(By Rick Fink) How do you define hard work? If you’re like most, when we say “hard work” we think of physical, tough labor that includes sweating, getting dirty, accompanied by tired and sore arms, legs, and back.
As media reps and managers, we don’t typically describe what we do as “labor” in every sense of the word. I never once got blisters (other than maybe on my butt) while selling radio or managing people, although I have secretly been sweating bullets a few times. Nonetheless, what we do is laborious and at times it’s absolutely hard work.
One definition of labor is, “productive activity, especially for the sake of economic gain”. If you’re in sales, we hope that you are doing it because of the great potential for economic gain.
Unofficially the first celebration to recognize “hard work” was held on Sept. 5, 1882. Union leaders in New York City organized a “Labor Day” parade. Tens of thousands of labor union members—bricklayers, jewelers, typographers, dress and cloak makers, and many other tradespeople, took unpaid leave and marched with their locals. The day culminated in picnics, speeches, fireworks, and dancing. It was in 1884 that Labor Day was officially recognized as a national holiday, always to be celebrated on the first Monday of September.
This weekend, celebrate yourself for what you do and what you do for your customers and the economy. But also celebrate those that make it possible for us to do what we do; the on-air staff, engineers, production, promotions, traffic, support, and even the people that keep your office clean. If it weren’t for them, your job wouldn’t be possible.
In addition, celebrate everyone else in your cities and communities, the first responders (our police, first responders, and our firemen and women), those that work in the factories and fields, in the offices, retail stores, sanitation, truck drivers, linemen, service and medical professionals, the stay-at-home moms, and dads and don’t forget our military and our educators.
More importantly, this weekend and always, celebrate and appreciate everyone, regardless of their political party and views, regardless of the color of their skin or the religion they choose to believe in.
We hope your Labor Day weekend is filled with picnics, speeches, fireworks, and maybe even a little dancing. But most of all, make sure you celebrate YOU and your hard work!
NEVER Stop Learning – Get Better Every Day!
Rick Fink from ENS Media (www.ensmediausa.com) can be reached by phone at 605-310-2062 or e-mail at [email protected]
