Why pride of ownership in your work still matters in today’s medical practice
If you have ever made a major purchase, you have probably experienced what many people call pride of ownership. It’s that good feeling you get after buying something you have carefully thought about, saved for, and invested time and energy into—like a home, a car, a computer, or anything meaningful to you.
When I purchased my first home, I could hardly believe I was a homeowner. When I wasn’t at work, I spent most of my waking hours painting, decorating, and making it my own. I couldn’t wait to invite friends and family over so they could see what I had done.
When they arrived, there was nothing sweeter to my ears than hearing their compliments. I have loved every home I’ve owned and still enjoy having people over to share them with me. It makes me feel good, and I am proud of creating a place I can truly call home.
For my husband, that same pride showed up in his car. He loved tinkering with it, washing it, and keeping it spotless. When the neighbor guys stopped by to take a look, it always made him smile. He was proud of what he had worked hard to earn and took great care in maintaining it.
People can feel pride of ownership about many things. At its core, it’s about the pleasure we get from owning something, the sense of accomplishment that comes from earning it, and the desire to take care of it to the best of our ability.
One day, I came across this quote:
“Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” — Aristotle
That quote made me stop and think. Could Aristotle have been referring to pride of ownership in our work?
As I reflected on that idea, I came up with a few checkpoints to help determine whether you truly have pride of ownership in what you do.
- Does doing your job bring you pleasure? Not your boss, not the end result, and not just the paycheck—but the actual work itself.
- Do you feel like you are accomplishing something of value at work? At the end of the day, can you honestly say, “Yes, job well done.”
- Do you work hard to maintain your job? Each day, are you putting in the effort to show your employer that you value your role and want to be there?
- Are you excited when you tell others what you do because you take pride in doing your job well?
If you can answer “yes” to these questions, then I believe you are one of the fortunate ones—someone who has found work that brings pleasure and inspires you to strive for excellence.
Count your blessings.
