Don’t you wish instead of celebrating “Labor Day” we were celebrating “Passion Day?”
By asking that question I am in no way belittling the intrinsic meaning of Labor Day. I think the way the US Department of Labor describes Labor Day as a yearly national tribute to:
the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.. to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker
is actually quite inspiring and evokes strong feelings of patriotism. Reading the story of the parade of unions of 1882 that turned September 5th into a “day of the people” gave me goose bumps of happiness. It’s the word “labor” that gets me.
To labor is to…
When I think of the word “labor” I think of toiling in pain and difficulty. I associate the word with feelings of unhappiness and hopelessness in poor working conditions. I believe that’s how many workers were feeling 130 years ago as the movement was in its infancy.
At the same time, I also associate the word “labor” with birth; labor gives way to the birth of children, ideas, and new beginnings. My wish for all American workers is that in the future we will be able to give birth to new ideas and new beginnings not from a place of unhappiness, but from a pursuit of true passion.
I believe leaders play a role in this, and that it doesn’t have to be just a wish.
I believe that leaders have the power – and responsibility – to bring out the passion in their workers by:
- Creating and communicating a vision and purpose for their company that will inspire their workers.
- Connecting each worker’s individual role with the vision and purpose so that they understand, and can feel proud of, the personal impact they make each and every day. This way, even if they’re not passionate about the “job” (perhaps a repetitive role on a factory line) they can be passionate about their role in helping the company create a life-saving or life-enhancing product, as an example.
- Encouraging their workers to ignite their passion by empowering them to share ideas for improvement and innovation, and to take an active role in the company’s success.
We all have a powerful inner light that ignites the passion within us. My wish for American workers is a future where we all labor with passion, creating a healthier, more beautiful, and richly prosperous world.
Happy Passion Day, America!
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This blog post is dedicated to the memory of Trey Pennington. He inspired me through his graciousness and thoughtfulness, and he absolutely lived his passion.
Need help creating a business vision? Hire me for Visionary Leadership programs, and work with me by emailing me at Lisa@CLevelStrategies.com.
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RELATED POSTS:
Visionary Leadership: Proof of Power in Pursuing Passion
The Question We Should All Be Asking Our Customers
Leadership and Loyalty: Why it Must Start Within You
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Photo is Jump for Joy by dydcheung.
13 Response Comments
Hi Lisa. As usual, your thoughts are inspiring and motivational. Happy Labor Day!
@cziomek Thank you, Christopher – you too!
Thoughtful post Lisa. Many times our passion helps us persevere in the labor. But regardless the reason, we are grateful that people labored. We acknowledge it because without it, we wouldn’t be as well off as we are. I applaud those who pushed through where no passion existed. Sometimes I think we celebrate the passion the other 364 days.
Happy Labor Day. Mike…
Lisa,
In one month I will turn 62 and for most of my adult life I have yearned to be a laborer. That is, to be part of something bigger, to participate in making something tangible. It would be an honor.
What drives us sometimes is just the desire to eat. My father joined the US Navy as soon as he turned 18. It was 1936; his driving force was a “passion” to be able to eat. The miracle was he found his passion and loved the Navy.
Today I worry about “labor”, the body of people. I worry about families being forced to live in motels, so much so that school busses now stop at motels to pick up children. I worry about those that will die from ordinary everyday ailments like an infected tooth, because they have no health insurance. I worry about what brings someone like Trey to the end, were there no avenues of help?
A very long time ago (I believe during the Civil War) Sherman said: “There will soon come an armed contest between capital and labor. They will oppose each other, not with words and arguments, but with shot and shell, gun-powder and cannon. The better classes are tired of the insane howling of the lower strata and they mean to stop them.”
Perhaps, if I hadn’t given this quote a time reference…one might think we were talking of today.
Take care, be well, and thank you for being there.
Judy
@mikehenrysr This is such an inspirational perspective, Mike – I really appreciate you sharing it. It makes me think of my ancestors who labored out of love for their families and for a better life rather than for the passion in the work. Thanks for making me think bigger.
@JudyHelfand I really feel as though you’ve poured your heart out here, Judy and it has genuinely moved me. Though I would never attribute that quote to today, I can understand how you think some might. I don’t worry as much as I find inspiration in the past efforts of men and women to simply overcome. I believe if we could all shine our own, inner light more strongly we could make a better world. Thank you for being here – your words always mean so much to me!
When I was younger and wasn’t working, I looked at this day as a reminder to a couple of items. End of summer (so, back to school) and Football seasons start up.
Lisa.. I really enjoyed this. I think a lot of folks, have really lost the meaning of what Labor Day is about. When I asked some folks about what it meant to them. Younger folks pointed out that it is the end of summer (and back to school). Others pointed out that it is the start of the football seasons. I even remember someone telling me that after Labor Day it is not fashionable to wear white.
I had to go out and do some resource to fully understand the meaning behind Labor Day. Glad I did.. Did you know that Congress took only 6 days to pass Labor Day as a National Holiday? 6 days… I guess Congress worked together better back then.
@stevebellnow Steve, I think you’re right – we’ve lost the meaning in so many ways. I loved the way the Dept of Labor described the American worker as having so much to do with our strength, freedom and leadership! I still feel that way and believe it strongly – we can only hope others feel this in their hearts as well, even if they’re not celebrating it directly today.
A couple comments here 🙂 I’m off to “labor” at Village Inn 🙂 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiF8h9HHJGY @lisapetrilli
@CateTV@LisaPetrilli You know I just LOVE getting your video comments! Thank you for adding the mention of how important a Labor of Love is… You’re right, the love of the people can be the passion itself, even when you don’t particularly love the job. I know how wonderful you are with people – how you genuinely care and are interested in their happiness and well-being. I am sure that comes through as you serve others – in both the literal and figurative ways! Hugs to you, Miss Cate!
Labor is what made this country great and created the capital that drives our future. Every effort, large and small, of labor should be celebrated. Call it passion, call it labor… everyone can make a difference in how we shape the world and our lives.
@juenglingc So beautifully said!