“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.
Randy says
As I say …
… you cannot satisfy an existential desire with conventional scratching.
Alan Watts Fan says
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.
Jacob Zoller says
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.
Scott says
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….
Amy S says
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.
Marijke Bongers says
I love this video. Maybe more people find it helpfull. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21j_OCNLuYg
Amanda says
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.
leobob says
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.
Mike Lewis says
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.
Mike Lewis says
After years of “loving” my work…..
Mikael says
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?