I'm Dr. Rock and Roll: Finish

            John was the foreman for the biggest builder in town. His team was responsible for some of the most opulent homes in the community. And he considered his craft a vocation; it was something he got to do, not something he had to do. For many years, anyone wanting to build a home in the community sought John and his team. But time waits for no man, and even the most dedicated servants get tired. John was an old man, and his body’s best years were already behind him. After years of his wife’s pleas, he agreed to retire. In fact, he found new strength as the next phase of his life approached. To celebrate his newfound independence, he gathered his savings and booked a luxurious cruise for him and his family. But when he approached the builder upon completion of the last project, his longtime boss said, “I’m sorry, John, but you need to do one more home. It’s for a very special client, and I can’t turn it down.” Not only did John have one more home to build, but he would also not be able to take his family on the cruise, and he couldn’t get a refund. Because John was a man of his word, he agreed to his boss’ request.

            But something changed with that interaction. John was filled with resentment. He gave in to self-pity, and because of this, his work suffered. He began to cut corners with his team that he never had allowed before. He let them go home early. He would finish some parts of the job himself, and he intentionally did shoddy work, because he was angry. To the untrained eye, the home still looked great, but John knew that it was the worst home he had ever built. He simply didn’t care. When the time came for the final inspection by his boss, the two of them walked the beautiful, yet flawed, home. As he handed the keys to his boss, his boss stopped him. “This home is for you,” his boss said. “It is my gift for all your faithful service. And I intend to re-book your family on another cruise.”

            When my kids were little, my son was a running dynamo. He was the fastest kid of his age, but he had a bad habit – he tended to lay up at the end of his runs. With any activity, as the end approached, his pace slowed. And I would repeat the same phrase over and over: finish strong. “Finish strong,” I would tell him. You may have done great things, I’d tell him, but slowing down at the end is quitting, and it cheapens the entire effort that happened before it. He used to hate it when I told him that, but I know he listened, and his sister listened too. Compared to my wife, I have taught my kids very little; but I’m proud to see my kids work hard, and there’s no quit in either one of them. The person who finishes strong, even when they’re not feeling it, is worthy of respect. My kids both work in the hospitality industry currently, and my latest bit of advice is this…be someone that others see as dependable.

            How many of us have been in a work situation where the co-worker who should’ve left a long time ago finally leaves? If they bother to show up, the effort is half-hearted. You don’t have to wonder why they’re leaving because they’re happy to tell you if you stand still long enough. Some are so brazen, they’ll try to take their unused vacation days to move up their departure. I once had a colleague who got FMLA paperwork filled out for her by her physician (her best friend, and someone who was also leaving), to avoid working the last two weeks. A co-worker once called in sick on her last day, the day we had a pitch-in to celebrate her time with us. When I reached out to her, she said she wished she knew we were going to do that, which told me all I needed to know. Finish strong, indeed.

            I am incapable of giving less than my best. The worst job I ever had, when I resigned, asked me to stay one week longer because they’d be short-staffed. Not wanting to disrespect my team members, I agreed to stay one week longer, only to find out that the only reason my boss wanted me there was so he wouldn’t have to work that week. There was no going-away party for me, which was fine, but I thought that trying to get my key to the door two hours before I left was a bit classless.

            I certainly don’t say all of this to draw attention to myself, or my kids. Like John at the beginning, we give less than our best because we feel our employer has wronged us, but it only makes us look bad in the end. My behavior should be a reflection of who I am as a person, not my perception of what the job I’m leaving is. I finish strong because it’s the right thing to do, not because I owe anyone anything. In addition, while the employer may have been toxic, people still enjoy their co-workers; mailing it in disrespects them. I don’t want anyone to have to pick up my slack if I’m still present for my job. I want people to miss me when I’m gone and regret seeing me walk out the door. Over the course of my career, I have one rule: I will not give a reference for someone who made more work from me at the end of their tenure as my coworker. After all, my mama used to tell me that if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything. But if you push the issue, be wary of the fact that I have a big mouth, and sometimes things just leak out my face.

            Finish strong. Be dependable. Because karma, in the words of Snoop Dogg, is a biznitch.