14A - Halfway Reflection
Tenaciousness is a competency
This course has taught me innumerable skills, insights, and tricks-of-the-trade that I will use in the future. Not only have I learned extensive lessons about myself and my talents, but I am better able to organize my thoughts and how I will execute a possible business plan. With all these weekly assignments, it has also taught me anti-procrastination techniques to keep up and be successful in the course. These are all invaluable lessons that I have acquired.
Tenaciousness is also about attitude
I'm going to be completely honest. I hate my job as a bar-back. The late hours, the constant badgering of drunk customers, and the numerous frantic requests from the bartenders all converge to create a very stressful work environment. However, the job does pay well and I am working with people I like. There have been MANY times I have thought about walking to the manager's office and quitting right there and then, but what would that say about my work ethic and character? In the end, the only thing that people would think of me as is a quitter, regardless of the things that I have to put up with. I realized that maintaining this job is one of those "this too shall pass" type of situations. Its not the most desirable job to me, but that doesn't mean I still can't shoulder it and make light of the matter. Life is never going to be easy, but hard work creates tenaciousness and a plethora of blessings that will aid you in your future endeavors.
Three tips about maintaining a tenacious mindset
Continue The Race and Finish Strong EVERY TIME
Juggling full-time school, personal life, and two jobs sounds like a lot until you realize people do all that and have other responsibilities like children or caring for their aging parents. I am in a spot now that I have counted the blessings of my life and I have a lot to be thankful for. The things that I have accomplished over the past 8 months have made me realize that it all comes down to a tenacious mindset and a gritty desire to dominate anything that stands in your way.
One of my favorite Bible verses pertaining to this effort is the following:
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. ~ 1 Corinthians 9:24
Work hard for your life. Keep that tenaciousness. Strive for excellence in every facet of your life. Be a shining example of a moral person to all around you. In that regard, you will conquer your goals!
Sound like this course really struck a chord with you. I am glad for you to have found an opportunity to better yourself. I also used to bar-back and later bartend down in Miami and I fully understand that environment that pushes people to the edge and forces them to make a choice between complaining about or dealing with it, which breeds a rough tenacious attitude.
ReplyDeleteHey Luke,
ReplyDeleteI found your views on dealing with responsibilities and life in general very admirable and relatable. Although things might seem dark or dreadful, there's always a way that you could turn it in your favor. Working a hard job with less-than-desirable customers might seem dreadful, but once you realize the immediate benefits like a good pay and long term benefits like more endurance, it really changes your attitude and performance in most everything. I'm currently working 40 hours a week at Target in my hometown and NOT enjoying my free IA Fall in Gainesville like the rest of my cohort. But I know that my time spent here is productive as I am mentally recovering from an overall rough academic year and acquiring financial security for next year. Having that in mind has kept my head high and helped me do my job better, making me even more excited to come back stronger.