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Credit

We all deserve credit, acknowledgment, and when warranted, praise for those things we do well.
There are times when we do not receive this type of recognition and while it can, at times, be difficult to process why, it should never deter us from doing our best. The one thing I will never understand is those people who want credit for work, whether well done or not. The type of work they're expected or hired to do. Many of us grow up receiving an allowance for petty chores. Some more time consuming and detail oriented than others, but for the most part, they are simple tasks aimed at teaching us, with responsibility comes reward. The pay in itself is the credit and as we mature, we accept that vocal or written praise is not as important as being paid a fair share for a given assignment. The fair share debate is one for another time.

Recently, I've noticed that people I know, work with, simply come across, want to be acknowledged not only for everything they do, but the actions, even the thoughts of others. Openly crediting a team you contributed nothing to, does not make you a team player, nor does it earn you praise. Telling others you had thought of the same things they were thinking doesn't make you part of the planning process. Simply being physically present doesn't make one a cog in the machine. Actions speak louder than words is more than a cliche, it's a way of life. If one chooses to be vocal their actions should match their tone. Likewise, those whose vocal presence is muted, should not match this with inefficiency and laziness.

Somewhere in this universe, there is a perfect match of words, action, and praise, but the workplace is often not the place to seek it. It can be frustrating for all, because as humans, we crave love, acceptance, and recognition. Sometimes, it's not about praise, it's simply about being recognized, not as something special, but as something. It's hard for those of us, who are mature, or maybe just jaded enough to understand we're all just grunts, drumming along, never expecting or receiving the praise, while those desperate for attention receive it superfluously. Often, those who seem to need it are even rewarded with higher pay, which is the crux of the matter. It is also the new American Dream, which has been simplified the old adage on success from "An honest day's pay for an honest day's work," to "make as much as possible with the least amount of effort." I could also add, "and take credit for as much as you can, without raising suspicion."

In the end, we know what we've done and we look to other outlets for praise, recognition, acknowledgment, and even love or at the very least, admiration. It does take a lifetime to get to that point, and I'm not sure ir ever fully comes while we're present in the situation.

Is there such a thing as employment enlightenment?

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