There are a multitude of different jobs in the world today. Some require education (Doctor), some require talent and dedication (Musician), some require hard work and perseverance (Farmer), some require a kind heart and dedication (Teacher) and....
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I could go on and on about all sort of different jobs and professions. However, the fact remains that each job caters to a specific type of person. Having said that there are times when two very different people can excel at a job by approaching it in very different ways. For example different teachers can have different styles and still be effective. However, I doubt any teacher will be effective if they do not care about their students.
Each job requires a special kind of person
Or at least every job requires a special kind of person to excel at what they do.
My old District Manager at Wal-Mart Pharmacy said he hired a few types of people as Pharmacists. Some were great Pharmacists. Some were dependable Pharmacists. Some were a license with a pulse...not great, not good, just someone to fill the position so the store could open. In that regard I say that only a person with the personality fit for the job will excel at it. Someone who is in it for the money, well, they can do it but rarely excel at it.
Key to Personal Fulfilment
One of the keys to personal fulfilment is doing what you are suited for. If there is a task that you are well suited for and excel at it typically means you are going to be happier doing it. Now I am not saying you will be Happy doing it as work is exactly that...work. However, at least it is easier to go home after working and feel proud or fulfilled if you do your job well and get praise from those you work with.
Then again, figuring out what you enjoy and are good at...that is a task that people can spend their entire life looking at and never find out.
It's easy to spot those people who do a job just for the money or prestige
As a general rule I'm going to state that it is easy to spot those people who at at work just for the paycheque or the benefits the job provides.
A teacher who is there just for the paycheque and doesn't actually care about the students--Easy to Spot
A doctor who is there for the paycheque and the prestige--Easy to Spot
A cashier, barista, receptionist,etc. who is there only for their pay--Guess what, it shows!
The job everyone says they can do better...but virtually no-one can
There is one job people love to hate.
Politician
As a general rule Politicians are some of the most despised people out there. They make policies people don't like. Make promises people hope they keep but rarely are. They speak in a way that makes it seems like they want to help everyone but really help no-one but themselves. I would hazard a guess that people in every country like to chat with their friends about how "if I as in power then I would...." and then tell how they would do things immeasurably better.
For myself I am well aware that I could not, and would not do the job better. I'm just not that kind of person and would loathe the position.
Just think of the skills you MUST have to be a politician. I'll only highlight a few as there are many.
Public Speaking. Do you enjoy talking to many people everyday and all the time? Most people don't so most people would never succeed in this post.
Charisma. Are you able to win people over? Can you read people like a book and listen to their body language so you say the right thing at the right time. If not you will never succeed as a politician. Given politicians don't have to please everyone but they do have to be able to win over allies, win over voters, win over businessmen and women, and generally bend people to their way of thinking.
Eloquence and Balance. Whenever a politician does something for a country there will be unhappy people. You just can't please everyone all the time. In addition there may be things that need to be done that make everyone unhappy. Being able to communicate what needs to be done and keep both sides reasonably happy is a fine art many people just don't have. Being able to find a balance between what is necessary and what is acceptable is like walking a tightrope with no room for error. Another skill many people just don't have.
Able to withstand harsh criticism. As a general rule people want to be liked and don't like getting flamed, insulted and generally taking verbal abuse. Guess what...Politicians everywhere are the subject of an awful lot of verbal abuse and criticism. People with easily bruised egos need not apply
I'll stop the list there as I could go on for a very long time. However, I would hazard a guess that the number of people who fit even that short list of attributes is very small in any given population. As for myself I fit none of those attributes. I would be a truly miserable politician. Don't want the job at all and nothing short of a direct command from God would get me to take it on. (Here's looking at you Moses...I truly understand why you tried so hard to get out of the job)
Getting the right person for the job
As I mentioned with Pharmacists there are:
- those who excel
- those who are dependable
- those who are there just to fill the position.
Looking again at Politicians which one of those three types of people do you want to fill the role?
Realistically there will be very few people who are actually suited for the job. Most of those are there just to fill the position. I mean the pay is excellent. The power and prestige are top notch. The pension and benefits are typically the best in the country!
However, to truly excel as a Politician you need the personality to be able to function in the job but also a desire to humbly serve the people.
How many people can be given the power of a nation and remain humble?
I'm going to wager that it is exceedingly few
How many people are willing to devote themselves to serve the needs of the country faithfully and without fail. Even when the people are resentful of you work?
I'm going to wager that the number is even fewer
How many people have both of those traits AND all the traits a true politician and leader need to be effective? I'm going to say that you could scour many nations and not find even a single good candidate.
However while I know myself well enough to know I can never fill the role I can certainly pray that we find someone who can! Someone with all the skills to be effective in leadership. Someone with humility to act as a dedicated servant to the people. Someone who shuns greed, power, and prestige for the good of the nation.
A politician like that I may not agree with but at least I would be proud to have leading my country.
Then again, I think I'll have to pray hard...
...Finding that person is going to take a miracle :)
Now just to answer the #HiveLearners prompt a little more directly.
- Have I ever worked as a politician? Ugh...No
- Have I ever desired to be a politician? I prize being honest and even if the opportunity arose I would decline
- If I was forced to become a politician what would I change? The focus of the government from getting power and prestige for themselves to serving the public for the good of the nation in long term even if it means short term pains.
To sum it up...
...I would love to have a truly dedicated politician to follow. I just doubt that I will ever find one as the list of necessary requirements is simply too long to expect from one person.
Thanks for reading and as always I love getting feedback.