Work has many meanings, but it most universally refers to our daily tasks. Work has changed in meaning over the centuries, providing a robust discussion on work vs. labour. The “Great Recession” has prompted another inquiry into what work is. The question is more than relevant, it needs more attention. This series will attempt to make a greater change.
In sum, work needs an overall and this series will be
This exposition steams from four places:
- Wired Magazine’s New Rules for 2009
- Time Magazine Redefines the benefits of work
- Mike Rowe’s “Safety Third” hypothesis
- I am squarely in the lost decade.
Some Historical Perspective on the last 10 years
The year is 2010 and I am self-employed, but overly under-employed. I spent the last decade on failed business adventures and false starts with various employers and at the end of the day I have experience and debt. Sure, I am grateful for being older and wiser, but that still does not always leave a sweet taste in my mouth.
In 1999 I entered college. Remember 1999, when the internet was taking off exponentially, everyone who wanted one could get a job, and the federal budget was producing a surplus. My four years at high school taught me the following, since my working life will be separated into 7-8 “careers” I should just simply work hard at things that have meaning for me.
We know what happened in the next four years. The Bush tax cuts, 9-11, recession, job-less recovery, and by 2003 jobs were at a premium.
No problem, just work harder! So I went to work with two small non-profits, both in their infancy and worked really hard for about no pay for three years.
Awesome, 10 years later a jack of all trades, master of none. Worth it, yes. Doing it again, probably not.
Time for some change, including how we think about change.
Let’s start with Wired
If you rabidly focus on work, in the long run, you’ll be unhappy. Ran Kivetz, a professor of business at Columbia University, recently conducted a series of experiments that identified a paradox in our behavior: Doing the “right” thing—putting our responsibilities ahead of momentary pleasures—often leaves us unhappy down the road. When we skip a vacation to work overtime or pass up that awesome vintage Porsche for a used minivan—sure, we pat ourselves on the back for a week or two. But as the years go by, we invariably regret our monkishness and wish we’d enjoyed ourselves more.
There is a generation of people out there who really want to work hard, to have meaning in their work and to generate pleasure from it. We don’t feel loyal to the corporations because most will be gone, transformed through A&R, or lost to the rapidly changing economic climates. Sorry employer, we were working really hard for you because we learned that in trying to get into college. More clubs, activities and great grades. We took this lesson and applied it to you. Were learned a lot, sought advancement experience and everyday was a resume building experience.
And we let you exploit us, for our youthful energy, our naiveté, and because you could pay us less, way less. We became the creative class.
So now, you can reference this chart (HT to @bluedeerdesign) to decide how hard or hardly you are going to work today. Cynicism aside, I love to work.
Today’s goal. Take a vacation.
Part two on work’s benefits out in about a week.
