This is the one that explains why I do what I do.
Posted August 9th, 2010 by Mike Lawson
Why do you do what you do?
Hopefully you have a story. In the past few months I’ve had conversations with people about work and I’ve found that a lot of people can’t tell me why they do what they do. There has to be a reason. At least tell me that it’s easy work for a decent wage. I’d respect that more than the lazy I don’t really know answer.
Why do I do what I do? I’m the program director for a youth-serving non-profit in Tempe, Arizona. We run really affordable character enhancing programs for kids, and offer a safe, fun and positive place for kids to be during non-school hours.
And here’s why I do it:
When I left my third grade classroom on June 15, 1990 at Salk Elementary School there was no way for my 9-year-old brain to predict or imagine that one of my classmates, Autumn Wallace, was about to be brutally and senselessly murdered.
As usual, Autumn parted ways with us at Chanticleer Road. Joshua, Jennifer and I walked north on Gilbert Street toward our apartment complex; Autumn walked east toward her empty home. An hour or two later Maria del Rosio Alfaro knocked on Autumn’s door. Rosie was a family friend, so Autumn let her in.
Rosie stabbed Autumn 57 times and stole $300 worth of property from the house. Autumn’s mom Linda found Autumn dead hours after that.
Statistically speaking, there is a really large window in our society that needs to be shut. Between the hours of 3pm and 6pm more children and teens are the victims of violent crimes than any other times. Additionally, this same window is when children and teens find the most trouble and are the perpetrators in crimes.
Without a It’s-A-Wonderful-Life-like moment, it’s kind of impossible to figure out if the work that I have done has actually saved anyone from a fate like Autumn Wallace’s, or if we’ve inspired any children to break a cycle of crime or violence. (Even though I still would love to run down the street yelling “Hello, Bedford Falls! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas, movie house! Merry Christmas, Emporium! Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Building and Loan! Hey! Merry Christmas, Mr. Potter!”)
But I’ve got my reason. It’s a reason that gets me out of bed every morning. It’s a reason that makes Mondays easier to handle. And it’s an answer for the question Why do you do what you do? So tell me…why do you do what you do?
6 Responses to “This is the one that explains why I do what I do.”
August 9th, 2010 at 7:52 am
I think the fact that those kids are there, at your program, from day to day is proof enough that you have an impact. I bet you get to see a lot of smiling faces. I know I loved the Boys & Girls club I went to after school in grade school.
As for your question… Either I’ll get back to you or you just inspired a post.
August 9th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
I do what I do because someone has to, and sometimes I am able to be there in a moment where I know only I could have done what I just did. And that keeps me coming back.
August 11th, 2010 at 6:34 am
Mike: Truly awesome post. Thanks for your story, so much. You’re right, we all have one and I also can’t stand the lazy answers of “I don’t know.” Doing what I do makes my world go around, and without that passion I don’t know where I’d be (for me, it’s largely newspaper journalism – even have an AHA moment when I was 5 and hit on the head by the newspaper sailing toward my porch…) Anyhow, appreciate you sharing that. And for doing what you do.
August 11th, 2010 at 6:43 am
I am an assistant to research in biomedicine. Specifically, I work in a team that researches the qiality of life of people who have already been either diagnosed or treated for several different illnesses or conditions -mental health, certain cancers…
I do what I do because when I was a child I wanted to be “A Scientist”. Then I found out there is no such thing, that I’d have to specialize in something, and drifted towards Philosophy. After working in many non-related jobs, some better than others, I had the chance to work in this team formed by medical doctors, biologists, mathematicians, psychologists, sociologists and yes, another English philosopher -I live and work in Spain!
I work there since 2006 and am still in love with my job. I also got really involved in a group of volunteers called Science Meets Society, working all year long on projects to bring science and real researches closer to everyday people and activities. I am really devoted to the monthly Scientific Cafes and to the Open Day project, coordinated by a core of 20 people and involving over 100 volunteers doing workshops, live shows, visits to labs, theater and exhibitions on the day itself, once a year. In that project I am the volunteer coordinator and one of the main core organizers.
I think people are really happy to be introduced to Real Scientists and being able to ask them direct questions, visit their labs and even share a beer or two with a couple of youths who are investigating genomes!
August 11th, 2010 at 9:31 am
Michael Hoskins,
Thanks for the reply. Too many people lack the “what I do makes the world go around” perspective that you and I have. Work is just work. To many, life is what happens outside of work…but that doesn’t work for me because I spend 90% of my life at work. I can’t enjoy just 10% of my time…you know?
Love your blog, btw.
August 11th, 2010 at 10:15 am
I love this post, Mike. You’re very inspiring!
My reason for doing what I do isn’t nearly as noble, but I still think it’s a good reason. I do what I do because I have always known that it would provide me with the financial security and job security that I need to support and provide for my family, including my little girl. My job allows me that security, but also allows me full evenings (i.e. virtually no overtime) and 3-day weekends with my daughter. It’s kind of the best of both worlds.
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