We’ve all had that job. The one that makes Monday mornings feel like a personal attack. The one where the clock seems to mock you, ticking slower with every glance, and you’re counting down the minutes until Friday at 5 p.m. I’ve been there—stuck in a couple of soul-draining gigs years ago that left me feeling like the life was being sucked out of me. If you’re raising your hand or nodding along, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Those jobs test your patience, your energy, and sometimes even your sense of self. But here’s the thing: even in the worst of those moments, I made a choice that changed everything. I decided to do my best, no matter how much I hated where I was.
Why “Just Enough” Isn’t Enough
It’s so tempting to coast, isn’t it? To do the bare minimum, just enough to not get fired. It feels like a small act of defiance against a job that’s grinding you down. But here’s the catch: when you settle for “just enough,” you’re not just shortchanging your employer—you’re shortchanging yourself. You’re lowering your own standards, choosing mediocrity in a way that can ripple beyond the workplace. That “good enough” mindset starts small, but it can seep into your relationships, your goals, your entire life.
Annie Dillard puts it perfectly: “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” Every day you choose to just get by, you’re shaping a life of settling. Every day you choose to give your best, even in a job you hate, you’re building a life of resilience, growth, and possibility. Those daily choices stack up, and before you know it, they’ve defined who you are and where you’re headed.
The Cost of Coasting
When I was in those miserable jobs, I could’ve easily phoned it in. Blending into the background, doing the least required—it would’ve been the path of least resistance. But every time I was tempted, I thought about what I’d be giving up. There’s this powerful quote from Winston Churchill that stuck with me:
To every person there comes in their lifetime that special moment when you are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to you and your talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds you unprepared or unqualified for work which could have been your finest hour.
That idea hit hard. What if my moment came, and I wasn’t ready because I’d spent my days cutting corners? What if I let a toxic work environment erode my work ethic? Every day is a chance to prepare for something bigger. By choosing to do my best, even when I felt drained, I was investing in my future. I was keeping my skills sharp, my standards high, and my resilience intact.
Building Your Future, One Day at a Time
Looking back, I can see how those tough days shaped me. Showing up and giving my all, even when I hated the job, wasn’t just about surviving—it was about setting myself up for something better. Each day I chose excellence over apathy, I was building a foundation. That effort paid off. It’s one of the key reasons I landed a job I genuinely love today—one where I wake up excited, not exhausted. Had I settled for mediocrity in those rough patches, I might not be where I am now.
Dillard’s words ring true here: how you spend your days becomes your life. Those days of pushing through, of doing my best despite the circumstances, added up to a life where I’m prepared for opportunities I couldn’t have imagined back then. It wasn’t about impressing a boss or pleasing a company that didn’t value me. It was about refusing to let a bad situation define my potential.
Where Are You Right Now?
Maybe you’re in one of those jobs now—the kind that feels like it’s draining your soul. I get it. It’s tough. But let me ask you: How are you spending your days? Are you letting the negativity pull you under, or are you rising above it? Are you coasting, or are you giving your best, even when it feels like it doesn’t matter?
It does matter. Every choice you make today is shaping your tomorrow. You’re not just working a job—you’re building a life. So keep showing up. Keep doing your best, even when your surroundings aren’t. When that moment comes—when opportunity taps you on the shoulder—you’ll be ready to make it your finest hour.
What’s your story? Are you stuck in a job that’s testing your limits? How are you handling it? Drop your thoughts below—I’d love to hear how you’re navigating those tough days and keeping your focus on the life you’re building, one day at a time.
David Willis 