For many, the idea of Monday coming is downright depressing. It indicates the ending of their relaxing weekend (assuming they work a M-F type of job). Or, depending on how your job schedule works, your “Monday” might fall on another day of the week. Either way, there’s this stigma that’s improperly placed on the first workday of the week – in my opinion, of course.
Monday’s get a bad wrap. Yes, they somehow indicate the “fun” you’ve just had over the previous 48 hours is over, but this does not mean you can’t be energized by these next five days. Some many years ago while into my first year of my first full-time salaried position, I realized I was spending WAY too much money at Wal-Mart after my “Friday”. Wal-Mart became the release of my frustration of producing and the working-to-the-grindstone. Then, the thought of starting the process all over again that next week was downright heavy. Those were some frustrating and “expensive” times in our early married life (especially when we weren’t making much money to start with).
What I didn’t completely understand and know then, and what I know now is:
- People don’t always mean to, but they will fail you. This will cause your job to be more difficult than it has to. However, you must plan for these instances — and, even plan ahead as to how you’re going to respond to them.
- The leadership (manager, supervisor, boss, etc.) you report to isn’t always the best. You wish they would go take some leadership courses and read some books, or something. However, he or she might just be who they are and you will never be able to change that situation. If only they could see their faults like you do (be careful!). Be the one that makes the positive impact on them that you know you can (the both of you will be better for it)!
- Things come up that cause you to either work late or come in early. These things happen. Yes, it’s an inconvenience to you and your family, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Don’t murmur, don’t complain (remember, you’re also setting an example at home).
- That person over in marketing drives you nuts with his bickering over the head of sales. Or, that person over in accounting will not stop rambling to you about stuff that you either don’t care about or can’t understand. Yes, we’ve all had to deal with fellow employees that seem to drive us “nuts”, but that’s the way the “ball bounces”. The people we meet and work with aren’t going to be perfect; but, it’s our decision as to how we respond and make “better” those situations.
- Etc. (the list of “excuses” could go on and on)
Whatever your Monday morning blues mantra is, how you respond to it is completely up to YOU! It could be that you might not be doing the job you’d prefer doing, but continue striving to get there — with the right decisions, it could be around the corner. Either way, I’m doubting you’d prefer going through life with a frown on your face every time your weekend is over. I’m not much on the “power of positive-thinking” thing as a life rule, but I do believe there’s something to it. Approach your day-to-day as if it’s your opportunity to put a smile on someone else, your chance to help the company look the best to your community, and that you’re able to bring home funds to put food on the table and clothes on the back of your children.
“Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what is still possible for you to do.” ~Pope John XXIII
“The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.” ~John Ruskin
“The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” ~Vince Lombardi
Be encouraged to approach every day with the excitement you might on your “Friday”. Not only does your boss, fellow employees, and customers deserve it, but you do too! Your area of influence may be large or it may be small — either way, you have influence (whether you realize it or not). Use this power to your good and results will be seen — maybe not tomorrow or next month, but any positive change is positive change!
Luke Gambill 