Mindful Today

"Well done is better than well said"

Benjamin Franklin said this a while back and I think about it every now and then. This morning was one of those times when I was thinking about it. Now, while this quote is essentially another way of saying "actions speak louder than words" I think that there is another meaning here, a layer below - it's that recognition is secondary to working hard and that's often reversed in our approach or strategies for life and career.

I realized that sometimes in my life I aspire to do things well so that I may be well spoken of. While I do not think it is a bad or unworthy goal to be well-spoken of by one's peers I think that that focus can sometimes make us miss the mark when it comes to really living life well, or really doing a good job at work. I think sometimes we believe that recognition professionally will take us farther than the good work we do, and so shortcuts are sometimes taken, or experiences are inflated.

Maybe another favorite quote of mine can help explain how focusing on the wrong priorities can make us miss the mark. Viktor Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor said, "For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it."

Tying these principles of success and happiness to the idea of being admired or respected in our work spheres and by our peers helps me see where I need to focus. Of all the people I admire I do not think any of them set out to be admired, but rather they have dedicated themselves to a cause greater than themselves. They have surrendered themselves to God, their spouses, and their families. Their cause and their family inspire them to do a little better and do their jobs well. My favorite bosses work this way, and the bosses I've struggled to work with have not.

I find greater joy in my career as I focus on doing a good job today, rather than focusing solely on forging a path to an incredibly successful tomorrow. Part of today's work is preparing for tomorrow, but most of today's work will just be today's work. So as Ben says, "well done is better than well said."

Also, more important than our careers is our relationship with others, especially with our families. I find greater joy in my relationships as I focus on connection today, rather than focusing solely on what I hope the relationship will become tomorrow. Part of the relationship today is building trust, reliance, and commitment for tomorrow, but most of the relationship today is about building trust, reliance, commitment, and intimacy for today, whatever that looks like.

Hope y’all have a smashing day!

Joseph