It is hard being on the road over 200 nights a year...away from your family, isolated in many ways. It definitely isn't for everyone. This blogs represents the thoughts of just one such person. Read along and find out if the road is for you.

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This is my new blogchalk:
United States, Georgia, Gainesville, Unity of Gainesville, English, John, Male, reading, RE Investing. :)

Tuesday, November 11, 2003

 
Working on my gratitude...

Last week was a rough week. I was at a customer who was an egomaniac and on top of that, a bully.

But although he didn't make the week any easier, he wasn't the only reason that it was a tough one. In fact, customers like these make me appreciate all of the other customers who are good or even great to work with.

It was rough for another reason. I had a distinct lack of gratitude. Our annual raises came and I actually had a chance to talk a little about it with my boss. I really don't know what others got. That is something that has never bothered me. My approach to life and money is that if I was happy with my deal, the fact that you got more never bothered me.

Overall, I just didn't feel I got what I deserved. And that lack of acknowledgement hurt more than the actual lack of a particular monetary amount.

And it was bugging me most of the week. You get told one thing about your level of performance and then how do they show their appreciation? By a menial raise?

But Sunday may have helped. I went to church and I am not sure what the entire message was, but what came through for me was having an attitude of gratitude. I didn't have it. But I need to have it or else I am going to be bitter.

And at the end of the day...what do I have to be bitter about?

I SHOULD be grateful. I can't tell you how many companies I go to where they haven't had a raise in years. Some have even taken pay cuts or have had their hours cut. I have always received some sort of raise.

Perhaps my gratefullness should extend to my entire life. I do have so much to be thankful for. And yes, there are things I could complain about, but if there is something that my time away on the road has taught me is to let go of the little things that can bother you.

So what do I have to be thankful for????

• My job for one...although it can have its' moments, I enjoy what I do, meeting people, being exposed to new ideas, making a difference in their lives and businesses.
  
• My family...I do have a jewel of a companion in Julie. Is everything perfect? No. But she is the best person in my life and I am thankful she is in it. She supports me when I don't even support me. She makes me a better person.
  
• Freeway and AJ...our cats bring a smile to my face and have really brought something to me emotionally that I haven't felt in any other part of my life. Sounds stupid to say about an animal, but they are good for my soul.
  
• I have talent and choices...I don't think I want to work at Da Company forever (I even have a defined time table to exit) But some folks only have one thing they can do. I have a dozen things that I want to do and the only challenge is determining which ones to do and when.
  
• Health...my younger sister just had an angioplasty (where they do a roto rooter on your veins to clean them up). I have been working on my health and am now focused on a better, healthier me.
  
• Friends...I have made some friends with co-workers and cusotmers who have become friends. I continue to have some old friends who are always there for me. I am blessed.