I was meeting with a couple of our project superintendents today, which is an extra cold and soggy one. We were discussing some particularly tough challenges they are facing on the job. For the moment, no one is having a good time.
On the way back to the office, I got to thinking about all the ups and downs one goes through, both in life and on our projects. What would life be like if it was always one great party where everybody was having fun, but you never got to go home? I have to think that after a while, it would be pretty boring. While painful at times, life’s cycles are what it’s all about. Without the downs, the ups would not feel as good.
Sometimes, particularly in the summer, when I’m driving home after a good day, I’m thinking, “Bring it on. I’m ready to do more.” In other times, when I’m faced with challenges that all seem to be stacked together, I wonder, “Why the hell am I doing this?” Then the cycle repeats. I’m lucky because I do enjoy my job most days, especially the part where I get to mentor the younger men and women in our company, teaching them how to roll with the punches.
Challenges and problems allow us to grow, make us stronger and enable us to serve those around us when they need a leg up. Because we all will at some time or another.
