Succeeding at Doing What You Don’t Like

There are things I hate to do. This is why I use a secret to success my mother taught me from childhood.

“Tackle the things you dislike first, and then you are free to enjoy what you do like.”

It works.

When a sink full of dishes screeches my name, I take a deep breath, and remind myself that I can usually have the whole batch done in twenty minutes or less. Looking at a sparkling kitchen makes me feel at peace with the whole world.

Making that first phone call to a disorganized customer gets the ball rolling. Responsibility for action is on them, and my mind is free of the guilt I feel for putting a job off.

Calling disgruntled employees in to help them weed through their problems, saves all affected from the ravages of letting negative emotions grow. Together, my employee and I can root out misinterpretations, assumptions, and inappropriate gossip. A thirty minute session can turn everything around — at least for a few more weeks, when another weeding is required.

Writing those checks, paying bills online, and balancing my checkbook, prevents nasty surprises like late fees and overdrafts. Often, the bottom line I dreaded turns into a positive outcome. By staying on top of my finances, I’m relieved to focus attention on other areas of my life.

Talking myself into sitting in the seat and writing those first few words, starts a rush of momentum. Before I know it, I can write several hundred words when I force my brain to concentrate on the writing task in front of me. When I’ve met the goal, I want to do a happy dance. I’m the epitome of the writer who doesn’t want to write, but to have written.

After I finish the jobs I most dislike, I revel in the things I most enjoy. The sky looks bluer, the air smells fresher, the birds sound sweeter, my food tastes better, and the ground under my feet feels stronger. I can go deeper into the book I’m reading or movie I’m watching. The laughter of my husband, children, and grandchildren sounds brighter. And at work, I smile more often.

There’s nothing like the sense of satisfaction after you’ve done something difficult. There is no greater reward.

Success is defined not by what we like, but how we handle what we dislike.

How do you motivate yourself to tackle unsavory jobs?

Anita FreshFaith @ Work

Anita Agers-Brooks is a Business Coach, Certified Personality Trainer, Communications Specialist, national speaker, and author. She lives in Missouri with her family.

Contact her via www.anitabrooks.com or anita.freshfaith@gmail.com