Just Doing My Job 

By Coach Frank Sagasta 

2024

Not to long ago in a bustling city, there was a young accountant named Delina.  She was known not just for her doing her job, but her skills with numbers.  She also was remembered for her professionalism, appearance, and unwavering integrity.  One day, a wealthy client approached her, eager to evade taxes. 

Delina felt the weight of temptation, but remembered her code of ethics.  She also remembered the value her father taught her when she was younger.  With a calm demeanor, she explained the importance of honesty, integrity, and the consequences of deception to the individual.  The client was pissed.  He demanded to talk with her boss.  So, as fast as she could.  She crafted a legitimate tax strategy that benefitted her client without breaking any laws.  The client was initially frustrated, and still upset but soon realized the value of transparency.  In the end, Delina retained her integrity but also gained a loyal client who respected her principles.  

Henry David Thoreau once said: “A man had better starve at once than lose his innocence in the process of getting his bread.” Just doing a job cannot justify doing something unethical, immoral, or dishonest.  I’ve read of accounts where German concentration, camp-guards, would become friends with a prisoner, and later would often justify walking them to the gas chambers, “I’m just doing my job.” Remember, doing the right thing might not always be easy, but it's always worth it! 

If your work doesn’t express you’re values or expectations, you’re setting yourself up for deceit in other areas of your life.  And for the invasion of ulcers, stress, migraines, depression, and cancer as evidence of a less than authentic life.  In the great movie Cool Hand Luke, a guard says, I’m just doing my job. You gotta appreciate that.”  Actor Paul Newman (Luke) responds: “Nah, calling it you job don’t make it right, boss.” 

“Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit as the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy. For if you bake bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half man’s hunger. And if you grudge the crushing grapes, your grudge distills a poison in the wine. ~ Kahil Gibran from “The Prophet” 

Moral of this short story, never violate or compromise your values, vision, expectations, or common sense.  For the validation of others.  I have attached five simple steps for the marketplace in 2025.  Remember, achieving your goals, dreams, or visions requires faith, patience, discipline, focus, and consistency.  These five steps are the framework that will provide opportunities for those willing to take action.  I don’t care if your company owner or employee.  These step are applicable to all. 

Step 1. 

- Assess where you are today. 

- Be specific and don't overthink.

- Look at finances, market position, operations, and challenges. 

Step 2. 

- Define your vision. 

- Be BOLD. Don't hold back.

- Set financial goals and market aspirations.

Step 3. 

- Be tough on yourself here. 

- What actions did you not take? 

- Pinpoint behaviors not serving you.

Step 4. 

- Keep it simple for now. 

- You'll use this in action plan later. 

- Think short, medium and long-term.

Step 5. 

- Simply calculate the gap between today's turnover and your goal or vision for tomorrow. 

- Being present to the money gap will help you focus on actions to reach your goals.

- No gap in making time, energy, and efforts for improvements personally and professionally. 

With gratitude,

Coach Frank Sagasta 

Arizona Professional Skills Professor 

Leadership Specialists