If I was to die tomorrow, one of the biggest life lessons that I think my family, or anyone could benefit from, would be to develop a strong work ethic.
I’m not just talking about showing up and working a full 40 hour work week either. Rare is the week when I only work 40 hours. I’m talking about showing up for life with a burning desire in your gut to get to work.
This work ethic is doubly important for any of us looking to get into an artistic career, since many of us might need to work extra hard just to make ends meet.
- By The Sweat Of Thy Brow…
We read in the bible, that when Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden of Eden, God told them that “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread.” He basically says that they’re going to have to work for their sustenance. He wasn’t necessarily commanding them, but rather, letting them know how it was going to be.
If you think that you can coast by without learning how to work hard, you’re going to have a miserable time of it. But what about those who hate their work?
Well, if work was fun, it would be called play.
Having said that, work doesn’t have to be terrible. In fact, I actually really enjoy working. I remember feeling some measure of anxiety over this when I was in high school, knowing that I was soon to be expected to assume the responsibilities of an adult and work full-time.
I couldn’t fathom the pressures of that much work. But I quickly found out, that when I was working, not only did I have more money in my pocket, but I felt a deep sense of satisfaction with the value that I’d created in the world.
One of my all time favorite quotes that I think everyone should have posted on their refrigerator, is by a prophet from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints:
“Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, that power to work is a blessing, that love of work is success.” -President David O. Mckay
I can honestly attest to this philosophy as being one of the major guiding lights in my life, and I believe that if you were to embrace this also, that you would find a lot of success in your life as well.
- How Much Should I Work?
Having a strong work ethic doesn’t necessarily mean that you work every waking hour, though it can spill into that.
I remember a rich business man being asked how he balanced his work and family. He laughed and said that he didn’t believe in balance.
I tend to disagree with him, but I’ll admit that I too have been called a workaholic by some in my day. Balance is a tricky thing, because I know a very successful business man, who works a hundred hours each week, and considers his life and family life in perfect balance. And for them, it works.
For me, my wife made it clear that she was unhappy whenever I worked more than 50 hours a week. So I cut back my hours to accommodate my family’s needs.
But at home, I don’t consider my job done. I may not be working on my career, but I am working on my family. I want to teach my children, I want to do the chores that my wife would otherwise be left with, and I want to be there for them all.
Just because my day job ends at 5pm, doesn’t mean that I’m spent for the day. My wife is a stay at home mom, and do you think her job ends at 5pm? Not a chance. If she can remain productive, I can too, my responsibilities just change.
And the thing is, I love it. I find a great deal of satisfaction from all work I pursue. It feels so much better than idling my time away. And would you believe it, I still have time for play, for service, and for relaxing.
Having a good work ethic is about showing up, putting your all into whatever you’re doing, and being proud of it. If you’re struggling at finding the joy in working, maybe you’re in a toxic environment, or maybe you need a little tuning of your attitude towards it. I firmly believe that work can be a fulfilling part of your life, because it has been in mine.
And if you’re an artist, knowing how to work well, will increase your value to others who hire you for your artistic skills, and it will help you improve your art, rather than just coasting by on what you’ve already been give a talent for.
Plus, if you’re struggling to get your art sold, you might still need to have other work to get by, and it would sure be nice if you didn’t hate the fact that you had to do this extra work to support your art.
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