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EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK:
CONVERSATIONS WITH NEO
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Neo Talks About Work And
The Potential For Spiritual Growth
I asked Neo, “Why do you like working at different jobs that
don’t pay you well?”
Neo asked me, “Why did you like working for the Postal Service
back east?”
I said, “That’s different I was getting paid well and had good
benefits.”
Neo said, “Yes, but I have heard you, Larry and Harry mention
many times how you like working there for other reasons besides
money.”
I said, “I like being on a schedule and I like some of the
social aspects of work, and I liked learning new things, having
new experiences.”
Neo said, “Bingo mate!” “But if you liked your job back east,
why did you quit?”
I
said, “I wanted new experiences that school and Oregon could
offer and I hoped to get back on with the Postal Service because
I like working for them and because it would help pay the
bills.” “Have you ever liked a job even though it did not pay
well?”
I said, “Yes I have.”
He said, “Even with the jobs that you did not like, was there
usually something that you could find that you liked about it?”
I said, “Yes, why do you ask?”
Neo said, “If you didn’t like the pay, what did you like about
some of those jobs?”
I said, “I liked interacting with new people and learning the
skills of new jobs, even skills or jobs that aren’t status
jobs.” “When I was a mail handler, I really liked getting into
the zone of working at a fevered pace.”
Neo said, “Okay, you are starting to see what jobs can offer
even bullshit jobs.” “Every new skill you learn imprints on your
body & brain it adds to your repartee’ of experiences” “With
each passing year of your life you have more experiences and
have acquire more skills, -- even if those skills may be
operating the deep fryer at McDonalds, is that right?”
I said, “Yeah, that’s right.”
He asked, “Let me asked you, with every new job that you have
experienced do your dreams more varied or less varied?”
Not certain were he was going I said, “More varied.”
Neo asked, “Are your dreams more intense and vivid or less.”
I said, “They are more vivid and intense.” I asked, “So what
does all of this mean?”
Neo said, “Since some people believe in the potentiality for
survival of the body, and I am one of them…we believe that by
building a more varied repartee’ of intense skills and
experiences it will help for the brain to prepare or evolve
enough to survive the body”
Neo said, “Besides the spiritual or Zen aspects to working at
different jobs, there is the real life advantage of learning as
many skills as you can in as many of the so called “bullshit”
jobs as you can.”
I asked, “Why do you say that?”
Neo said, “Too many people feel entitled to a high paying, high
status Jacker-Jack job right out of college, even people
who don’t feel entitled dream about having these types of jobs.”
“Anything less and they feel envious, miserable, angry or
depressed with themselves or their lot in life.” “Everyone wants
to be General first without being a private.”
I said, “I see your point.” “I know that in the Marines we could
not stand a lot of the ninety day wonders.”
Neo said, “And why was that?”
I said, “Because those guys were given positions of power and
responsibility over us, and they knew less of what was going on
then we did?”
Neo said, “That’s right mate, and instead of bitching and
whining about their job,
or
complaining about how heartless management is, or how stupid
management is, they need to be asking themselves many
questions.”
“Questions such as if this were my business, how could I make it
better, how could I make more money, save more money, provide a
better service to my customers, be more competitive to my
competitors, and make it a place where my employees could take
pride and have loyalty for me?”
I said, “A lot of people like Harry for instances would say you
were putting out all of this effort for an uncaring employer, or
that the employer may be grateful, but may give a position and
pay that you deserve to a friend or relative.”
Neo said, “Yes all that could be true, but the fact remains is
that you are learning all of the little nuances about creating,
owning and running a business that the best college education
cannot give you.” “When the time comes for the person who puts
all of their effort of mind body and spirit into learning every
aspect of any job that they work, it will set the stage for them
to use these skills and understanding when they create their
business.
Neo said, “A worker should be thinking, “How can I make my
boss’s and supervisors job easier?”
I said, “A lot of people would say that is kissing ass.”
Neo said, “Yes some people do kiss ass, and some of them do try
to make their boss’s job easier, --most of them don’t…. but the
fact of the matter is that by learning how to make your boss’s
job easier…. when the time comes you will know what to expect
from your subordinates and the best way to train them.” “Even
your much lauded Commandant Chesty Puller was a Private once.”
“An additional benefit of working all sorts of jobs is that it
can help you to find what you are passionate about.” “This is
true even though that can change the longer you live.” “All of
the skills you learn from even the most divergent jobs may seem
unrelated initially, but in the future these different skills
from unrelated careers can come together in unrepentantly
innovative ways.
HOMEPAGE |