How many tv shows, movies, books, or other have you experienced has a character that hates their job? Do you know someone in life who hates their job? They don’t like their coworkers? They don’t like their management or policies or values? They only stick around because they can’t find another job with that nice of pay?
I know people in real life like that. Heard plenty of stories of how people hate their jobs and wish they could go elsewhere, but they don’t know where to go or can’t leave the benefits or pay. It makes me sad that life is like that for people. It helped me decide long ago to pursue a career that made me happy over making me rich. I took a good hard look at what I enjoyed doing. What type of space I thrived in. And, what type of work I preferred. All that landed me at a zoo. It’s the first job I had that I actually see myself sticking around.
No workplace is perfect. The business aspect of the zoo rubs my fur the wrong way sometimes, but I’ve never understood business. I don’t even like the word. It’s a lot of hard work, I’ve had to develop skills I didn’t know I needed and the pressure can be overwhelming at times, but then I have those moments where I stop and take a look around.
It’s a zoo. The animals are definitely the best part of the job, but there’s more to it. There’s a lot of effort the zoo puts into conservation and education. There’s so much care my coworkers put toward the animals that it can move you to tears. There’s passion in the keeper chats we give. Some of our areas may be outdated, but we make them the best they could be. Then there’s the visitors. I see kids laughing when our monkeys bounce around their exhibits. Wonder in the eyes of “tough guys” when I coax our leopard closer to them. Lots of eyebrows raise when I tell people how old our tortoises are. I hear families making memories when they claim one of them looks like one of our gorillas. There’s sunlight dappling the trees in summertime and frost turning everything into gemstones in the winter. There’s growth, compassion, companionship, and opportunity.
I’d say that’s cause for a whole a lot of pride.
Nothing is perfect. There’s struggles every single day, and sometimes things don’t make sense. But, when I take a step back and look at the impact my workplace can have, I’m glad to work there, and I’m proud to work there.
I hope the same for you. Wherever you work, I hope you enjoy it. I hope it brings you purpose and you can make an impact. If you don’t feel that way, maybe you need to change how you view your workplace? Look for the impact your workplace can make for others and start bringing out that focus. Sometimes, you just need to look back at the original purpose for your workplace to find it. It is making people smile someway? Providing a service? Whatever it may be, I hope you enjoy it, and you don’t find yourself as one of the characters in stories or the people we know that hate their job and groan about going in every day.
You deserve to enjoy what you do.
nikki diekemper 