September 12, 2025
Sometimes the simplest thoughts are the hardest to live out. Today’s Thought of the Day Do your job even if others refuse to do theirs, hits right where frustration likes to live. It’s easy to say “I’ll show up and do my part.” It’s much harder when the people around you are shrugging off responsibility, missing deadlines, or simply not caring.
I’ve been there. At work. At home. Even in volunteer projects where everyone’s supposed to be rowing in the same direction, but instead you’ve got one guy holding the oar like it’s a selfie stick and another one taking a nap in the back. And there you are, sweating and straining, wondering why you’re the only one pulling.
But here’s the thing I’ve had to remind myself again and again: my standard is mine. It’s not up for negotiation just because someone else dropped the ball. If I start slacking to “teach them a lesson,” I’m not actually teaching anyone anything, I’m just lowering my own bar. And the truth is, the person who didn’t do their job might not even notice. But I notice. And I carry it.
There’s a certain pride that comes with doing your job regardless of circumstances. It’s not about glory or recognition; it’s about knowing that when you put your name on something, it means something. It says you showed up. You delivered. You didn’t let someone else’s laziness or apathy dictate your standard.
The funny part? People do notice. Maybe not right away, and maybe not the people you wish would. But consistency stands out. Integrity stands out. And over time, being the person who always does their job, no matter what, becomes part of your reputation. It’s who you are.
It also spills into the small, personal areas of life. I think about my kids watching me do chores I’d rather skip. Or my spouse noticing that I still follow through even when I’d prefer to coast. Those aren’t grand moments, but they matter. They’re proof that values don’t just exist when it’s easy, they exist when it’s hard.
Of course, none of this means you have to carry everyone forever. Boundaries are healthy. But before you set them, you have to be sure you’re actually living up to your own. Because doing your job even when others won’t isn’t just about work, it’s about identity. And I don’t want mine to be defined by excuses.
So today, as I sit with this Thought of the Day, I’m choosing to focus less on what others refuse to do and more on what I’m willing to keep doing. If I can keep showing up, even in the quiet, thankless spaces, then I know I’m living out my values. And at the end of the day, that’s what I’ll carry with me, not the frustration of what others didn’t do, but the peace of knowing I did my part.
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