Rediscover The Value of What You Do

The Immortality Imperative, a photo by jurvetson on Flickr.

When we start out in our career, we get exposed to all kinds of questionnaires that supposedly help us choose a livelihood. But they ask only half the story. They consist of items like this:

·      Do I want to serve others? (hint: every job should)

·      Do I enjoy creating infrastructure?  Policies?

·      Do I enjoy creating beautiful works of art?

·      Do I prefer a flexible environment or a structured one?

Others address our preferences for solitude vs. collaboration, wealth vs. a simple lifestyle—the questions go on and on.

Maybe you’ve been in the workforce for a while. When you chose your career path, you entered into a partnership with the marketplace. You invested years into education and paid your dues--and now you have tenure in your chosen industry.

But suddenly the shine wears off and you’re ready to throw in the towel. If you’re disenchanted and ready to quit, it might be because you don’t share the values of the customers you serve.

In addition to the questions above, ask yourself this:

·      Am I like-minded with the people I serve?

·      Do I feel a connection to their lives? Would I want to share a meal with them?

If you answered no to these questions, you might be ready for a career change. I believe this is why most people sabotage their careers. We don’t work in a vacuum. And without that personal connection or common mission, you start showing up late for work. You get angry all the time. You slack off. (Insert the monkey wrench of your choice). 

And you eventually quit.

But you want to get ahead and it's a tough job market. You know that your best chance for a raise and a better job is to leverage the skill set you’ve being practicing for a while. 

So before you decide to reinvent your career, try shifting your perspective.

Maybe your perception about your worth is off.

Let’s say you teach fitness to adults. After years of seeing some of your students return to their bad habits and gain the weight back, it makes you question the value of what you do. But have you forgotten all the students who thanked you for your help? All the testimonials and success stories you heard? And have you ever reverted to old bad habits yourself?

Or you're in Project Management for a big company’s systems team for years, and you’re unhappy with the lack of promotions offered to you. Can you apply your skills to a department or a new market that rewards accomplishments in a way that resonates better with you? Could you inspire others by teaching what you do instead of doing the work itself?

If you’re disillusioned by your non-profit organization, can you commercialize something noble you’ve been doing in the private sector instead?

Don’t take your expertise for granted and throw it away.

You may feel like a hack because you don’t find value in your work any more. But others might think you’re a genius.

Maybe you don’t need to completely reinvent your career at all. Just align yourself to people you share a common mission with.

Here's the ugly truth. You'll be able to keep up the charade of working just for the paycheck for only a little while. Sharing the values of the people you work with is the only way to sustain any enthusiasm for your job. You might be great at what you do, but without a few shared beliefs with your bosses or clients, you will not last.

These collective values—the drive to inspire, create, teach or lead, or a shared love for animals, widgets or saving mankind--are not just bullet points you add to your resume. They are the unspoken, unwritten connections you have to share with the people you serve. And they are what sustains you and keeps you engaged in a career.