I have a work ethic that has, at some times, driven me to the point of near collapse. And maybe that’s an imbalance I’ll have to address… But I work. Hard. Accepting any help whatsoever is difficult for me, because I want to handle it (anything, everything) myself. I am terrified to fail myself.

This blog is one I’ll probably come back to frequently. I’ll need to hear it often… Not to be told to work hard. I do that. I always have. But I’ll need to be reminded that it will eventually amount to something. Right now I am stuck in a frustrating place where my education is actually more damaging than helpful. My student loan bills are, frankly, crushing me. 5 years in a private college earning two degrees and a minor in a foreign language should provide me something of a job… Except I have no PAID work experience. And any job that doesn’t require experience tells me I’m “over qualified”…

So eventually I’m going to give the job to myself. I’m going to launch my own career right from these trenches. It’s just going to be a long, gritty, and even bloody fight to get there. Thanks for this, Sean. Oh, and I love your Granddaddy’s words about being criticized for having the winner’s way. I’m going to keep that in my heart.

Economic times are tough and many people are searching for a job so they can keep a roof over their head and food on the table.

True that getting a job is not always easy. Getting a job does not involve luck though. To further that statement to it’s truest point, there is no such thing as luck.

I have a full time job. I applied for the job I currently have. They hired me based on what value they thought I could contribute to their bottom line. All companies want employees that bring more value than what the company is paying in wages.

Can a company “let an employee go” even though that employee is providing more value than their pay check? Yes, oh yes they can! Is that fair? No. But life is not fair and that is just a hard fact we all have to accept. Does that mean you should give up? NO!

While I was in university I worked a full time graveyard shift as a forklift operator. Staying up all night, often lifting 50 lbs sacks of flour or rice … it was not an easy job. During the Christmas holidays the company brought in temporary workers at a pay of $14/hr to put cardboard boxes together. That is it … just put cardboard boxes together… ridiculously easy job. Temps would walk out because they thought the task was beneath them.

Not all employers are honest, many play “games” with employees. However; there are even more employees who have zero work ethic. Even now where I work, a corporate office, there are people who spend more time talking or walking around than actually working. Then they have the nerve to complain if the company’s bonus pay is less than it was last year. A bonus that is based on company revenues, revenues that increase when everyone does their job (and then some).

It is so nice to hear someone talk about the importance of a good work ethic. I was raised to believe that doing absolutely the best that you can do at whatever you do is it’s own reward. Regardless of whether anyone notices or not, when I do my best I feel good about what I do and better about myself. But,obviously I suppose, you can’t be selective, because if you just do your best because you expect a reward and then feel bad when you don’t get it you’ve missed the point completely.
Of course, not everyone has the great role models that I had

I also have a growing concern about the sense of entitlement in our society and more specifically in our youth. As an economist (and I really don’t know how that happened) in an academic environment, I’m surrounded by brilliant students. Most seem to think that once they get that holy grail of a diploma, society owes them a job, (of course I have graduate students who complain if they have to share an office.) Expectations are so high. So many young people have an expectation of being able to live at the same standard of living as their parents. But their parents didn’t have thousands of dollars in student debt. Nor did their parents have to start out in an economy slowly recovering from the worst rececession since the Depression.

Having said that, this country still brimming with opportunity, and opportunity is a great motivator. I had the great fortune to work with countries in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc just after the Berlin Wall came down. Talk about terrible service when shopping. I was traveling in countries in which people (forgive my horrible simplification) were basically handed a job, given a salary that would largely never change no matter how one performed and offered no opportunity for advancement. I remember being the only person in a small store in in Southern Poland in middle of the day with two sales clerks and they both refused to wait on me. I finally just tossed the money on the counter and left. Fortunately, things are improving in most of these countries, but they still have a long way to go.

So kudos on the intelligent insight on a topic that needs attention both for the economy and society in general.

Rightious words!

My dad always said, “Girl, you gotta work for want you want. It ain’t easy, it’s damn hard. You work your ass off, give it all ya got. But I promise you, earning it yourself is better than gettin it handed to you. Don’t let anyone hand you anything because chances are, it ain’t worth a damn anyhow.”. My son was struggling with idea that ALL of his friends get anything they ask for Xboxes, PS3, all that “stuff”. Then just the other day when him and I were out at the park throwing the football around, he hugs me tight afterward and says, “Mom, I love you so much, do you know why?” When I asked why he said, “None of my friends parents do stuff with them like we do, they sit in front of the tv, computer, games and that’s it. I would much rather do something with you than have all that stuff”. I hope this means I am winning this war. 🙂

If there’s one thing I miss it’s working. I have always worked and taken care of my life and my girls. Providing for them and being able to give them everything they needed was the greatest feeling in the world. Ever since I had to stop working I’ve had bouts of depression and gotten fat. Recently I stopped that destructive cycle and made my own fate. But I miss going to work and feeling needed and helpful. An I really miss being able to give my girls the life they deserve and hate struggling every month. One day I will be healthy enough to go back to work and I can’t wait til that day comes

I really like the underlying message here: that the process of achieving one’s goals is as equally important as the endpoint!

Sean, I have to give you credit, at one time, I only saw you as an “actor’.

Your twitter Q&A’s and this blog has me believing you are a phenomenal human being who cares for and willingly offers his opinions on health, principles and dedication. Just what this confused world needs. I survived the bombing of the WTC in ’93 and 9/11 and have coasted through the years on a cloud of PTSD, Major depressive disorder and anxiety/panic attacks . I have tried and continue therapy and meds and cannot rise above the fear and grief. When I read your words on Twit or your blog, I feel encouraged for a while until the depression takes hold again. But the key is “I FEEL ENCOURAGED”. I haven’t ever since the attacks until I began reading your blog. I followed you on tweet and you kindly followed back, so now several times a week I am fortunate to read your opinions and thoughts and smile and agree with them.. at this point in my life, this is the highlight in my closed up world, I have you to thank for that. I am not able to work at this time because I hid my depression for years until it floored me in 2011.. I am feeling despondent today and yet made a point of reading your blog because your heart is in every word and I feel part of something special. Thank you and God bless you for your kind heart, sense of humor and wisdom.

As usual, you hit the nail on the head. I don’t know when having a work ethic became such an antiquated concept. I see it every day with the younger generation coming into the workforce. They want instant gratification as if you owe them something. It has become “what can you do for me?” versus “what can I do for you?”. It comes down to good old fashioned home training and values. Thanks for the honesty and openness that you always share so you can help people make the most of themselves and their lives and shine 🙂

Let me just say…WOW. I am truly blown away by your wisdom, Sean. Every blog I read of yours seem to catch me by surprise. You’re beyond intelligent and your words are truly helping me. I almost feel as if this blog was a sign, as if it were made for me to see. This past month has been nothing but trying to figure out my future. ALL I want in this world is to act. YOU are so much help to me. I remember you saying to a fan at a Con once that if he was serious about pursuing an acting career that he should move. Move. It is a simple word, yet one that REALLY changed everything for me. I had to pause the video on YouTube and reflect on what you had said. Move. Move to LA if you’re 100% serious about acting. Well, I AM serious. There isn’t much for me in my hometown anyway and all along I knew what had to be done in order for me to follow this dream, I was just nervous and afraid to make that step. I needed to physically HEAR someone say it and you did and coming from my idol, that meant SO much to me. I’m going to work my ass off at my job. I’m going to go the extra mile to show my employer and show myself my true worth. MORE will get done and I will see to that! And once this year is up, and I’m 18 and have some money saved and feel confident to make it out in LA, I am moving. I WILL NOT GIVE UP AND I WILL BE AN ACTRESS. I am confident and dedicated. I wish I could tell you all of this…I wish you knew how much you’ve done for me. You will always be my idol and my inspiration. Who knows, maybe I will even be lucky enough to act in a film with you one day. Wouldn’t that be a dream come true! Until then, I will keep shining…until tomorrow! 😀 ♥ Love you, Sean!

Sean,
I could go on and on how relevant what you said is to my present situation and I am grateful you took the time to write it. I was fired from my job recently for having a work ethic and that blew me away on one level, but didn’t surprise me on another. I took a position in a maximum level state correctional facility because I needed a job and they were the first ones to offer me one and I was treated with more genuine respect from the men behind the bars than the onn;t making an income to run it (mainly the higher management- not the warden, etc, but the shift captains and their lieutenants) and had the ones incarcerated and employed there living in more fear of retaliation and human cruelty than anyone else in the entire institution. I wasn’t a corrections officer, but dealt with every level of prisoner on one level or another and prison is a depressing place for anybody to be and many need to be separated from society, but they are still human beings and again, I learned this more from first hand experience in ways I never imagined, which is why I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything, but I learned the lesson and am ready to move forward with a more compassionate heart and a stronger conviction to do what I know is right and not cower down in the face of adversity for doing the right thing, no matter what beat down and shunning from others may come my way, knowing that it is the shadows of fear and the mirage of strength through bullying that is the wrong way to go and never worth compromising my work ethic and believing in treating my fellow human beings as my equals not people to judge or feel superior to, because it is hypocritical at best. We are all flawed, some just pay for it more than others. No one is better than anyone else and anyone who thinks they are is already headed down the road to a dead end of an empty legacy and that has nothing to inherit but their own delusional belief of elitist entitlement to their worthless fortune of an empty heart and soul. The bottom line is that our only true opponent in life is ourselves as well as our only authentic competitor. Others are a gauge, but we are the only person when push comes to shove. I appreciate what you say and what you think and what you believe and as with my own grandpa, your grandaddy knew what he was talking about. Right is right. Wrong is wrong. A spade is a spade. And you are one cool cowboy that I can relate to in a lonely, lonely time that will pass soon enough, but I truly appreciate you putting yourself out there for me and everyone else who takes the time and has the gift of reading shine… until tomorrow. Thanks!

Good Morning Captain,
I know you read all of these comments and I just wanted to say how very wonderful and special it is that you give so much time and effort into not only making your fans feel appreciated but more importantly empowering them to change their lives and in many cases save them. I know this blog set me on my path but it was meeting you that inspired immediate and drastic change and was exactly what I needed.
I’m working on a project for you that I’m going to give/reveal to you in Louisville, but I feel like I need your permission first. Which is a catch 22 because I so very much want to surprise you. I think this is too big to spring on you though if I’m not positive of your reaction… Sunny has assured me that you will be absolutely thrilled and that I shouldn’t ruin the surprise…. But I respect you too much to not try to get a go ahead beforehand.
The project is just my was of being an Ambassador of SHINE and your message… It’s probably equivalent to “My single drops on Tuesday” big… So can you let me know if I should go ahead and surprise you or if you want to know what it is and approve it or want design input….
I’m so sorry I’m rambling and you are so busy….
Thank you so much for your time and everything you do! You totally made our night by bombing our hashtag battle 😉
Your Shining Ninja in Training,
Val

I don’t mean for this to get posted, I just know you read these. Thanks!! =D

What you are doing for fatherless youth and unwanted women is wonderful. You are letting people know that someone out there cares and there is a standard to live up to. You ARE supposed to give to and back to society. Your tips for the interview are spot on! In one of my jobs, I had to hire people and the “i’m a people person” or “I’m a quick learner”, etc, didn’t cut it. Those are answers for Miss America. Why does my company need a people person? What computer programs have you already learned and have competency in to show me you’re a quick learner? Can you type code? I was always taught to research the company I was to interview with even if I was going to wash the ladies’ room. You’d be surprised who gets remembered.
Your example is very competitive and it’s that thing that will have the interviewer make NOTES and not DAWDLES on your application. If I were still in the working world, I’d eat you up like corn flakes for any bit of wisdom you could toss my way. But, aside from a few hours on this thing, a couple of hours reading., a couple of hours of writing, tv making noise for company, the rest of my time is spent making deals with God. I know he won’t meet me on them, but we just have that kind of relationship.
See, I don’t want to live past the age of 62. I’m 43 now. I’ve endured 13 years of varying levels of pain, more painful with each passing year. I’ve done physical therapy a number of times but I didn’t progress. I still do the exercises because I don’t want to atrophy. I’m still very limber. I can still bend over and put my hands on the floor beside my feet and I do it every day, but as I bend down, electricity shoots out my achilles’ tendons and when I walk my hands back up my body I fall to my knees because the L5,L4&L3 discs ooze acid onto my nerve endings and I scream silently for at least a full minute. There are 8-9 discs in varying stages of degeneration, osteoarthritis in all major joints and both middle knuckles and the second and third metacarpals of the right hand (never fight with a wall when you’re drunk….or sober for that matter, the wall usually wins). There’s spinal stenosis, bone spurs here and there, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, and CFS. One of the discs that hasn’t blown yet, thank God, gets inflamed and puts pressure on a nerve that helps move the diaphragm so I get short winded sometimes, almost daily.
The reason I chose 62 is I believe by then I will have had time to see grandchildren and make memories with them. I don’t want to live when S1 and S2 go and I can’t feel myself lose control of my functions.
Early onset dementia runs rampant on my mother’s side of the family and I have mental illness to boot which is also a predecessor to dementia. I’ve already laid the paving stones with Anomic Aphasia. But that’s 20 years from now. And like I say…. God doesn’t make deals.
He makes promises, he promises to give me the strength to get through every day if I listen to that still, small voice within. It’s the Irish in me that makes deals. It’s the Cherokee in me that holds me to the earth as one of her children. And it’s the Catholic who I am that prays diligently for my sons to endure me, for the strength to do as much as I can while I can, and the continued Faith, even on the suckass days and in just 84 days into this 2014 new year, so far, the suckass days are winning, but that’sbecause I’ve got another month to go without meds. Well, three more weeks. 20 days. I hate changing docs. ok, i’ve bellyached long enough!!!!!
Going to turn some music on, and get my groove thang, get my groove thang yeah, yeah, come on everybody now! no boogie…. some salsa and cumbia…. and then night meds until my asshole cat wakes me up in the morning three hours before the meds would have let me sleep! Maybe I’ll Shine in my sleep! lololol God I love ya Sean! You’re a good egg. Brilla….hasta mañana!!

Hi Sean
It’s a great point and you nailed it, BUT there’s a point that i don’t agree.
You said that if you go to a store that is open since 8 am to 8 pm, and you go at 7:59 you don’t have the same service as if you go at noon. That’s correct, but it’s because we don’t want to work. When you go to a store that you KNOW that is closing, you do a small, kind of emercy purchase, you don’t do a major purchase, trolleys full of things and acting like you have the whole time of the world. IT’S DIRRESPECTUL!!!! We have family to go home to. In my case, i clock in early and clock out late, but my boss dosen’t pay overtime, and insist that we don’t clock out late. So in my stor from 9 am to 9 pm, my time table usualy is from 5:30 pm to 9-.30 pm, so if the store close at 9pm i only have 30 minutes to do cleaning, desenfecting, take the stand down and prepare everything for the next day. So i’m sorry if i’m being a little blunt but PEOPLE ARE DISREPECTFUL and don’t understand that we are humans to.

This blog made me think a lot about the way I work…. and led to a beautiful ‘Happy Birthday’ card from my boss this year:
‘Thank you for your great support and your commitment. Love, happiness and health for you!’
!!!!!!!!!!