Your best effort

A week or so ago there was an image on fbook of a welding bead and accompanied with the story about a welder who applied for two jobs. One job as for $15 per hour and the other was for $30 per hour. The welder ran two beads as part of the interview. One was sloppy and of poor quality, the other almost a work of art. The interviewer asks, why the two welds? The applicant replies, one is a $15 per hour weld and the other a $30 per hour weld.

I thought it was rather amusing at the time but the more I thought about this the more irritated I got. Now, this actually has nothing to do with welders, I'm sure most welders are cool dudes, it's about what the two welds in the fbook post stand for. (And before anyone blows up about the word dudes, I know women are welders too. Get a life.)

The older I get the more I see this in the younger generations. I have been supervising people as a retail manager for forty years so I have a track record at this. I was raised to do the best you can whatever you're doing. In a job, you're hired to do the job so do the job. It shouldn't matter how much you're paid to give your best effort. Got that? Your best effort. The weld for the $15 job should be as exquisite as the weld for the $30 job.

Minimum wage jobs were never meant to become the sole source of income for individuals or families. They are to be stepping stones to learn how to work, to be on time, to actually show up for work and give your best effort. Sadly, these traits are lacking in many who are in the workforce. The effort provided their employer is minimal at best. I understand every person's situation is different and higher paying jobs are lacking in some cities and areas but I also ask, what did you do to better your situation? Did you do just enough in school to 'get by'? Is that how you handle most every situation in your life?  You don't learn anything from giving minimal effort, you don't grow as a person and you won't grow in the workplace if all you're looking for is a handout to what you think you're really worth and you'll give the effort when someone pays you what you think you should be paid.

Sadly, you'll remain right where you are and it will be your fault no matter who you blame.