JOB to some is popularly believed to be Just-Obey-Boss or Just-Over-Bend! Those who do job with such intentions trade their life time for a mere survival. Survival is considered animal-instinct and not typically human!
We human beings are social beings who can obtain experience of life through Body-Mind and Soul. Hence we are supposed to rise above a mere physical survival. A holistic integration of Body-Mind-Soul demands one to ask questions to oneself and find answers to this! Amazingly if observed it boils out to the thriving for the wellness of society.
Lord Krishna talks to Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse 50 about “Yogah Karmasu Kaushalam” – Yoga is excellence at work. This verse advices us to perform our allocated duty in an excellent manner. Kaushalam signifies doing work with devotion and without attachment i.e. without becoming a workaholic. Such detached attitude enhances its values and improves the concentration and skill of the worker. If we work with elegance, fortitude, and skill our Body-Mind-Soul will co-operate with our hands. By becoming a tool in the hands of Supreme one has to perform the work. Any work becomes valuable if carried out with full concentration, dedication, and abilities and also helps us to become valuable to others as well as to society. We should never yearn over the fruits of action. The extrinsic incentives e.g., money, other bonus, etc. play a very minor role as motivators. The reward of a thing well done is to have done it. Says Ralph Waldo Emerson.
There is a story of Chuan and Jing in a Chinese inspirational stories which highlights the point that attitude of approach to the work can yield in different results. The story goes something like this……… Chuan and Jing joined a wholesale company together just after graduation. Both worked very hard.
After several years, the boss promoted Jing to sales executive but Chuan remained a sales rep. One day Chuan could not take it anymore, tender resignation to the boss and complained the boss did not value hard working staff, but only promoted those who flattered him.
The boss knew that Chuan worked very hard for the years, but in order to help Chuan realize the difference between him and Jing, the boss asked Chuan to do the following. Go and find out anyone selling water melon in the market? Chuan returned and said yes. The boss asked how much per kg? Chuan went back to the market to ask and returned to inform boss the 120 yuan per kg.
Boss tells Chuan, I will ask Jing the same question? And put the same question to Jing. Jing went, returned, and said, boss, only one person selling water melon. 120 yuan per kg, 1000 yuan for 10 kg, he has inventory of 340 melons. On the table 58 melons, every melon weighs about 15 kg, bought from the South two days ago, they are fresh and red, good quality.
Chuan was very impressed and realized the difference between himself and Jing. He decided not to resign but to learn from Jing.
A person who is immersed in the job is more observant, thinks more, and understands it to the depth. For the same matter, he is able to sees several years ahead, while for some who look at job as just bread earner see only tomorrow. There is a vast difference between a year and a day that is 365 times. We have to think! How far have we seen ahead in doing our job? How thoughtful in depth are we in doing the job right the first time?
The secret of joy in work is contained in one word - excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it. - Pearl Buck (1892 - 1973)
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC)
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