Martha Edwards loves her job. Martha is a funologist. That’s her title.
Martha was our concierge at the Sedona Real Inn and Suites in Sedona, Arizona during our recent vacation. She helped us pick a restaurant and gave us some quick travel tips, in between helping dozens of other people in person and on the phone, all within thirty minutes before her quitting time for the day. It was obvious it had been a busy day, she was surely tired, but you couldn’t tell it from her disposition. Everyone she helped received the same excellent service.
I am confident Martha is a competent, skilled, and efficient concierge, with a great natural bubbly personality. She is a true professional in the hospitality industry, but I do not believe that is what makes her so good at what she does. I really think her greatest asset is that she obviously loves what she does for a living. She enjoys her work.
Do you?
I love the staff at Grace Community Church. The truth is we are not always the most efficient group of people. Sometimes we miss deadlines, forget schedules, miss opportunities, and probably even waste valuable time just goofing around, and honestly, that bothers me if I allow it to, because I’m wired for efficiency. (Even though I’m sometimes the chief goof-ball.) Unfortunately, there are times that I have to be the bad guy and call us to task; partly because of my wiring and partly because of my position in the organization, but the plain truth is that in the four years of our existence as a church, we have been very successful working together.
Watching Martha enjoy her work so much helped me understand one reason our staff is successful. WE ENJOY WHAT WE DO…and we have fun doing it! We actually like the people we work with (most days). I cannot help, but think that plays a large part in our success as an organization. Obviously I cannot and would not dismiss the God-thing that has taken place among us, but I think one of those God-things He has done was bringing the people together He has as a staff.
Again, do you enjoy what you do? Do you like the people with whom you work? If not, should a change be in your future?
(Okay, I know that’s a tough and perhaps tender question for some of you, but why not start finding and making hard decisions to improve the situation?)
SO TRUE… you have to enjoy what you are doing–even though ALL will have downtimes– in order to be productive–to come across RIGHT to others–whether in the front line–or back–but to not dread it–each day either. To have it feel like WOW–I did fulfill something that felt great!! And back in my days when I could work– in company (going on 3rd brain surgery now) I was the Pro-Marriott girl–went from front desk–to supervisor–to manager–to sales manager. I LOVED IT. Even back in the front desk days–LOVED it–and loved it cause even before I ever knew Jesus–I LOVED PEOPLE–to make them happy. Would drive 40 miles if someone left their wallet in Dana Point to get it to LAX…B4 his flight. Those days brought me joy. Today–it is helping others–know they can get thru everything–as I have–and Jesus is the way. Today is for Him, and my family. And perhaps after 3rd brain surgery–will finish up school to be a counselor… just love it. God has a purpose for everything we endure!! All for His glory! Blessings!!
In His Grip,
Hetty Siebens @AliveinMe @EpilepsyCures
Chandler, AZ
.-= Heather Siebens´s last blog ..Transparency-God’s workings! =-.
Thanks for the good thoughts and affirmation to my thoughts Heather.
I just returned, as you can tell, from Arizona. Not sure where Chandler is, but I've heard of it. Is it a suburb of Phoenix?
I do enjoy what I do and I think I do a fine job of it :).
I also enjoy the people I work with, for the most part. 🙂 🙂
What intrudes in on that is the people I work for. They sometimes make me want to run screaming to some other job, although I am thankful for the job that I have. If I could just get the people I work for to recognize the value I bring to the table, things could be so much better for me and for the company.
Jon, you are so right. If you’ve ever read Patrick Lencioni’s book “The Three Signs of a Miserable Job”, you captured one of them with your major frustration. Employees want to feel appreciated for their contributions to the company or organization. Thanks for the comment.