In college we were all looking for the highest hourly paying job where they would also accommodate our full-time student/full-time broke musician schedules.
I decided to roll the dice at the Pepsi bottling plant over by the Guitar Center.
Now this was more than a few years ago but the Pepsi application process was completely online…so I could apply comfortably in my undies at my friend Dan’s computer.
Now there were a LOT of questions on that application…kind of a job application and personality test all in one.
Mid-way through the personality test part, two of my roommates graciously volunteered their services to help get me through the duration of the application.
What nice guys.
I felt with the power of three broke musicians I was sure to be bottling the other Cola by the end of the week at the very latest.
There were a series of about ten statements where I was to select A) Strongly agree B) Agree C) Neither agree nor disagree D) Disagree E) Strongly disagree
So we’re all sitting there and the next statement comes up…
“Sometimes I feel lazy.”
Immediately I voted (why I am voting on my own application?) I choose A or B. Because who doesn’t FEEL lazy? It’s not like it says “I always feel lazy” or “I AM always lazy”. That words “sometimes” and “feel” were important to note.
Come on guys (who told me to answer E), it doesn’t mean I put action to the feeling of laziness. It’s just that, yeah, at a minimum sometimes I, along with all other humans, do indeed feel lazy.
I don’t need to be ashamed of this, and the people at Pepsi will definitely appreciate my honesty and the fact that I understood the true meaning of the statement on the application.
Dan and Adam hemmed and hawed that I should put E because I would be telling Pepsi I’m a lazy person, and therefore not get the job.
The answer I was really going to put was B, but just to up the ante and spite my dumb roommates I put A.
I didn’t get the job.
I think it was because they knew I was shortly destined for superstardom and didn’t want to take the time to train me…but my roomies swore it was because I answered the question incorrectly.
Years later here are some thoughts…
Sometimes I DO feel lazy, tired, uninspired, and distracted.
And what Pepsi likely assumed is sometimes true…Sometimes I act on those feelings. Duh.
But what I’ve found is when laziness or tiredness find us…we simply have to bring it with us to the work.
No need to get over it, no need to constantly dissect it, no need to meltdown…just bring it with you.
Tell your tiredness to come with you. Demand your laziness sit right next to you as you do the work.
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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com
