and evaluation; and then finally the more informal office visiting and staff chat. A current client came by to visit one of our case managers, for an update.  Instead of retreating into the privacy of her office we had the rare privilege of hearing some of their interaction, which progressed in to a full cathartic session for this guy.  To see this 6' 4" hulk of a man, a 40 some year old blue collar, ( looked like Paul Bunyan)  pour out his heart and soul, inarticulately ( but honestly) reveal his great sense of fear, loss, stress, threat to family,  masculine insecurity , as well as his awakening sense of control, self discovery , healing hope, discovery and finally appreciation;  reminded us all about why we were in this business.  There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Mark

I would certainly agree with the professor. If one's passion is gone how can this person be motivated to do a good job? I recently finished a course where one of my classmates was a Marriage and Family therapist,  interesting enough the rest were educators. The theme
throughout the course dealt with "passion" for one's work. Passion stimulates creativity, creativity new ideas. new ideas lead to new methods, processes, activity.Denise 

Again another great topic.  This is so close to home for me because I have so much Passion for the work that I do.

    In my work I help people discover the nuts and bolts that fit together to make their work-lives better.  I help them to see what might be keeping them stuck and what might help them move forward. I encourage them and allow them to observe that I will not judge them no matter what they have done. But I also "call them on their stuff" when their words do not coincide with their behavior.  I believe that everyone is a good person and wants to be a better person. I have been in employment and training for 9 years.

    I discovered late in life (my 40's) that I was born to do the job I do.  I have life experiences that relate to many of the people I work with.  I have been fired,  have made poor choices and had to suffer the consequences, been divorced, been poor, been overweight, had substance abuse issues, been envious and resentful, been forced to become humble and many other things.

When I saw that I could create an opportunity to work in my current position, I became passionate about getting myself there.  Once I got there, I was so proud of my accomplishment that I have continued to learn new stuff to become even better.  I guess I keep my passionate spirit alive by remaining "hungry" for new knowledge.  Right now I am in graduate school to get my masters in Career Counseling.  This work speaks to my soul and makes me feel better about who I am and how I can contribute.  If the spark for this work ever leaves me I will move on to something else because I had too many prior years of "showing-up but not suiting-up." Anonymous

I don't usually send in things I do, as they sometimes seem small, compared to many of the folks that have great Ideas, & some are much more educated than I am, however, this is important to me.  You cannot keep the spirit of your job alive in your life by yourself.  It takes more than just pumping yourself up, after 26 years of the social service world and the many stressful things that go on in all of our lives, which will affect how we feel about our jobs.  Most of the time it takes a higher spiritual power than yourself, which in turn helps you through each day, to know you have hope.  Hope is what most folks are missing in there lives.  If you don't have hope (which turns into happiness) of the future about yourself or anything in your life, in comes depression, low self esteem, etc.  When your clients see that you are happy & have hope for the next day, week, or year, & that you are excited that "the client" has come in to see you,  it sometimes rubs off.  You as a worker will have much more confidence, be happier, if you have a relationship with A higher power.  For me, a daily relationship with Christ frees me to be happy & have hope.  We can't exactly tell our client's that, since it is against the rules, per say, but we can show our clients how it feels to have hope for ourselves, & confidence to help them.  MT AR

I believe there is Joy to be found in any situation. Yes we feel burn out from time to time, but if everybody leaves, who will be left to care for the people who need us. What if we become one of the people who need help and there is no one there to help. God calls on every person to help his fellow man. How great it is to go to work everyday believing I am going to help someone in some way. It is important that we view our job as "a calling" instead of a job. If we just look at it as just a job, the value in what we do is diminished. We must believe the work we do is important and that we are impacting lives daily. Asking God to help us look for the good in each day can help. Maintaining the mindset that "I can get through this difficult day one hour at a time and tomorrow is going to be a better day" can help us keep focused on the good we do, rather than how tired we are. I'd like to say more but have no more time. Thanks, Susan

I do believe that passion for your work can be kept, renewed, revived, etc. when there are checks and balances for seeing your successes.  Sometimes people return to tell you what is happening with their life.  Sometimes they send a card or E-mail.  Maybe you get an invitation to a graduation, a wedding, or a picnic.  Sometimes the agency recognizes your success by having you submit a person or persons to be recognized for what they have accomplished by being a part of one of your programs; a success story or two.  An Awards Banquet is held to honor those people that are chosen with a lunch, a speech that acknowledges their accomplishment and a plaque.  Those that did not come in first are still acknowledged with  lunch and a certificate.    Many times visiting another agency to see what and how they are doing helps to renew the spirit.  Attending seminars on subjects pertinent to what you are trying to accomplish helps to open new doors that make the job more exciting, real, and fun.    A pat on the back always helps to make your day.  When you are acknowledged for doing something "right"  it helps too. There are always days that are "down" days or "bad" days.  That is part of life.  You talk with your co-workers to get through those times and find the good that is happening.  Working with people can be very enriching.  Not only do you help them achieve success if that is what they really want, they teach you how to work with them so that success is real and not just a word.  Of course, if you are still not happy with what you are doing you are probably in the wrong area of interest and aptitude.  Maybe you should retest yourself and move into a profession that matches your goals, interests, and values.  Carole

Passion to me, involves self motivation and a high degree of energy, enthusiasm....this passion must be renewed...or you "burnout"....I find that periodic training  programs....(seminars) such as yours...helps me to rejuvenate....and lets me know....when I’m "on track" or not.......it helps my perspective....especially listening to others' solutions to situations similar to mine...in the workplace.....occasional feedback from clients(customers) certainly helps.....self belief, self confidence.......these are essential.....Len Ohio

A Passion for my job.

A passion for my job, I have that. I have a passion for living that goes with me to work almost every day.  I tell myself in the morning, “Oh boy I get to go to work today!” and “I wonder whom I will meet today?” I have a fun job; I get to work with teenagers in and out of foster care. We go out job hunting, we develop resumes together and I even shop for interview appropriate clothes with them. I am out in the community job developing for this special group of potential employees. And when I tell employers about where my clients come from, their aloneness, I become grateful. Perhaps gratitude is how I keep my passion.  I become grateful for my own bounty, my health, my eyes, my feet, and my family. And when I get in the burnt out feeling I make a list of my blessings. I have made this blessing list making, a practice with my youth when they become depressed and want to quit it works for them too.  Gratitude is the key.

Flossie-Fresno Ca

I have always worked since about age 5 when I sacked wallpaper
paste in my father's store. It was well paid at a penny a sack and if I
worked very hard, I could go to movie on Saturday and Sunday at .10cents a
movie. Am I telling my age? I graduated from that to selling greeting and
Christmas cards year round to earn money for summer camp each year. As a
swimmer, it was only natural to teach swimming and work as lifeguard by
high school and college. I worked summers and during college teaching
swimming. Then I graduated and moved to the desert of AZ to work for
federal government after which I moved to Hawaii and worked for state of
Hawaii in Rehabilitation. I guess I can't imagine not working and during
periods of unemployment, made work of finding a new position. Even after a
stroke I was back to work in two months. Now it is hard to make the
decision to retire because I've always worked. It is hard for me to
understand how people can be content to not work and believe it is
everyone's right and privilege to be able to work, including persons with
disabilities. I guess one could say, I'm passionate about my work helping
others find work they enjoy and are capable of doing. Aloha, Joy

Hey Paul - this is a great subject and I'm glad you brought it up.  In a world surrounded by robots, lot's of people just counting the days until retirement I have a couple of strategies.  First, I am a big believer in prayer, not formal on my knees stuff, just a little whisper from my heart to the heart of God to be a blessing to everyone I meet.  I really believe each new day is a gift that's why it's called the present.  When we meet each new person from a perspective of blessing them it is so amazing how we are blessed.  It is kind of a Pollyanna view of the world, but believe me it is so easy to be negative in the helping profession, being positive is a whole new concept. 

My clients often reflect back to me the impact my non-judgmental approach has on their "cases".  (I hate that people have been reduced to "cases" and numbers, but that's our system).  Anyway, many of my clients who found work and are still working 3 years after I "case-managed" them tell me I was the first person in the "system" who didn't judge them.  Some tell me I saw their possibilities and gave them hope.  Wow, what a blessing that is!

As for passion, I think many of us were raised in churches that portrayed life as a big drudgery, you know, "take up your cross and follow Jesus".  Boy I really think they missed the true message of Jesus.  The Jesus who didn't judge, who healed with a word and a touch.  The Jesus who embraced children and touched the unclean.  The Jesus who drew great crowds because he brought a new message, one of freedom and hope and possibilities.

Two years ago I had 2 near death experiences.  It woke we up to realize, life is short, we only have two choices to be a positive light or a negative darkness.  Which will we be remembered most for if we died today.  As a Scottish proverb says, "Be happy while you're living, for you're a long time dead".  Need passion?  Be passionate about being a blessing!! It works! Loretta

The thing I enjoy the most is helping people to become energized in taking action for what they the customer wants to do with there life, and those of there children. To keep things interesting I read up on new topics or follow other peoples recommendations after checking things with my Supervisor. I try to make things interesting not so long ago some topics because of the attention span some of our participants have.
Janet

As we've been focusing on outcomes in our work and for reporting purposes, I've tried to use that opportunity when speaking to groups of our employees to help them to think differently about what they do. For example, when leaving for work in the morning do you think, "I have to process 800 utility assistance checks today" or "I can help 800 families today to keep their power on and have more disposable income to buy food, medicine, or other basic necessities." Many of us use a one-minute-manager technique to help plan WHAT we need to do during the day. Maybe we also need a pre-one-minute-manager to focus on WHY we do what we do.

Rose, Arkansas

The old adage, "Anything worth doing, is worth doing well" still holds true. If you are going to anything, job, marriage, vacation, etc., do it with all your heart, mind and soul.

Short time here, long time gone. Live each day as if it were the last one and you will find the passion for life, moment to moment. A job is just an extension of the daily attitude for living. A passionate life lends itself to a passionate career. It is just the simple and that complex. Learn it, love it, live it! Ruth

Aloha
I try to keep a job fresh by setting new goals, preferably daily. It can be overwhelming to look at the whole month's goal and realize you have to make 10 job placements. When a counselor can say my goal today is to get one obtained employment. I think most people are really motivated to help others in this field but the paperwork bogs them down. They become pencil pushers most of the time instead of getting to their clients. When I did more case management, I found myself trailing in the paperwork and not having enough time to see new clients.  Luckily I am in a position where paperwork is fewer which led me to reach more people to help.  Workers should try to get involved in the policy making/operations decision if available. Otherwise they should expect to follow the procedures and protocols if they just to be a "worker." Some people are just happy to be a "worker." If not happy, look into what can make them happy/satisfied within themselves and at work. Explore possibilities.

If in some way they can input some innovations in the job, it may help other workers in their process. Having a supportive management group also helps. With their blessing, committees can form not only to improve the way some processes work, but to have a "employee recognition group" to recognize not only outstanding work, but what they do outside of work, too. Or a "motivation group" for on or off work activities ie. walking club during breaks or lunch, social events-picnic by pooling money together and having a pot luck. Also try changing the decors of your desk around or have themes in the office, whether it's Halloween or Labor Day, etc. Keep the environment fresh, the mind will be stimulated or be alert.

Teacher's and social workers may benefit to get feedback from their students/clients. If available, a follow up to the student/client can be sent out to see the status of the person while also giving positive reinforcements to how the worker did and open to suggestions for improvement. Hopefully the feedback will give the worker encouragement that their work is at least appreciated or worthwhile and that we can always be better at what we do.   Ruel

I really envy that professor.  First for recognizing the issue, and second for acting on it.  If everyone could do this, it would make the world easier to live in. Susan

Having worked in the private sector known as non for profit, as a case manager for 12 years. I can relate to those people who said I help change peoples lives and I strived to change those who said I' am a case worker. The greatest thing any case worker (civil service) ever said to me "you really have a difficult job!" At the time I was working with runaway and homeless kids.

One way I have to keep the job real is," break the rules ", or least bend  them, social work / case work is about people not blue prints or recipes. The "system" is meant (in my opinion and experience) to be tested, to be challenged. That's what keeps my job interesting. People first, paper work second and some where down the food chain all that B.S. that keeps "case workers trapped as just case workers" Tim

During this time of "re-authorize or not to re-authorize decisions faced by our govt. leaders", I have to admit that I have asked myself questions lately about my passion.  Do I still believe in the mission?  Has the mission changed, or have I?  How do I fit in at this time?  As you have pointed out, this is not only important to the lives of those we come into contact with, but our own as well.  In looking at other careers incase this one comes to a halt, I have to admit that I have spent hours considering what motivates me.  Does it match my livelihood, or does my job just pay me a wage?  Paychecks???  Heck, is that what this is all about?  Perhaps?  Here is my conclusion so far:  

    Unemployment and poverty rages here as it does in many parts of the country.  I have come to the conclusion that in order for me to live in and be a part of the community here, if I am not a part of the solution, then I am part of the problem.  I am not trying to say that I am a saint, no not at all.  In fact, I would say that if anything, I am feeling a little bit stingy.  It is my hope to continue working towards some solutions, while collecting a paycheck.  Thus, defeating poverty in my own home as a kick start on the rest of the economy while I also strive to help others earn a sustainable wage as well.