The Calling
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Research has shown that people who do the same work can view it as a job, a career, or a Calling, and that people who view their work as a Calling… find more satisfaction and do better work than people with the other two orientations.
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2014
Finding Joy
Mary’s TED Talk at PLU (Excerpts)
“While you are here and learning all of this, many of you have jobs and responsibilities that are not at all what you would consider a part of your Calling. Even after you graduate you may find yourself in an interim position doing a job that you may not really like to make ends meet until your opportunity comes along. This is what I call “paying your dues”. In a lot of ways, that is why I am in the custodial business.”
Mary Denney
— Environmental Services Manager at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU)
“Some of you may know who I am. Others are probably wondering what a custodian is doing up here — Smiling even! I try to smile a lot, even if I am not really feeling it. Why? Because of Joy.”
“Not happiness, which is fleeting. Happy is when you find $ in the dryer after you do laundry or when your favorite team wins a tournament or when a puppy gives you kisses. Happiness is a temporary lift that can easily be blown away by the winds of chance. Joy, on the other hand, is more deep rooted. Joy is a positive sense of contentment that all is as it should be, even if we are not necessarily happy all the time.”
The real question is: How can I find real Joy every day?
“For me, the answer is pretty simple, Open yourself up to Joy! Recognize and accept all of the little things in your day to day life that bring you Happiness and allow them to sink in transforming you into a Joyful person.”
“Look deeper into the things that cause the negative responses in you and change yourself to see them differently. Even if you are not where you want to be yet, be aware of the opportunities that surround you every day that will help you build skills that you need for your future.”
Cleaning Science for Career Growth
Cleaning Science for Upward Mobility
Cleaning Science enables cleaning as a career and platform for personal and professional growth.
John Downey
Former Executive Director
Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI)
Cleaning for Health and Safety
“I continue to believe ‘cleaning for health’ is by far the best path forward in achieving the goal of more self-confidence for frontline workers.”
— John Downey, Former Executive Director
Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI)
Growth
Upward
Personal and professional growth comes from understanding your value, continual learning, and an ongoing commitment to apply evidence-based skills systematically to make indoor spaces cleaner, healthier, and more productive; and being recognized for it.
Importance, Pride, Confidence
“In some organizations , cleaning technicians are quietly working in the shadows, lacking self-esteem, training, and acknowledgment.”
“Do they understand the importance of their role in the health and well-being of everyone in the space?”
“Do they feel confident in their process to deliver an excellent workspace, and do they take pride in their work and achieving high cleaning standards?”
“Pride and self-confidence begin with training, embracing the importance of their roles, and hopefully if doing excellent work they are receiving acknowledgment for it!”
Cass Contreras, LEED A.P.
Systems
Systems Determine Outcomes
95% Improvement
“95% of defects are created by the system in which people work.”
W. Edwards Deming
Cleaners as Learning Leaders
Custodians as Learning Leaders
Answer the call.
Details coming soon.
Learning expands the mind, creates value, and improves health.