“I know there’s work to do, but someone else will do it. Who cares if I pitch in; it always gets done anyway. Right?”

The truth is, some folks don’t care about anything. They rarely get involved or pull their own weight. They’re not informed, they have no work ethic, no sense of pride, and they invest just enough effort to squeak by. In fact, they’re apathetic about most things in life. You could say they’re among the living dead.

Some may ask, who cares if I’m apathetic? I’m not hurting anyone. But that’s not really true. They’re depriving themselves of the feeling of satisfaction that comes with caring; they’re cheating themselves of the thrill of accomplishing something difficult; and they’re robbing themselves of knowing that they’ve made a difference.

So who cares if you lead or follow, win or lose, or ever try your best? You should! Even if you have all the talent in the world, you’re never going to amount to anything if you don’t apply yourself. As Jimmy Buffett said, “Is it ignorance or apathy? Hey, I don’t know and I don’t care.”

Apathy: Do You Have a Care in the World?

What’s turning you off? Is your apathy an isolated event or does it permeate many areas of your life? Is someone discouraging you or are you holding yourself back? Are you afraid of leaving your comfort zone? If you’re in a rut, climb out.

Find your passion. “Force” yourself to find an interest. Get involved by making a small commitment. Volunteer. Assume a leadership role. After getting your feet wet and collecting a few small wins, jump in with both feet.

Be informed. If you want to earn the respect of others, it’s important to remain informed. As the saying goes, “Try being informed instead of just opinionated.”

Pay your dues. Manage your expectations. It takes many years to become an overnight success. Find ways to improve yourself every day.

Attitude matters. A positive attitude can make all the difference. See the glass as half full. Believe in your ability to make a difference.

It’s Never Too Late to Care

Even though some folks show up, it’s as though they’re not even there. They’re talented, but they don’t apply themselves. They’ve got good ideas, but never voice them. They’re born leaders, but choose to be followers. And even though they have dreams of grandeur, they choose to live an empty life of dependency.

The truth is, if you want to get anywhere, YOU have to make things happen. The world isn’t going to beat a path to your door. It’s easy to criticize others instead of sticking your neck out; it’s painless to second-guess others from the sidelines instead of getting in the game; it’s easy to blame others for your circumstances instead of accepting responsibility for your choices and actions. The fact is, you have the ability to fulfill your dreams –– if you care.

I’m sure you remember the time you hit the ball out of the park. You made a suggestion and everyone smiled; you voiced your opinion and everyone applauded; you volunteered for the challenge and came out a star. Everyone was impressed. Most importantly, you made yourself proud because you knew you had the answer; you thought your opinion mattered; and you believed that you could make a difference by stepping forward –– and you did! Once you know what it feels like to care, you’ll never be apathetic again. As Helen Keller said, “Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all –– the apathy of human beings.” The truth is, people who live without caring are people who are not truly living. Who cares? I hope you do.

What Do You Think?

Additional Reading:
Passion: Lost and Found
The Employee Commitment Cube
Rewarding Today’s New Breed of Employee
If You’re Not Proud, You’re Not Done

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