Giving thanks for your career

“The only thing more overrated than natural childbirth is the joy of owning your own business.” A sign containing that sentence, attributed to no one, hangs in my office.

It gets a lot of laughs from visitors.

While I disagree to a large extent with the sentiment about entrepreneurship, I do believe 100 percent in what I call the Kathleen Begley corollary. It’s about working for someone else.

“The only thing more underrated than natural fabrics — which many people hate because they need ironing — is the joy of working for someone else.”

OK. So I believe in both the joy of owning your own business and the joy of having a job. Isn’t that contradictory? Absolutely. But here’s why I hold these opinions.

For the first part of my career, I had what I call “real” jobs. These are positions where you show up somewhere to work and, in exchange, you receive a fixed sum and other benefits.

For the second half, I have been self-employed. This means that I work for a variety of different companies and, in exchange, receive an agreed-upon amount and no benefits.

Largely because of my independent temperament and lifelong initiative, I prefer the second arrangement.

But, to be honest with you, I failed to appreciate the fabulous parts of regular employment until years later.

Remember the old Joni Mitchell song, “Don’t Know What You Got Til It’s Gone?” Well, that was me. Considering that this happens to be Thanksgiving week, I’ve been focusing on retroactively feeling grateful for the perks I enjoyed when working for about

Considering that this happens to be Thanksgiving week, I’ve been focusing on retroactively feeling grateful for the perks I enjoyed when working for about a dozen different employers in my ‘20s and ‘30s.

a dozen different employers in my ‘20s and ‘30s.

I’m hoping this gratitude list may also work for you as a current jobholder.

I particularly recommend thinking about these things before you give up your position in government, a corporation, a nonprofit — or anywhere else where you’re on the payroll. THANK HEAVEN FOR THE JOB ITSELF » Although the economy seems to be improving at long last, decently paid positions still are hard to come by. If you’re managed to get through the frightening application, vetting, interview and other processes to land a job, give yourself a big round of applause — and be grateful. APPRECIATE YOUR COWORKERS » Unless you’ve attracted the attention of a venture capitalist willing to send millions of dollars your way, you’d be unlikely to hire dozens of people in the early days of your business. Even if your cubicle mate talks too loudly on the phone and your boss is hypercritical, you’d be lost without them. Honest. According to studies of people who lose their jobs for one reason or another, they miss the human contact more than the money — amazing but true. FOCUS ON YOUR WORK STATION » Even if your desk is squeezed into a nondescript spot in the basement of an old warehouse, someone has to pay not just for the furniture but for the space. And then there are more basic supplies. The first time I opened a business, I was flabbergasted at the cost of paper, pens, staplers, tape holders, paper clips, sticky notes, scissors, rubber bands and similar items. Before that, I had never given a single thought to the idea that my employer was paying for this stuff. VALUE YOUR PAYCHECK » I don’t mean the amount you earn, though that certainly is significant. I mean the fact that you receive your pay on a regular basis, without having to ask for it. The biggest shock of entrepreneurship to me was sometimes having to beg for money 30, 60, 90, even 120 days after I had finished the job. NOTICE THE SUPPORT » In a typical office situation, you often have administrative professionals to help with tedious jobs like making travel arrangements or editing a letter. Not so in a fledgling small business. REJOICE OVER BENEFITS » As you probably know, organizations are cutting back on all kinds of perks to save money and stay in operation. If you’re lucky enough to work for a firm that still offers benefits such as paying for a portion of your college and graduate school costs, celebrate — and enroll. GIVE THANKS YEAR-ROUND » A therapist once told me that it’s just about impossible to feel gratitude and negative emotion at the same time. In other words, a joyful spirit pushes out anger, resentment, envy, fear and their ilk. Sounds like a good time to thank you for reading. Kathleen Begley of East Goshen owns Write Company Plus, which helps clients make more money through effective communication. Interacting, presenting, writing and using social media are considered the main road to business success. Begley, who has a doctorate, gives communications seminars and writes for various publications. She produces this column packed with news-youcan-use tips every Sunday in the Daily Local News. She responds to all reader feedback. You can reach her at KBegley@writecompanyplus.com and read earlier columns at www. dailylocal.com.