“Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it.”
The statistics concerning work in America tell an interesting story. On one hand, we hate work. On the other hand, we can’t seem to get enough of it.
For the most part, Americans are dissatisfied with their jobs:
- 70% of employed Americans are disengaged from their work.
- 18% of workers are actively disengaged—meaning they aren’t just unhappy; they are busy acting out their unhappiness.
- 74% of employed workers would consider a new job opportunity if one was presented.
- The 4-Hour Workweek has spent 7 years on The New York Times bestseller list.
- Americans count down the years to retirement at age 65 and CNN defines early retirement as the ultimate “American Dream.”
Americans are not happy with their work and do not enjoy it. But we refuse to slow down and take any break from it:
- Compared with other industrialized nations, U.S. workers rank 1st in hours worked (1,800 hours annually).
- The typical American middle-income family works an average of 11 more hours a week in 2006 than it did in 1979.
- 53% of adults check work messages at least once a day over the weekend.
- Americans leave a half billion vacation days unused each year.
- We struggle to find even one day of rest each week.
These statistics paint an interesting picture of our love/hate relationship with work: We don’t like our jobs; but refuse to spend less time at them. Why is this the case?
Most likely there are a number of reasons. Sometimes, our legitimate financial needs require us to work long hours. Sometimes, our jobs require us to be on-call and available at a moment’s notice. Other times, our employers simply do not provide us that type of flexibility.
But I think there is something deeper going on here. After all, all of this is happening in one of the most productive and wealthiest nations in the history of the world. Why then, given our vast supply of opportunity, do we work such long hours in jobs we hate?
If we could discover the deeper reason for this discontent, we could find relief in both areas: both a greater appreciation for our work and more space for rest.
The real reason we have such a love/hate relationship with work in our society is because our motivation for it is all wrong. We do our work for the wrong reward.
Typically, we do our jobs simply for the purpose of earning a paycheck at the end of the day. Work is that thing we do through which we make money so we can do all the other things we really want to do.
But money as a means to fulfillment will always fall short. It will never fully satisfy the longings of our heart—in their own right, power and reputation and fame never satisfy either.
When money is the reward, we can never earn enough. We are always left desiring just a little bit more.
This is a problem with our modern understanding of work. If we are only doing it for the sake of the paycheck every two weeks, it will never be enough. We will always be left searching for more—putting in just a few more hours, skipping another day of vacation, heading back to the office on another Saturday morning.
Do we work because we love our jobs and find fulfillment in them? No. We do it because we believe the paycheck makes it all worthwhile—or at least, a little bit bigger paycheck will make it all worthwhile.
But it never does.
We were designed to work for something greater than money and possessions and property. (tweet that)
Instead, view work as contribution to others—this is the reward. Our work contributes to the good of society. It moves us forward. It makes us better as people. It enriches our lives.
Whether we are bagging groceries, delivering mail, sweeping streets, or managing others, we can view our hard work as an act of love to the people we serve.
And when we change our motivation, we discover work is not something to be avoided—it is meaningful.
Please don’t view your work as something to be endured or avoided. Don’t view it merely as a means to a paycheck. Change your focus. Develop a deeper appreciation for the contribution you are making (or find a job that will).
This will always result in a new love/love relationship.
Hello
Reply to Heidi @ Barefoot and Paleo (May 14, 2014 at 10:57 am) who wrote “Have you guys ever watched people live in “third world” countries? They have nothing yet they are the happiest people I’ve ever met.”
Yeah, all the starving people I’ve seen in third-world countries on my TV over the years looked really happy. So emaciated their ribs were showing, covered in flies, on the verge of dying. Looking pitifully at the camera in the vain hope that someone would help them.
Of course I know what you’re referring to. I’ve also seen footage of people in third-world countries smiling at the camera. I assume that those people weren’t starving.
I agree with much, but not all, of what you wrote Joshua.
I live in England, but people are no happier working over here than they are the other side of the pond.
Wage slavery is no fun at all wherever you live and the way I see it most jobs are pretty much pointless. They don’t contribute anything of use to anyone or society as a whole.
Certain jobs are essential like refuse collectors (we’d be knee-deep in rats without them), farmers (we’d starve without them), house builders (everyone needs shelter), utility companies (people need electricty/gas/water), etc.
But still, everything is too damn expensive.
Food is too expensive, housing is too expensive, power is too expensive – all these companies (supermarkets, housing developers, utility companies, etc) make huge, obscene profits. They’re way too greedy. They charge way too much for what they provide.
We live in a world run by greedy multinationals & governments with no will to rein them in (because they’re in the pockets of big business).
As for your comment “Whether we are bagging groceries, delivering mail, sweeping streets, or managing others, we can view our work as an act of love to the people we serve”, I have trouble viewing things that way.
If I were bagging groceries the last thing I’d do is view it as an act of LOVE to the people I’m serving. Rather I’d think to myself “Why am I bagging groceries when the person could do it himself/herself.” [Which is what happens in the UK, we don’t have grocery-baggers over here.] I’d think “I’m not contributing anything of any real use to anyone, my job is pretty much pointless.” If I were delivering mail, OK it’s more useful/less pointless than bagging groceries, but again I wouldn’t view it as an act of love (and if I were delivering junk mail, quite the opposite). It’s just a job. And a boring and repetitive one at that. Sweeping streets is a useful job, because the streets would be a complete mess without street sweepers, but it’s hardly the sort of job that’s going to fill you with joy, is it? You’re not going to jump out of bed everyday and yell “Goodie, I get to sweep streets again today.” (But at least you’re not in an office.)
As for managing others, most managers I’ve had have been incompetent and/or lazy and only got to their position because they knew the right person and/or brown-nosed. Many managers are corporate psychopaths and love of others is the last thing on their mind. All they care about is power and money.
Also, regarding why people work so much when they hate their work, one reason is to buy all the stuff that advertising has brainwashed people into believing they need, another is because people are in huge debt, and another is because people hate their home life and would prefer to be busy doing something they hate (and earning money) rather than sitting at home, twiddling their thumbs and pondering the pointlessness of their existence. At least a job you hate keeps your mind off that existential stuff.
A while back I was homeless for about 14 months. I was also unemployed and claiming a disability benefit which meant I didn’t have to look for work. I got about GBP 460 a month, which isn’t a lot, but I built a shelter in the woods, I lined it with cardboard for insulation, I had a camp bed/sleeping bag, and a small gas heater in there (with ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning).
I got free food from local churches, could use the showers there, and could also get canned food, second-hand clothes and toiletries. It was no picnic, especially when it was -4 Celsius (25 Fahrenheit) in the middle of winter.
When you have no rent or mortgage to pay, no utility bills, very low food bills, a free bus pass (because of my disability) and the only monthly outgoings I had were for my mobile phone & butane canisters, then GBP 460 goes a long way. Oh and I also bought an external battery (15,000 mAh) for my phone, which I recharged in the library, coffee shops or pubs.
I suppose I had more disposible income than many because my outgoings were so low.
Even though I could have made a so-called “homelessness application” to my local council to be housed, I’d had so many bad experiences in the past with noisy neighbours (doors slamming, people arguing, babies crying, loud music/TV, people fighting in the street at 3am, police sirens, etc) that I didn’t think I’d ever get offered a quiet place.
Well the seemingly impossible happened, and I made an application after 14 months and was offered the flat (apartment) that I’m in now and it’s the quietest place I’ve ever lived with wonderful quiet neighbours. It’s not the plushest neighbourhood going, but I don’t care. It’s quiet and to me that is wonderful. It’s also luxury to have hot & cold water on tap, gas central heating, a bathroom, an oven (I love cooking), a fridge/freezer, a washing machine, a TV and a laptop. Obviously my monthly outgoings are now much higher than when I was homeless so everything has it’s up and down sides, even homelessness.
In the back of my mind though I’m expecting everything to go pear-shaped again at any time, so I have some essential camping gear always at the ready in case I end up homeless again: rucksack, double-skinned tent, sleeping bag, ground mat.
So all in all I love having a place to live now even though it’s expensive, but I have a backup plan in case everything goes pear-shaped again. I’m fortunate (if that’s the right word) not to have a wife or kids who depend on me, so if I am made homeless again, I can just grab my rucksack, jump on a bus and go wherever I want. I don’t live in a big city and there’s plenty of woodland on my doorstep.
As I say …
… you cannot satisfy an existential desire with conventional scratching.
What you describe is the bedrock of Capitalism largely fueled by consumerism. In order for the infinite economic growth required by Capitalism to work, we need to always have sufficient demand for goods and services. The result? A Fight Club-esque sentiment of buying more crap you don’t need. That’s what has been projected at the American people via all forms of media for many decades. In a sense, we’ve been programmed to consume.
The whole system is broke but no one seems to care. It will implode at some point because infinite economic growth based on this sort of thing is not based in any reality.
I’ve read a lot about work, and this is certainly one of the best pieces I’ve come across.
Thanks a lot for your thoughts, Joshua, and continuing to sound the truth of intrinsic motivation always trumping the external trappings.
I am currently in between jobs right now. I made a fair amount of money and lived far below my means in a job that I hated while supporting my young family. Then I took a job I loved, and sadly that came to an end last summer after 3 years. At 42, I am now searching for another job that I will hopefully like. Money is secondary now….
Thank you for this today. In a time where the economic outlook in my community is a bit grim (and today is dark and foggy: a perfect metaphor), a different perception of work is absolutely necessary. Here is where the journey is vastly more important than the destination.
I love this video. Maybe more people find it helpfull. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21j_OCNLuYg
This is GREAT!
I run an in home daycare, and love my work. The best part is because its mine, I can run it in a way that carters to my life style and the families I get to help be a part of.
As a single mother of two teenagers myself, I of course need to be able to pay my bills, but living simply and within a budget that doesn’t stress is a wonderful thing.
I have been laid off several times, once from a job where I was on a treadmill being on call 24/7. Over the last 8 years I have looked for and thought deeply about various opportunities and vocations. Often times I wonder what the job will do for me. Not often enough do I look at what I can bring to a job. I have a UPS delivery driver in my neighborhood named Stu. Stu always shares his smile with people on his route. Most delivery drivers are rushed to meet their delivery quota but Stu patiently waves other drivers on as a courteous gesture, he waves and smiles at everyone he passes. My friend one day said, … “that’s Stu, the Zen Buddhist UPS driver.” Being a student of Buddhist psychology myself, I introduced myself to Stu. He took time out from his route to have a nice conversation and always gives me a big hug and wants to know how things are going in my life. He is about 6’7″ so that is a big hug. I began to realize that it wasn’t Stu’s job that was offering so much but Stu brings so much to his job. He spreads love and kindness to everyone along his delivery route. My partner once remarked that Stu brings his ministry to his work. After all, we all have a ministry. Stu has offered me a new perspective of work. Along with this perspective and the simplification of my life (with your help, Joshua) I have more options to be content and happy. I have the opportunity to lead a fulfilled life not a life that is simply full.
I was in the Marines for four years, which I loved. I left it to become a Police Officer, which I loved. My last few years at the police department, I no longer loved it but was only a few years from retiring so I stuck around. We called it the golden handcuffs. After 25 years of that, I work for a union now, this I don’t love, but nor do I hate it. I took on a lot of Parent Plus loans, larger than many mortgages. I can’t retire because of that debt and the fact health insurance would eat up 40% of my pension. I’m stuck and my wife whom I love dearly doesn’t want to downsize. Now I look forward to age 65 for some relief on the medical premiums. After years of living my work, this is not how I envisioned the golden years. I envisioned living in a small town, living a simple existence. So I read the stories of others and dream of the life that could have been.
After years of “loving” my work…..
I sincerely doubt that U.S. workers rank 1st in hours worked, compared with other industrialized nations.
Shouldn’t some Asian country be ahead of them?
At least china?
Maybe it’s per person, but then shouldn’t some place with a low unemployment top the list in that case?
All fine and good if you only define work as paid labour, which is all you do. How would your article be different if you acknowledged and took into account the vast amounts of unpaid work that occurs in families? Why not write about THAT life/work challenge?
There are so many important related issues around this topic and I think I’ve experienced most of them. For example, even when you enjoy the job itself, it can be other people’s toxic behaviour, peers or boss, that make the job unbearable. Unhappiness is catching!
Another issue is being able to know when your current job is great and NOT to accept a promotion or go elsewhere. A promotion can look attractive in terms of status and money, but can place you in a position where you’re no longer doing what you love, where the skillset is now very different from what you imagined.
Yet another issue is how people look forward to ‘retirement’, but realise when they get there, they’re too old, chronically ill or burnt out to enjoy retirement anyway. Some of us don’t realise that some activities we dream of doing when retired need to be nurtured for many years, especially when the brain and body is younger and more flexible. Eg, art, music, dance, hiking around the world, etc… It’s important to set aside time in your working life to practise the skills you need to do what you love when you have more time.
I love my work. It allows me to contribute something in this world. Work regardless of what it is, is noble. You cannot get what you want all the time. We work also so we can provide to ourselves and to our family. People just need to change their attitude towards work. Minimalism is not always the answer or spending less because these two are arbitrary depending on where you’re at in your life. Right attitude and right perspective will always make work or life easier.
I wholeheartedly agree that we shouldn’t do our work because of the money we earn and instead do something that makes the world better. BUT I will say it can be a motivator in job choice. My mother in law taught English to 7th graders for 40 years! She came across thousands of students in her lifetime and influenced hundreds for their lifetime; she is a legend in our community. She has one of the most important jobs and I will say over and over that she didn’t get paid enough! Unfortunately our society shows their value to contributing members with money and consequently, severely undervalues teachers. With that being said it can make a job more rewarding when you get compensated appropriately. I’m a nurse with an equal amount of schooling as a teacher and have a job that is just as demanding, but I get paid significantly more. Probably a little off topic, but maybe food for thought. ;)
very well said.. in my case the pay check is always the motive… but i am changing slowly… and hope i work for joy and not for the paycheck …