I am listening to "Big Russ and Me" as I commute to and from work. It is narrated by Tim Russert and it is a wonderful story of his life and the impact his father had on it. It is so enjoyable.
Tim talks about how his father worked two jobs his entire life. One in sanitation, the other delivering newspapers. His father never complained about being tired or having to work these two jobs. He did it in order to support their family of six. They lived in a small house with one bathroom and had only one car. His mother stayed home and managed the family.
Big Russ, Tim's father, was a veteran. He was also Catholic. Big Russ was about doing the "right thing". Tim credits his father for the lessons he learned and the person he became.
I know people today who are barely able to hold down one full time job without complaining. We need to re-arrange our priorities. We need to "do the right thing". If that means compromising our long-range plans, then ok, just don't lose the dream and don't complain.
I also know Dan, who has taken a direct care job with the developmentally disabled. He works a terrible shift, being the newbie, but he isn't complaining. This job provides health insurance and money to pay for the food and house he needs. Dan has a unique gift in finding the "lessons learned" in every job he has. He looks for little ways he can use his talents and from this, gets some job satisfaction.
My Pop remindsme what his hard-working, entrepreneurial father told him. "Work is hard, it is time consuming, it is not fun. But, having said that, it can be fulfilling, rewarding and challenging, if you are lucky".
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
