I grew up in a large family: two sisters, four brothers and at various times, a couple of foster kids. My parents were happy to share their home with anyone that needed a meal or a bed, at any time. My mom worked very hard to make sure she served balance meals. There was always fruit served with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, whether it was a bowl of strawberries or sliced apples. My favorite fruit side dish was peeled orange sections topped with wonderful powdered sugar in a big bowl. It was like heaven to this nine-year old girl.

My mom only served this rarely, usually oranges were sliced with peel left on. I always knew oranges were a delicacy, for my mom made sure we understood that during the Depression, oranges were scarce and expensive. There was always an orange in the toe of our Christmas stockings and I have continued this tradition with my own children.

It wasn't until years later that I grew to truly appreciate the oranges and powdered sugar joy. My mother revealed to me, a young adult, that she didn't like to peel oranges. Not just disliked it but hated it with a passion. It was all she could do to peel one orange, let alone the six to eight oranges she would have to prepare to make my favorite fruit side. She hated it, but did it because we loved it. I have thought a lot about this over the years as I have prepared meals for my own children or done endless loads of laundry.

Or had to make follow-up calls or tell a candidate that they didn't get the job. Or had to put together five professional references for one candidate or put out several job postings or rank dozens of résumés. Or rewrite a job description or refurbish the on-boarding process. Throughout the course of a work day, there may be parts of the job that are less desirable than others, there may be parts that are hated. When "learning to love it" is impossible, it may be easier to remember the big picture.

Understand that each part of your job description makes up the whole. The whole is what candidates appreciate, why clients call you back, why that hiring manager shares more details, why send-outs are plentiful and why, ultimately, you are happy and satisfied with your own performance, your big picture.

They weren't the easiest nor the most fun to prepare, but those oranges were the best part of the meal. Mom also hates to wrap presents, but that's another story.



©by rayannethorn