People have various reasons for waking up in the morning. Reasons that range from family to work. Whether your motivation comes from witnessing your family plant their roots somewhere or from performing a job that would benefit the many, you’re on the right track. All reasons are valid. Not one reason is better than the other. There is no right or wrong answer when someone asks you: Who do you live for? Why?
Some jobs only feel like jobs. A job in which the goal is to earn and survive. Many people are living that life, the kind in which the bright-eyed youth try not to fall under. Still, there are the lucky ones who find satisfaction in the job they do. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a passion project or a high-paying job. The contentment comes from the knowledge that what they are doing is significant in community building and societal change.
All jobs are important in the grand scheme of things—from MRF jobs to managerial jobs. Such a condemnatory view on specific careers is more telling of the perceiver than the perceived. Children are raised to dream of becoming a doctor, lawyer, or pilot. The glamor of a high-paying job overshadows the skillset and knowledge needed for a manual job. Because of this, any other career that does not fit within the white collar-category is deemed unremarkable.
Here is a list of reasons why blue-collar workers should be celebrated and empowered:
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They can know their worth.
Society thinks a fancy job is the measure of success. This is not true. A career does not define success; it is the effective performance of your duty daily. Moreover, success is based on perception; it is a subject that has no specific definition.
A labor-intensive job is important, if not more. Like the popular phrase, it says, “The real power is in the people.” The flow of people’s lives is dependent on a blue-collar worker, but it is rarely realized. They do the dirty work to provide convenience. Their daily operations and contributions give you more time and focus on performing your routine.
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They will be paid fairly.
When blue-collar workers know their worth, they will demand to be paid right—as they should. Doing so will make them see the dignity in their work. It may not be as glamorous as a white-collar worker’s day in the office, but getting dirty is proof that they have worked hard. Empowering them is showing them that they deserve every bit of compensation.
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They can be aware of what they can do for the community.
Blue-collar workers have strong ties with their communities. They put high levels of significance on the place where they live and the people they interact with. Because of the nature of their jobs, they understand how working together can solve a problem. They know that collaborating with other people can contribute to the greater good. With this mindset, every blue-collar worker will be aware of the things he or she can do for community building and societal change.
Imagine a society that empowers all of its citizens, a society that recognizes the work of all its people. A world where blue-collar jobs are celebrated the way they should. It’s only right to celebrate the people who work with their hands, people whose manual skills are perfected by hard work and experience.