When the boss notices my effort.

This is a completely fictional article. I keep a diary in my mind and heart, not on paper. However, I want to acknowledge all of you who get up early and give your best effort every day, often with little or no recognition. I’m sure many of you hustle from the moment you start work, wondering whether your boss notices your contributions.
 
A little recognition can go a long way. If you’re grinding it out in an environment where it feels like no one sees your efforts, this fictional diary might capture how you’re feeling this week. Hang in there… TGIF is coming!

Today was one of those marathon days, the kind where the office lights flicker off one by one, but my desk lamp stays on. I finished the quarterly report, triple-checked the numbers, and even caught a mistake that could have cost us a client. I should feel proud, but instead, I feel invisible.

It’s amazing how much of a difference a few words of recognition can make. I’m not looking for a standing ovation, but DANG, a nod from the big boss would be nice, after all, she holds the keys to my promotion, pay raise, and the power of praise and influence. It would be reassuring to know that the effort I pour in is noticed, that the late nights and skipped lunches aren’t just swallowed by silence.

It feels strange to even want recognition. I keep asking myself: why does it matter so much? Maybe a few words are proof that my work matters. Without them, the grind feels endless, like I’m a rat running on a wheel that never stops. I’m just looking for a little bit of cheese at the end of a hard day. When the boss notices, it transforms the work, it becomes part of the bigger picture, part of the company’s story. Suddenly, I’m not just a number; I’m a contributor.

I overheard a colleague say, “If you’re waiting for the boss to notice, you’ll be waiting forever.” Maybe they’re right. But I can’t help it, I want my work to be seen. Not for vanity, but for validation. Being seen means being valued, and being valued means the work matters.

Here’s the truth: hard work without recognition feels like shouting into the wind. But when the big boss acknowledges it, even with a simple “good job” is like oxygen. It fuels me to keep going, to keep striving, to keep believing that what I do matters.

So I’ll keep grinding, keep pushing, keep hustling, because someday I want the big boss to look my way and see not just the tasks I’ve completed, but the person behind them.

I’ve decided that even if my boss doesn’t realize how hard I work, her boss does. I got up this morning and reminded myself that everything I do, big or small, matters to Jesus. And since He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, that means He is also the boss of all bosses and the owner of all owners.

I had to remind myself this morning that Jesus notices everything. He not only sees the tasks I complete and the heart I bring to everything I do, but He also observes the effort behind my work. It would still be nice if my boss gave me a quick pat on the back while I’m working hard, but even if she doesn’t, Jesus sees not only the tasks I accomplish but also the heart I put into them every day. So I’ll wake up early on Monday morning and do my best, because I know I’m not only working for my earthly boss but also for my heavenly Master (1 Corinthians 15:10).