bcg blog

Honor the Privilege

Here we go again. Another day, another bus ride with mom. I’ve been doing this for years now so the idea that being a bus driver was a less than glamorous job never occurred to me, but apparently it is. Even when a few of my friends shared their thoughts on the prestige of the position, I shrugged it off. What do they know anyway? They’re ten.

Kids have to get to school one way or the other and when you live out in the country, the cheese-wagon is a necessary evil. Well, not really evil, just necessary. And, my mom isn’t just a bus driver, she is THE best school bus driver ever.

It’s kind of like walking into your grandma’s house, staying for thirty minutes, leaving for seven hours, then coming back for another thirty minutes. Every time you step on, or off, the bus you are sure you are her favorite passenger ever. Have a birthday? She has a treat for you. Tough day at school? She deals her love in hugs. Spelling test later that day? No problem, she’ll quiz you - then check with you on your grade the next day.

For my mom, driving a bus was her job, but she viewed it as a privilege. A privilege she honored everyday by the way she showed up for her students and their parents.

Why Should We Care?
Are you consistently honoring the privilege of your role? 

If you haven’t thought specifically about it, there’s a good chance the answer to that question is “No”. You have a good idea of what honoring the privilege of your role looks like, but without truly exploring what’s possible you are sure to leave opportunities on the table. Taking advantage of those opportunities is precisely how we honor the privilege.

The danger, of course, is to become comfortable or to take our role for granted. As those thoughts of complacency creep in, our actions quickly mirror them. Fewer things become important, there is less urgency to get those things done, and we find less and less joy in doing them.

Those honoring their privilege will feel like they are on fire. Their passion and joy will be palpable. You will think they wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world other than precisely where they are. They’ll have bad days, but you won’t know. They won’t complain. They have challenges, but they won’t acknowledge them as anything other than an expected part of the process.

People who consistently honor the privilege of their role simply choose to take the opportunities that others pass by. It’s not based on circumstances. It’s an intentional choice.

REAL TALK - Action Steps
If asked, I think virtually everyone would say they want to be great at what they do. The majority of people strive to honor the privilege they’ve been trusted with. Yet, only a few do. Here are a some ideas to put yourself in the company of those few:

• Take Up Cross-Training 
  
  • If you spend all your time looking at what everyone else is doing, the best you can be is a cheap copy of them. Instead, choose a few to focus on - a specific few. Choose people that are different from you - different background, different profession, different approach to life … but the same pursuit of excellence. In sport we call it cross-training. In life, we call it growing.
    

• Ask For Input
  
  • Ask the people you serve: What could I do to make things better for you? What’s a crazy idea that would be awesome but is probably too far-fetched? What were three characteristics of the best leaders you’ve ever worked with? What are your biggest challenges to having a great day every day? How can I show you love?
    

• Be Consistent
  
  • Without a doubt, the quickest way to honor your privilege is to pick something that matters and do it consistently. Every day. Rain or shine. Win or lose. Sick or healthy. Happy or sad. Tired or energized. Excited or frustrated. Do it and you are immediately in the 1%.
    

We all have roles to play. In our jobs, in our homes, and in our relationships. When we are focused on honoring the privilege of those roles we seem to find a lot more to appreciate while fulfilling them.

Checkout Surrender the Outcome on Amazon and order The Score That Matters with Ryan Hawk & Brook Cupps. The latest blog from Blue Collar Grit can be found here!