When it’s just been one of THOSE days at work, the last thing you want to hear is some well-intentioned, but oh so annoying, piece of life counsel: don’t take it personally, turn a blind eye, let it go like water off a duck’s back…
That’s tough advice. How exactly am I supposed to take it? Like a blind, aquatic bird? Sometimes, the only way to take it is personally.
Hard driving, competitive, competent people always take it personally. “It’s just business” is not a mantra we’re accustomed to. Of course, it’s not just business. Our jobs are personal, important endeavors, and we take them incredibly seriously. Because we pour our hearts and souls into our work. Because in essence, we give ourselves to the job.
That, I think, is sincerely a good thing. Unfortunately, however, it also means that we take some every-day workplace situations with a little too much personal passion and enthusiasm.
Obviously, life is so much better when you don’t take on the burden of somebody else’s curmudgeonly attitude or furrowed brows. Maybe they’re constipated or just upset their project was cancelled. Whatever… Sometimes you are the bigger person: you ignore the sorry sods, go on your merry way, get your work done, and go home to the rest of your life. Those are the good days.
But what about the days some crabby twit really gets you going? If you can’t take it personally, maybe you just need to get personal. So here’s my advice: take a load off, get out the cork screw and toast the aggravating clod with Kanye:
You can hate this post if you want. I won’t take it personally.
