There is No Such Thing as "Just A"

I do not know where I learned this first or how to give credit for this concept. I have been teaching this idea for years, and it has been on my mind recently, so I thought I would write about it.

Consider your job or role and whether you have ever said the following statement. “I’m just a nursing assistant, housekeeper, receptionist, cashier, or whatever your title.” Sometimes we feel like our role is not important enough. We compare our role to others, or we assign a value to the job based on the title itself, level of authority, or salary.

I hope you never feel this way, as every person value and worth. The role you play and the job you do contributes to others in many magnificent ways. If you look at the team around you and even the highest-ranking official in your organization, others are successful because of others, not based solely on their own merits. There are many behind-the-scenes roles in all industries and each contributes greatly to the success of an organization.

This concept of no “just a’s” has permeated my career. I have made wonderful connections with employees at all levels in the organizations where I have worked. I have learned so much from them, and I only hope they can say the same. In fact, I have learned more from front line workers than perhaps others who have names in boxes on organizational charts.

Today, consider your worth and value through a different lens. It is not about how high you go in an organization or how much money you make. Your worth and value, instead, are directly tied to who and how you serve, the smiles you make, and the joy you bring to those around you.