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Everyone works for a living. This is the first reason most people would give on why they are working. We need the money to put food on the table, provide shelter over our heads and clothing on our bodies. Without doubt, money is an important reason when looking for a job, but is this the main reason we work? Those of us who had worked long enough would certainly say a definite “No”. Of course, there are many other reasons why we work, but I would like to be in a job if it can generate a kind of “life” and energy – that the line between “work” and play is undefined. Have you heard of the phrase,

“Make a life and not a living!”?

I know of a friend who just retired two years ago. Currently, she is working with a non-profit organization that pays her a small allowance. She walks to work every day. Imagine a retired lady at 57 years old walking 3 km to work every day. Many would think this is foolishness. Why not get a job that is convenient and comfortable? However, this lady took the walking as a positive excuse to exercise. Her day is spent on answering enquiries and collecting feedback from the community on how the center could help the residents. Some of the activities organized by the center were health talks and day trips for senior citizens. Answering phone calls may be a mundane job to many but to her, she sees it as bigger than what she is doing. She looks upon her services as contributing towards a greater purpose - bringing warmth to her community. Her story opened my eyes on how I view my job. Is it merely satisfying my own needs or is it contributing to something bigger? I’d really like to see myself in the latter capacity – that my work matters because it has a positive effect on others.

I like a story from Aesop about the donkey carrying salt. The story goes like this…

“A merchant decided to take a load of salt to the market, so he placed some sacks of salt on his donkey and set off to town. The road was close to a slippery ledge. As they passed the ledge, the donkey stumbled and fell into the stream below. The water melted the salt, relieving the beast of his burden. The unhappy merchant returned home and loaded the donkey a second time.

“I’m sick of carrying things, especially salt,” the donkey thought to himself.

“If I keep falling into the water I can keep getting rid of those loads.”

So, he intentionally lost his footing the second time. However, the merchant found out his tricks and loaded the donkey with sponges the third time. When the donkey fell into the stream, he found himself struggling under a load that had more than doubled in weight.”

If only the donkey had realized the importance of his work. Salt had significant uses during the ancient times – for newborn babies to ensure good health and was used as money/wages for soldiers. Had the donkey known he could be part of something bigger and more meaningful, he would have hauled the load willingly and with pride.

What do you do for a living? Do you consider your work just a job? Does it give you a sense of purpose? Or are you merely biding your time until something better comes along?

As managers, does it pay to inspire your subordinates by helping them to understand that their work has an ultimate purpose?

Source Noonan, David Aesop & the CEO, 11-13. Nelson, 2005