F: Fun--the work of play

Why wait for Halloween to be Batman?

Pediatric health care can be a serious business, but kids won’t put up with that for long. They make the best patients because the work of children is play. Their job is to grow and learn how to be semi-normal  somewhat responsible adults.

How do they do it? Through interacting with their world by playing. They want the adults around them to be fun too. You can’t just look at their ears. You have to find dinosaurs or Spiderman. They’re more cooperative when you let them blow on their brother instead of just taking a deep breath. Be careful asking them to blow out birthday candles, unless you have time for the story of their birthday party at Chuck-E-Cheese.

            Now I know all this won’t necessarily translate to grown up things—I mean, who wants their gyn looking for SpongeBob, right?—but children remind us that life is fun and even work can be play. They’re resilient, not jaded by life experiences. Even those who go through the worst of times will play when given the chance.

Why spend thousands of dollars and invest a lot of time in something you won’t enjoy? Even if you did, why stay doing it if it makes you miserable? And yet we still think of work as a four letter word. When did we forget the playing part of work?  

Fun isn’t playing around all day, though. It can be overdone, especially in the practical joke realm. There are times when a more serious attitude is called for. I have to say, the best jokes at work came at the unexpected times.  

            How can you be more fun without being unprofessional?

1. Think about the jokes and make them meaningful. If a co-worker has to come in everyday and fix their desk then it stops being funny.

2. Post funny cartoons.

3. Send random notes or cards to people, especially those that fit a situation at work. Send them anonymously and let them figure out who it came from.

4. Laugh when things are funny, especially if it happens to you. Weird stuff happens.

5.  Have an Easter egg hunt--our office has enjoyed it this week!

The number one thing you can do to have fun at work is be passionate about what you do. You won’t always like it and sometimes work is hard, but if you believe in it, you’ll enjoy what you do. On most days, you’ll have fun doing it.

What do you do to have fun at work?

E: Excellence--the Way

Me with some of my excellent colleagues

And now I will show you the most excellent way.

Love is having patience with coworkers and customers.

Love shows kindness to those having a bad day.

Love isn’t envious of another’s accomplishments.
 It doesn’t promote itself at the expense of others.
 It doesn’t think it’s indispensable to the company.

Love is not rude to customers or coworkers.
It doesn’t just work for the paycheck. 
It’s not easily angered or resentful.

Love doesn’t gossip about misfortunes, but shares successes and celebrations.

Love stays overtime and helps out colleagues.

Love believes in what it does,
is positive about work,
and thinks in terms of solutions not problems.

Love stays committed to the job.

              Excellence isn't just being the best. It's being the best with honor. It's wanting to do a good job because it's the right thing to do. 
             With my patients it's giving them the highest quality health care available. It's always thinking what can I do improve not just their physical but emotional and spiritual well being? 
             With my writing it's not just tossing out the first thing that comes to mind, but drafting it and then editing and re-editing even as far as a 10th and 11th draft and beyond. And then, if/when it gets rejected, thinking about why and using the experience to guide me for next time.
             Because there will be a next time.  Excellence doesn't let me give up.
             Excellence doesn't settle for mediocrity or complacency.  It works with passion.  Those who strive for excellence see the bar and work above it despite what others around them are doing.  They don't criticize or "tattle", but encourage others to be better along with them.
             One thing excellence is not is perfection.  We all have room to improve.  Excellence is the virtue that knows this. 
             In work and life wanting to get ahead, to be number one, isn't a bad thing.  But we lose ourselves when we are ruthless about it, not caring who gets stepped on or what bridges are burned along the way.
            I Corinthians 13 is called the love chapter.  It's often used in marriage ceremonies, but love goes beyond husband/wife relationships.  It should be in everything we do:  love for life, love for family, love for what we do and who we work with.  Whatever you want to call it: passion, love, caring, compassion.  Love is what changes you from merely good at what you do to Excellent.

             It's never lonely at the top if you bring some friends with you.

D: Discipline--thinking beyond 2

Do you work with two year olds?  You know, those people that focus on themselves and think the rules don’t apply to them.  They get to be late and take extra-long breaks.  They seem to get away with everything.  If something doesn’t go their way they whine and talk about how they’re so mistreated and work isn’t fair.  You start to think maybe there is a different standard for them than for you because one little infraction and you’re in the boss’s office while they seem to be immune.  You ask yourself why you even try to follow the rules.

Don’t let them fool you. It catches up to everyone eventually. 

Discipline has many facets.  Punishment is just one part—and should be at the bottom of the list as a last resort. At the top should be self-control so that punishment isn’t necessary.   Discipline has more than one definition:

• training to act in accordance with rules.
•  activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training.
• punishment inflicted by way of correction and training

• the rigor or training effect of experience, adversity, etc

•  behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and  control.

Why is discipline important?  It makes an office more productive and efficient. It keeps them in business.  Individually it teaches and makes you better at what you do through experience.  It gives a sense of accomplishment and confidence.  In a time when budgets are being cut and layoffs happen, the more productive people who show respect for company rules are more desirable to keep. 
Discipline keeps your mind ordered so that when difficulties arise you can act and not react. You are in control, not the situation.  You’re able to think more creatively to come up with a good solution.  If something goes wrong and the situation is being investigated, you’ve done the right thing and don’t have to fear recrimination.
Some things to consider: 

• Believe you can be disciplined.   
• Pick your battles.  Discipline isn’t just following rules blindly.
• Believe discipline is needed.
•  Be accountable for your actions.   
• Be self-disciplined so you don’t have to have disciplined imposed on you. 

Without discipline there is no professionalism in the workplace.  It’s more than just following the rules. It’s actively seeking to learn and grow in your career.  Discipline encourages us to strive for excellence in work and life.