Can You Put Your Name to That?

You’ve probably heard the saying, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.” It is often a favorite of Moms, but not of their children.

The phrase is invoked when kids rush through homework so they can go out and play, only to have Mom or Dad send them back to correct mistakes. Household chores often are no exception either. Somehow, parents notice when dirt just moves from one spot to another.

What parents really teach us is that shortcuts don’t always work, and that if we just do the job right from the start, it will take less time to finish in the long run. Then, instead of being sent back, time and again, to re-do the chores we’ve already done, there would be more time to play, and everyone is happier.

There is a sense of accomplishment in having a superior compliment us for a job well done. It feels good to be compensated for hard work, and it’s nice to be recognized for our efforts. Everyone wins because we earn our reputation honorably; we earn our “good name.”

Whether we’re at home or at work, our first commitment should be to ourselves, then to others. If we do what we promise others we will do, it’s much easier to deal with any criticism. If a client isn’t happy with the results, we work with them and make it right for them. But even if we get away with it, putting less than our best effort into any job leaves us less than completely fulfilled by our own work.

Whatever products or services we provide, our work is our own creation. It is the fulfillment of a commitment. If we pause to consider what we have created and ask ourselves, “Can I put my name to that?” we can sometimes avoid many disappointments that may arise from simply seeking such approval from others.

“Our names are labels, plainly printed on the bottled essence of our past behavior.”

Logan Pearsall Smith, essayist

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