What is Work?

I think there are 4 fundamental areas to life:  Health, Personal Finances, Relationships, and Work.

When I use the word ‘work’ I’m not only referring to those things we do for money.  It’s a moving definition that I’m going to have to refine over time but I’ll try to explain a little today.  

When I first left working as an Engineer the main thing I was searching for at the time (at least in my head) was a sense of purpose.  ‘Purpose’ meaning the feeling like the work I’m doing is achieving some good in the world.  I worked in the Oil and Gas Industry and I am able to cook food, stay warm in my home in the winter, drive my car, and a whole litany of things because of the Oil and Gas industry.  But I just couldn’t connect to it in the way I wanted to.  

When I went into the US Military I was searching for that same feeling.  I want the job I’m working at to lead to some good in the world.  There is no doubt in my mind that the existence and strength of the US Military is something that wards off a lot of potential conflict from enemies of the West around the world.  Also, the military does so much for people born low on the economic ladder to transform the future of their family.  The Military also provides a place for people like me to discover themselves.  All incredibly good things but ultimately I just couldn’t connect to it in the way I wanted to.

When I was a Personal Trainer I was still looking for that same feeling of doing good for others with my daily efforts.  The fitness industry is full of flaws and hucksters selling false reality but there are also lots of genuine people putting out high quality information to their clients and to the world online.  Ben Patrick of Athletic Truth Group is one of those people (TheKneesOverToesGuy).  He’s helped many  people get out of knee, back, and shoulder pain.  Talk about doing good in the world.  But for many of my own shortcomings, I couldn’t make fitness work and connect to it in the way I wanted to.

Through writing and communicating my philosophy on personal ownership and personal development, I’ve found that feeling.  Of course, I still need money and that’s what being a security guard has been for in the last 3-4 years of my life.  Interestingly enough I’m actually finding more of the good that I’m doing on a daily basis at my security job than any of the previous jobs I’ve listed.  What’s changed is the recognition that society is made up of all these moving parts from the CEO to the Security Guard and Janitorial Staff.  Also, writing and making videos over the last 10 years has helped me really understand that positive transformative moments are built on a bunch of small steps and one has to be willing to show up daily and do the work.  My perspective has shifted.

So what is work?  I’m still searching for the right words… I think it’s an activity or activities that you find meaningful.  Some are paid and some are not.  Some involve pure enjoyment and some are simply chores that need to get done.  Basically, we work at lots of things:  

We work to be healthier.

We work to reach financial goals.

We work on the quality of our relationships.

We work to find meaningful work.

And on and on…

Whatever work is, it’s definitely a good thing.  I think the hard part is finding and creating the conditions that allow us to maintain a sustainable long term pace in our efforts.  It’s also tough to allow ourselves to pursue our own interests in work, particularly when our interests don’t fit the broader social narrative.  We have to work at being courageous.

I’ll work to find fewer words to define work.