“KITTING AROUND”
BLOG 239–The Job You Love!
With my words, I hope to throw some oblique light upon your life.
I WANT TO INSPIRE YOU TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY OR BETTER!
*** The joy I am experiencing in life is a marvelous thing!
*** Hit by two trucks—one involving a 37-day coma—I remain happy.
*** If you are reading this through Facebook, check out my blog on my website.
*** Website is kitsummers.com
*** To read past blog posts, go to >> kitsummers.com/blog/
*** After living in my van and traveling to all US states, I married Beth in SC.
*** Thanks, my wife, Beth, for editing and adding to each weekly blog.
*** I will have places to show you and tales to tell.
*** Secrets to unfold and good news!
In the photo to the right you see me at age three,
with my little brother, Gary. >>>>>
I’m on the right.
Thanks for getting this photo to me, my sisters, Sandy and Willow.
BE TAKEN AWAY WITH ME
ON WONDERFUL ADVENTURES!
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TOPIC FOR THIS WEEK—Work with Joy!
At 15, I learned to juggle; I found my passion at a young age. After winning “The Gong Show” after just one year of practice, I knew that juggling was my choice for my life.
Performing in and around San Diego, I loved my life. Eventually, I sent a videotape of my act to an agent in Hollywood, who booked me as a star performer at Ballys in Atlantic City. Getting paid to do what I loved was excellent.
I had been at Ballys for nine months. I received excellent reviews for my performance. A new show would be coming in; I had put together a new act with all new routines and comedy. I was told that I would be in this new show.
Then, on April 3, 1982, I had just parked my vehicle and was walking to Ballys. Atlantic City had not seen such a big storm in a long time–I was right in it. While crossing busy Atlantic Avenue, I was hit by a truck. After 37-days of sleep, I was slowly coming back to life.
I thought I would be right back to juggling and performing, and my brain injury would not let that occur. I returned to juggling and eventually gave a big comeback performance exactly one year after the accident.
Have you seen this video about this time in my life?
Educational Entertainment with Kit Summers
I saw that I could not return to the life I was living, because of my reduced skill level, to my past passion–the art of juggling. Having been self-employed for most of my life, I had to find that way of life once again. In this time, I had developed a tasty fresh salsa that people loved.
I began slowly, but Summers Salsa started. Eventually, my company grew huge–I was selling at farmers’ markets six days a week, going to festivals and fairs, and selling my salsa through 25 stores in my area.
Have you seen >>
Summerssalsa.com
After 20 years of salsa success, I was riding my bike one day and was hit by another truck. Much of my body was broken; there was no brain injury this time. But it was hard coming back yet, again.
Juggling was my work and my passion. Having lost the skill, that was devastating. I had to work my way back and find a future. If you love your work, that’s a great thing! Many do not love how they make an income and live. It’s so sad to me when I see this; you spend so much time there–you have to find a way to love what you do.
I put the same passion into my salsa business, and it showed.
I have known people who wake up everyday and say to themselves– “Yikes, I have to go to work again!” They hate their job and their life. They put in their hours and do not like any of it, then they go home to watch TV or something. They go to sleep unhappy and awake the next morning saying– “Yikes, I have to go to work again!”
Do not waste your one life in this way.
One way to start to love your work is to learn and study every aspect of the chosen occupation. Become an expert on your interest and work. Get to the point where you can teach others and even teach your boss. I guarantee you that not only will you love your work more and more, but you will also do better work.
We always fall in – and out – of love with our jobs.
Work can be our pleasure or our downfall.
Though we rarely think of it that way.
Remember the butterflies of excitement you had on your first day of work? You loved those weekly staff meetings, treasured your training, and couldn’t wait to chat with new co-workers on coffee breaks.
It was when the honeymoon period ended that things changed. You started thinking, “Really? This all I will do over again–and again?” Then you woke up. Small resentments turned into large ones, and you started getting coffee at a different time to avoid Steve in Accounting.
Before you write your resignation letter, take a moment to realise that quitting isn’t your only option. It’s impossible to always love your job, but you can value the idea of working at it and the different aspects of it. Aim toward excellence whenever you can.
1. Your job or your boss?
Decide whether you want to leave your job or your boss.
You might not want to leave your job; you may wish to no longer work with your boss. One study found that 50 percent of employees went to their jobs “to get away from their boss to improve their overall life at some point in their career.”
If you find yourself in this situation but still really enjoy the company you work for, consider entertaining the option of switching departments. Give yourself opportunities to work with other people and see if it’s your manager or the job you don’t like before you resign. Small changes can significantly impact helping you love your job again.
2. Learn something new.
You may be bored and uninspired if you have been doing the same tasks daily for the past 5 years. Challenge yourself by learning something new and exciting about the job you have.
For example >>
Offer to help out a different department . . .
Volunteer to take on new obligations . . .
Go on a course to advance your skills . . .
Attend professional development seminars . . .
Whatever you do, make sure it is interesting to you . . .
It will help you look at your role in a new light . . .
Boredom will not help you love your job, but being excited about something new will.
3. Ask for what you want.
Instead of waiting for your departure interview to mention everything you wish you had been offered – ask for them now! Your manager is probably not a mind reader and cannot provide you with what they didn’t know you were interested in.
Speak out about your goals and plans and make your case for change so you can love your job again. Ask to be put in charge of a particular project. Talk about your dream role. If you are looking for a flexible schedule or salary increase, ask for that too. Have these conversations first instead of assuming your only option is to quit.
4. Set new goals.
Goals are the models you review your occupation progression against. With them, we often feel directionless and motivated. If you are currently working without clear goals and plans, it’s time to change that. Goals and plans are direction and help you drive your career forward. They can be the exact change you need to love your job.
5. Change your workspace.
You work an average of 40 hours a week or more in your area. Working in an environment that never visually changes can become dull and has the potential to drive anyone a little crazy.
If you haven’t changed your territory in years, it’s no wonder you don’t love your job anymore. Let’s change it up. Move the furniture, bring some plants, and change the wall art. A minor visual change can bring excitement back into your day.
6. Change what you can control
Be positive whenever possible, with all in your life. This doesn’t mean you have to plaster a smile on your face every moment of the day. But don’t let minor frustrations cloud over all the good in your job.
Instead, do things like thanking people when they help you. Recognize the hard work accomplished by your colleagues. Get into a more positive mindset by listing one remarkable daily thing, big or small. Refuse to give co-workers power over your emotions.
7. Realise the impact you have on those around you.
Consider your job’s broader impact instead of focusing on your immediate team. Take it a step further and focus on its positive effect on others.
8. Stop complaining and change your perspective
If you will adjust your attitude, please make sure you stop being part of the Complain Club. Find happiness in the work you do.
9. Take a vacation
Burnout is real and will enter every aspect of your life unless you pay attention and take breaks when needed.
Use vacation time or take a personal day. If you don’t have the opportunity for either, even a Saturday morning at your favourite coffee shop can work. Completely disconnect and give yourself time to think about something other than work. Relax and unwind.
10. Take advantage of all your benefits
Are you taking advantage of all the benefits your company offers?
Do you even know what they offer?
Compensation is more than your salary; all the perks and benefits come with it. Contact your HR team to find out what is available to you. Take advantage of those little-known benefits; your work will be an additional resource for your overall life goals. Plus, it’s hard not to love your job when you know what else it affords you.
11. Start a side hustle
Side projects are the perfect opportunity to learn and expand your skills.
You may find that what you learn enhances your current role and takes you in a direction that, previously, would have been unavailable to you. Or you may find that your side project grows into your next career.
Side projects and jobs can benefit you and your company by keeping you busy and challenged. They can even help you love your job more.
12. Delegate to do more of what you love
None of us loves 100% of the tasks we do daily, for work or otherwise. If you have the opportunity to delegate, you should, especially if it allows other employees to grow and expand their skills. But delegate responsibly! Don’t just throw your unloved tasks on others; make sure your choice has inherent value.
13. Dress with pride
As you did in your first week of work, dress to impress.
Several recent studies suggest that dressing up for work raises your confidence, affects how others perceive you and can boost your attention span. Another study shows that casual dressers sweat the small stuff more than those dressed more formally, affecting how they view their job.
Know that what you wear matters. It can help you love your job again.
14. Have a conversation with a coworker you don’t know very well
There are people we know incredibly well at work, and then there are those we know nearly nothing about. Change that. Make friends at your job.
Make a lunch date with a coworker you often interact with but don’t know.
Reach out to a manager in a department you want to work in, and you don’t know them.
Go as far as to have a virtual lunch with a co-worker while they have dinner in another part of the world. Aim to walk out of these conversations, knowing more than that they love colourful socks. Get to know coworkers.
The point is to get to know someone new.
You never know what you will discover.
These conversations may help you love your job in a new way.
If you have tried everything and are still trying to fall in love with your job, it might be time to look elsewhere for different employment. Don’t be afraid to make a change when necessary.
Learn to use your brain better; it’s the best thing you can ever do for yourself.
WHAT NEW STORIES ARE YOU READY TO WRITE?
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WORDS TO INSPIRE YOU! >>
Inspirational quotes and motivational sayings have a unique ability to change the way we feel about life and can change our thinking.
They are so interesting, challenging, and essential on our path to joy, happiness, and finding ways to inspire ourselves and others.
Inspirational quotes and ideas give us a quick and timely burst of wisdom to get our focus back, offering the inspiration needed for the day or occasion.
I hope to inspire you with my words.
Words have power.
Are you accomplishing what you want before your eventual death?
At any age, you can (and should) make changes to make your life better.
How you think and feel about yourself, including your beliefs and expectations about what is possible, determines everything in your life, and it all derives from your quality of thinking.
WHEN YOU IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF YOUR THINKING,
YOU CHANGE THE QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE—SOMETIMES INSTANTLY!
Just as positive words can make someone smile, and a well-timed amusing quote can make someone laugh, your thoughts react to the world in real-time. You have this control!
You have complete control over only one thing in the universe — Your Thinking —and that’s where motivational quotes come in!
To keep your motivation, you have to use each day as an opportunity to improve and get closer to your goals. It might sound like a lot of work—and with your busy schedule—next to impossible. But you can do it!
Self-talk is so essential—THINK RIGHT!
Motivational words, yes, they are just words.
But they are positive words; they will keep you on track.
EVEN IF YOU START LATE, ARE UNCERTAIN,
OR ARE DIFFERENT –
YOU CAN STILL FIND SUCCESS!
Don’t forget that you are only as young as the last time you changed your mind!
Keep your thoughts and self-talk fun and productive, and always reach for more advancement
REMEMBER, VERY LITTLE IS NEEDED TO MAKE A GREAT LIFE.
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GET INSPIRED!
Positive and inspiring quotes are like beams of sunshine on a cloudy day. They inject optimism into our thoughts, brighten our mood, and help us focus on the good in life. They remind us that even in the face of adversity, we can see the silver lining and embrace a positive attitude.
In a world filled with challenges and indecisiveness, the power of inspirational quotes cannot be exaggerated. These pearls of wisdom uniquely uplift our spirits, can spark positive change, and fuel our motivation often when we need it most.
I HOPE THE FOLLOWING WORDS INSPIRE YOU >>
“Your work will fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs
“It’s not what you achieve; it’s what you overcome. That’s what defines your career.” – Carlton Fisk
“Find out what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for doing it.” – Katherine Whitehorn
“When you are asked if you can do a job, tell ’em, ‘Certainly I can!’ Then get busy and find out how to do it.” – Theodore Roosevelt
“Your job is not just to do what your parents say, what your teachers say, what society says, but to figure out what your heart calling is and be led by that.” – Oprah Winfrey
“Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.” – Dalai Lama
“Time is an equal opportunity employer. Each human being has the same number of hours and minutes daily. Rich people can’t buy more hours. Scientists can’t invent new minutes. And you can’t save time to spend it on another day. Even so, time is amazingly fair and forgiving. No matter how much time you’ve wasted in the past, you still have an entire tomorrow.” – Denis Waitley
COMPOSE A NOBLE BOOK AND WRITE A BEST-SELLER.
YOU ARE AMAZING—PLAY YOUR PART!
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MY DAILY JOTTINGS >>
Each week goes by so quickly, don’t you think?
Time is going faster all the time, it seems.
Do you keep track of what you do each day?
Do this for a few weeks, and you will see your time differently.
9/16–A dog Beth helped rehome a few years ago came for a visit, with her owner, Fred, attached. She had rescued Luna and another dog from a terrible living situation across the street. You do NOT want to mess with my wife when it comes to animals.
9/17–Our day of rest, which we did.
9/18, 19–We cannot remember what we did these days.
Do you remember what you did last Monday and Tuesday?
9/20–We went to >>
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057670351842
Good stuff for great deals. If you are ever in the area, stop by.
9/21–Off to Greenwood to https://www.corleysmarket.com/ so Beth could buy succulents. They had a nice assortment, and when she buys from a store she does not pay shipping costs, which is a good thing. This is a magnificent store and we will be returning.
9/22–Today I built a shelf to hold Beth’s succulent plants. She has really gotten into it and we have a hundred plants now.
She says she has a problem, but I see it as a passion.
You know me, I always try to get people to follow their passions.
IS IT TIME TO “MAKE” THINGS HAPPEN AND LIVE A FULLER LIFE?
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YOUR CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK >>
As I was learning to walk again after my first accident, I would walk with my arms at my side, not moving them. I had forgotten that this arm movement helps us with balance. In time, I discovered this missing movement while I walked.
How about you?
This week, do not move your arms at all while you walk.
It will take a conscious effort.
Can you do it?
Let me know.
DO SOMETHING NEW, DAILY,
THEN KEEP DOING IT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
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NEXT BLOG >>
Right now I have a tooth that is hurting. I scheduled an appointment with my dentist for the 29th. I will let you know how it goes. When I was young I did not take great care of my teeth, which is showing at this point. How are your choppers? Dr. Cook does excellent work. If you are in the area, look him up.
https://www.facebook.com/jpatrickcook
You have to remember, Beth turns 65 on Monday the 25th.
Send her a card, or send her a million dollars.
AND WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING FOR YOUR UPCOMING WEEK?
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