Coveting Thy Neighbor’s Job

I WANT THAT JOB

Somewhere in the conversation about mentoring, there needs to be one about coveting. 

Most folks will admit that they really want and need a mentor and, or sponsor. What they won’t admit is that they want their mentor’s position.

The very idea of job insecurity often leads to job jealousy and consequently job coveting, job hopping and you can fill in the rest.

The failure to love the job that you’ve researched, applied for and got is most often caused by the same thing that causes infidelity in a marriage---too much of a leap; stay with me.

Having a great marriage doesn’t stop with the wedding ceremony. 

The ceremony, or the getting, is the start of years of dedication and commitment.

As a character in one of my novels said, “Getting is easy. Y’all put all the work in finding love and none in keeping it. The same face you put on for courting, is the same one you need for the keeping.”

I love my characters, they say all of the things that I wouldn’t even know to think of.

But I digress, I was talking about coveting the job and life of another. 

Work engagement should never stagnate. Once engaged, you need to find ways and reasons to recommit and truly love the thing you do.

While most of the Ten Commandments are about actions, coveting is about the thoughts preceding the action.

I’m going to get right to this so you can get back to loving what you do; instead of coveting someone else’s position or career, covet their process.

Be jealous of the hard work, the hours of continuing education, the dedication and time away from other life activities.

Covet the certification and dedication. Covet the engagement and all of the work that goes into it.

Covet what you don’t see in that sign on the door; the struggle it took to get there.

We covet the outcome instead of the process because, well, the outcome makes a really pretty picture.

Recommit to the life and work you have and fall in love all over again.

Be you be well, be engaged.

Bertice Berry, PhD.

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