Comments on: Make the world a better place from the job you have right now http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Mon, 08 Sep 2008 05:27:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Martha http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-69289 Martha Thu, 10 May 2007 21:22:01 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-69289 Here's a crazy example of someone who did good when he didn't even have a job...or, actually, much of his life left. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070510/od_nm/execution_pizzas_odd_dc_1 In my family, during the 60s and the 70s, my dad was the breadwinner/corporate lawyer guy, and my mother was a (mostly unpaid) activist, and she did, and does, boatloads of good. When my father had his 25th college reunion, he filled 2/3 of his reunion page with my mother's accomplishments. He was insanely proud of her, as he should have been. You also make me wonder how different all of our (American) lives might be if we had universal health care. Here's a crazy example of someone who did good when he didn't even have a job…or, actually, much of his life left.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070510/od_nm/execution_pizzas_odd_dc_1

In my family, during the 60s and the 70s, my dad was the breadwinner/corporate lawyer guy, and my mother was a (mostly unpaid) activist, and she did, and does, boatloads of good. When my father had his 25th college reunion, he filled 2/3 of his reunion page with my mother's accomplishments. He was insanely proud of her, as he should have been.

You also make me wonder how different all of our (American) lives might be if we had universal health care.

]]> By: Lori http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-60791 Lori Mon, 23 Apr 2007 17:01:12 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-60791 Sometimes you do a good, honor deed like helping a preveous c0-woker, to come aboard a new job with you( she was working long hours and no raises and they were demeaning her all the time) and to find out that she is now trying to get your postion and you and her have battle of the minds over this and she is always trying to undermind your reasoning and trying to make you look dum, this is my problem and she always makes the same statement" WE beter wait for the managers approval" which I am the Asst. Manager and I can act in the Managers position when absent. What can I do to change the tone with her and this issue? I am a very caring person and I thought I was doing a good deed at the time.... not sure now!!!!! Thanks Sometimes you do a good, honor deed like helping a preveous c0-woker, to come aboard a new job with you( she was working long hours and no raises and they were demeaning her all the time) and to find out that she is now trying to get your postion and you and her have battle of the minds over this and she is always trying to undermind your reasoning and trying to make you look dum, this is my problem and she always makes the same statement" WE beter wait for the managers approval" which I am the Asst. Manager and I can act in the Managers position when absent. What can I do to change the tone with her and this issue? I am a very caring person and I thought I was doing a good deed at the time…. not sure now!!!!!

Thanks

]]> By: kathy coulter http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-33079 kathy coulter Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:04:24 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-33079 It's one thing to do good because you really feel it, quite another to think that something good will happen to you because you picked paper towels up off the floor for the cleaning lady. Self absorption is a pretty tough nut to crack and requires a lot of soul searching to fix. Doing something "good" doesn't necessarily clean up your karma. It's one thing to do good because you really feel it, quite another to think that something good will happen to you because you picked paper towels up off the floor for the cleaning lady. Self absorption is a pretty tough nut to crack and requires a lot of soul searching to fix. Doing something "good" doesn't necessarily clean up your karma.

]]> By: JULIA http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-26480 JULIA Fri, 09 Feb 2007 01:11:37 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-26480 Thanks for pointing out the good deeds. I strongly believe it's important to know what is good. Knowing a relationship can be struck easily and it's another way of knowing yourself as well as disagreeing over things you dislike of those you work for or with. It's a character nature in life that always brings out the best in an individual. Love thy neighbor as you love thy self. Rather you do something because you were told what to do or do it because you want to do it from your own good heart. It's very simple because it is a Great Blessing to you in the eyes of the Lord. Thanks for pointing out the good deeds. I strongly believe it's important to know what is good. Knowing a relationship can be struck easily and it's another way of knowing yourself as well as disagreeing over things you dislike of those you work for or with. It's a character nature in life that always brings out the best in an individual. Love thy neighbor as you love thy self. Rather you do something because you were told what to do or do it because you want to do it from your own good heart. It's very simple because it is a Great Blessing to you in the eyes of the Lord.

]]> By: Gary http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-22647 Gary Fri, 02 Feb 2007 22:50:17 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-22647 Penelope, What a lot of people fail to realize is that any job can give people the feeling of helping the "greater good." Garbage collectors can just think they are helping to keep their towns clean, and thus helping prevent illnesses from bacteria's. Nurses can feel better about their job by, in addition to helping their patients physically, by changing sheets, IV's etc., they can help them emotionally by making sure that the rooms have a homely appearance. Also, maybe spend some time to talk with them if they do not have that many visitors. Gary <strong>* * * * * *</strong> <em>Thanks for pointing this out, Gary. There is not one type of job that is a dream job, and you give great examples to show this. The woman I cite in this post, <a href="http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~sonja/about.html" rel="nofollow">Sonja Lyubomirsky</a>, has actually done a lot of research to support exactly what you saying, Gary. I hope everyone takes this to heart when looking for a dream career. Often we can fulfill our real dreams just by helping others. </em> <em>-Penelope</i></em> Penelope,
What a lot of people fail to realize is that any job can give people the feeling of helping the "greater good." Garbage collectors can just think they are helping to keep their towns clean, and thus helping prevent illnesses from bacteria's. Nurses can feel better about their job by, in addition to helping their patients physically, by changing sheets, IV's etc., they can help them emotionally by making sure that the rooms have a homely appearance. Also, maybe spend some time to talk with them if they do not have that many visitors.
Gary

* * * * * *

Thanks for pointing this out, Gary. There is not one type of job that is a dream job, and you give great examples to show this. The woman I cite in this post, Sonja Lyubomirsky, has actually done a lot of research to support exactly what you saying, Gary. I hope everyone takes this to heart when looking for a dream career. Often we can fulfill our real dreams just by helping others.

-Penelope

]]> By: Penelope Trunk http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-1073 Penelope Trunk Sat, 07 Oct 2006 15:51:30 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-1073 Dale, I liked the resarch I linked to here becuase it says that everyone has an inherent drive to be kind to others. It is true that some people don't seem to be exhibiting that drive, but I think it's because they are scared, or insecure, or unsure, or something is keeping them from being their true, good selves. Dale, I liked the resarch I linked to here becuase it says that everyone has an inherent drive to be kind to others. It is true that some people don't seem to be exhibiting that drive, but I think it's because they are scared, or insecure, or unsure, or something is keeping them from being their true, good selves.

]]> By: Dale http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-1072 Dale Thu, 05 Oct 2006 15:10:57 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-1072 Random acts of kindness, just because . . . are a way people can and do define themselves. We all know persons who would seldom perform such actions unless the fact that they did it was visible to at least one other person. I believe that kindness is a personality trait and not something that one can learn in adulthood without having had a life-altering experience. Perhaps I'm being negative here, but while kindness is often to be found in the unlikeliest:) of places, I have seen enough in my life to suggest that unless it is an integral part of one's personality, it is difficult to perform especially secretly. Thoughts???? Random acts of kindness, just because . . . are a way people can and do define themselves. We all know persons who would seldom perform such actions unless the fact that they did it was visible to at least one other person.
I believe that kindness is a personality trait and not something that one can learn in adulthood without having had a life-altering experience.
Perhaps I'm being negative here, but while kindness is often to be found in the unlikeliest:) of places, I have seen enough in my life to suggest that unless it is an integral part of one's personality, it is difficult to perform especially secretly.
Thoughts????

]]> By: Willie http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-1071 Willie Thu, 05 Oct 2006 01:38:39 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-1071 Thanks Penelope! This is just the sort of column that I keep reading your blog for. Well done. Thanks Penelope! This is just the sort of column that I keep reading your blog for. Well done.

]]> By: Karen http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-1070 Karen Thu, 05 Oct 2006 01:03:33 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-1070 my acts of altruism (true) - I always pick up paper towels that are on the floor of the UBS bathroom near the sinks so the cleaning lady doesn't have to do it. (I use a clean paper towel to pick them up!) And it makes me feel extra good that no one sees me do it and the cleaning lady doesn't know it's been done. my acts of altruism (true) - I always pick up paper towels that are on the floor of the UBS bathroom near the sinks so the cleaning lady doesn't have to do it. (I use a clean paper towel to pick them up!) And it makes me feel extra good that no one sees me do it and the cleaning lady doesn't know it's been done.

]]> By: Andrew McAllister http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-1069 Andrew McAllister Tue, 03 Oct 2006 17:29:00 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/10/03/make-the-world-a-better-place-from-the-job-you-have-right-now/#comment-1069 I like your definition of a marriage. :o) Andrew (To Love, Honor and Dismay) I like your definition of a marriage. :o)

Andrew (To Love, Honor and Dismay)

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