Reward Yourself

It’s funny but everyone seems to want to get rewarded in some way. Sometimes they want a “thank you” sometimes they want something much more substantial. Oddly, many people won’t reward themselves by seeking a job that provides maximum rewards. I don’t mean maximum pay. There are more ways to gain satisfaction then just money. Jobs that reward you for your performance are a great way to gain satisfaction. I knew a woman at a diner who made more money in tips than a journeyman carpenter made for a full week’s work. One of my bosses was especially enamored with the role of the salesman. He said, “A ditch-digger doesn’t dig a ditch until the salesman sells the contract.” When I was 16 I had a job that paid by the piece. I was so fast at it that I was making 5 times minimum wage as a junior in high school.

Are you unhappy in your current position? Maybe you need to either change jobs or find a way to measure and improve your productivity. If you’re a hostess keep track of how many people you seat and greet. Or look for a job where friendliness is rewarded in other ways. I knew a programmer who kept track of how many new lines of code he wrote every day. Knowing that he beat a previous record gave him a sense of accomplishment in addition to his paycheck. If you need to change jobs, then you need to exercise some guts and honesty by finding out what you like and what you’re good at (they are probably closely related). Then, find a job that rewards those characteristics. My waitress friend liked serving tables and being around people and her pay reflected her passion and expertise. So, don’t just work for a paycheck. Reward yourself with a job that will employ your talents and reward you accordingly in both money and satisfaction.

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