According to a story, an elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer contractor of his plans to leave the house building and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family.
He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house a personal favor.
The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career. When the carpenter finished his work the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. ‘This is your house,’ he said, ‘my gift to you.’ The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into building. Then, with shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we’d do it much differently. But we cannot go back. You are the carpenter.
Indeed, there is an uncanny recompense that life throws at every individual: to the slothful – misery, to the diligent- bounty. No wonder it is often said that people are the architect of their destinies and as one makes his bed, so will he lie on it. Never has it been said that the slothful ever rode the crest of the waves to success. To succeed in life, one needs to diligently prepare and equip oneself with the necessary skills, competencies and brawn which oftentimes, are grasped by willingly accepting to do menial and odd jobs which in the end, usually avails the individual such invaluable experiences that usually, in the end, become the treasure chest for success. Besides possessing the required skills, one needs to be equally passionate about whatever kind of work one is engaged in – for without passion, interest fast wanes – manifesting in reduced output to total unproductiveness.
No doubt, the above story is a clear testimony to the fact that whatever one sowed, that will one certainly reap. Many a times, in the course of our careers, we are assigned extra responsibilities in addition to our routine jobs - often with crushing deadlines that we grumble and whine. And because we usually have the penchant to consider such added responsibilities as burdens; not our core responsibility and therefore would not likely be held accountable if we failed, we usually do not put in our best in the discharge of such duties and in the end we produce mediocre jobs. Sadly, when we do so, we unwittingly deprive ourselves the opportunity of acquiring useful experiences and competencies accruable from performing such duties which easily can catapult us into higher and strategic positions of authority in our places of work.
As we all know, promotions to higher positions are based on many considerations amongst which are the possession of requisite skills, demonstrable and relevant job competence/experience and ability for balanced and informed decision-making etc. Whenever an opportunity to move people up the corporate ladder occurs, which often are few, the first consideration usually is the competency of the candidates being considered for the opening. Thus, discerning managers, instead of shying away, embrace such new or added challenges willingly, and passionately discharging them creditably, thus, enhancing their positions. No wonder therefore, such Managers make the promotion list every year. Such, is one of the benefits being passionate about our jobs usually yields to those who exhibit it doggedly in the daily performance of their duties.
Clearly, with the unfolding uncertainty currently pervading the banking sector, the future is sure only for those who have prepared themselves adequately and are passionate about taking on new roles and challenges. Responsibilities will no longer be handed on a platter of gold. It will belong to those who are able to prove their mettle In their respective areas. Therefore, Managers and indeed all staff should learn from the above story and bestir themselves to willingly accepting to go passionately, the extra mile, with customer satisfaction as the ultimate objective in mind.
Each day we accept new or added responsibilities, we plant a foot firmly on the rungs of the corporate ladder with our gaze on the top. For, accordingly to a popular axiom, - 'Life is a do-it-yourself project,' our attitudes and the choices we make today, determine the height we will climb tomorrow. Therefore, climb wisely and with passion. Remember, great service happens in a moment, moment by moment.
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