Dear Grandkids:
I want to thank you for all the prayers and thoughts these past few weeks. It’s been a rough six weeks, but I can see the improvement in my body everyday. Hopefully, I will be fully restored in the next four weeks.
Today, I want to speak directly to each of you with this message:
Whatever you attempt to do in life, always give it your best effort and DO IT WELL.
A few months ago, I picked up a book by Charles Swindle, entitled, Saying It Well. The book is directed to those giving sermons and talks, but I’m using some of his ideas and talks about always doing life well. Whether you’re in high school, college, or working as a teacher, nurse, or business person or in a leadership role, I think you’ll find these ideas very helpful.
First, here are three points these principles are based on:
- Know who you are
- Accept who you are
- Be who you are
Sommer is today’s example on how to apply these principles in your life. She graduated from the Paul Mitchell School of Cosmetology in Chicago this summer and recently passed her state boards. She is now working at New Dimensions here in Gaylord. Congratulations, Sommer!
Let’s tackle the first point: Know who you are.
Most people don’t think about studying themselves. How do you study yourself? This is done by knowing and realizing your talents, skills and shortcomings. In Sommer’s case, she’s perfectly suited to work as a hairstylist. She told me that she loved making people feel good about their hair. Her outgoing personality, her communication gift, and her genuine interest in others makes her perfect for the job. To Sommer, it’s not a job, but a calling that she loves doing everyday.
As we discover who we are, the next step is to accept the truth of that discovery. The better we know who we are, the greater will be our effectiveness in applying our skills and talents to that purpose. Sommer knew the direction she wanted to go even though Chicago seemed scary, so to live there for eleven months was a huge step. When we accept our identity, we can overcome those big obstacles in our path.
This leads us to the third realization of being who we are. To do this, we must become comfortable in our skin, and the more comfortable you are, the more natural you become. Sommer, as she begins her career, will be selling her ability as a hairstylist and selling that she cares about her clients’ hair. It’s a process of growth where you’re willing to allow God to make you increasingly more you, by serving others with your skill.
What’s the key to all three steps?
- We are always preparing ourselves for the next step.
Preparation is always an ongoing focus to success in your vocation. In fact, to be able to deliver “a job well done” every time takes good preparation every time.
Think back to when you gave a poor performance in your work—it was most likely because you weren’t prepared. Being prepared is the hard part of doing a job well done. It takes extra time, extra focus, and extra mental concentration to make sure you have covered all the details, so you’re ready to deliver a job well done.
Sommer mentioned that during the eleven months of schooling, the pressure got really intense, and the class of twenty-two whittled down to only fifteen because seven students realized this wasn’t who they wanted to be. I would bet these seven students weren’t prepared for what was involved in obtaining a degree in hair styling at Paul Mitchell School.
When Sommer started her job at New Dimensions in October, you could say she has arrived, but I would say she’s only just begun. Everyday will be a new opportunity to learn her craft. Everyday will be a chance to give her customers 100% effort, 100% focus, and 100% growth as she learns how to give her customers the best hairstyle in Gaylord. This is doing her job well.
The Bible talks much about diligence, hard work, and excellence. Here’s one of those verses:
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)
I’ve asked many people, “what is your #1 purpose for working in your job?” Many of them say, “to make money, of course”. I’d suggest to them that they change that #1 purpose to serving their customers. If they serve them well, the money will take of itself.
This idea of doing your job well works in everything you do in life. It works in sports, families, marriages, churches and friendships. As Christians, doing life well should be an everyday commitment. Whatever we do, touch others by doing life well. Jesus is our example, and he knows we can do it well.
Well, there you have it for this month. Thank you Sommer for allowing me to use you as an example. We know you’re going to be a shining star for Jesus.
As always, let me know what you think.
Until next month,
Love,
Grandpa