Water or dynamite?

Have you ever been in the bush or beach and notice how the steady continuous flow of water droplets can bore a hole in the rock below it?

What about watching a skilled team drop a building with just the right amount of explosives in the right place?

There’s a place for water and dynamite in Work with Meaning.  It all depends on your need for change and both your appetite and capacity for risk.

When I started my working life as a Recruiter I always had a love hate relationship with my experience of work.  Over ten years working as a Recruiter I worked for three companies, in three different capital cities under six different managers.  One organization had standard hours of 8am to 7pm, was totally committed to excellence and consistency and had discretionary financial bonuses.  Another organization hired experienced people, had transparent commission structures and said we are here if you need and let you go.  Some managers wanted to micromanage and clone themselves, others had the ability to adapt their style to their people’s needs, some were totally transaction focused and others relationship orientated.  Some communicated clearly and consistently in an environment of trust others preferred to change the goal posts, undermine trust and keep you on your back foot.

I learnt a lot watching the water bore a hole in to me in the wilds of my working life.

Then I applied the dynamite.

I halved my income to leave recruitment and become a fundraiser for a hospital.  I learnt that I didn’t need others to tell me I was a good guy and that providing money for others to do meaningful work wasn’t as rewarding as doing the meaningful work.

Then I left all financial security behind and pursued my passion for health and fitness by becoming a self-employed Personal Trainer.  I learnt I love working for myself and being fit and healthy.  My understanding of health and fitness expanded to include finances and relationships.  I also learnt that working when your family and friends are makes it very hard to participate in and enjoy important relationships.  I also learnt a lot about where responsibility starts and finishes for myself and those under my care.

Like Mount Rushmore the explosives were revealing the face I wanted to see that I considered more of me.

So do you need water or dynamite?

I would start by exploring how much you need to make a change.  Are you for the most part happy with your lot albeit there is something there, an itch to scratch, a yearning, an unsatisfied something.  Or are you desperately unhealthy and unhappy.  Then I would assess your capacity for change.  How is your health, how are your finances and what does your support network look like?  Do you and those important people in your life see change and risk as exciting or dangerous?

If you have a high need for change and either low appetite or capacity for change focusing on your health and wellbeing might be more important than your work.  If you have a low to medium need to change and medium to high appetite and capacity for change you might use water to carve out Work with Meaning.  If you have a medium or high need for change and strong appetite and capacity for change you might use water or dynamite.

Make some time to reflect on what you have actually done over the last week or two.  Not what you achieved or were recognized for, what you actually did.  What actions did you take, what tasks did you complete, what responsibilities did you honour?  Which of those did you LOVE doing?  Which ones lead to an outcome or impact that you were proud of?

While you are reflecting make note of how you worked.  Where, when, with what tools and with who did you take those actions.  By completing your work that way were you able to be your best self and do your best work?  How did working that way make it harder to connect with a special someone or do something else more meaningful to you?

Having identify some actions that you love doing and are important to you now is an opportunity to work out how to do more of that.  Would delegating or automating tasks make more room and time for these activities?  Would you benefit from engaging in more or different projects at work?

Who do you need to speak to, if anyone, about working differently?  Who has the authority to OK a different start or finish time, location of work or access to different tools?

Some say knowledge is power.  You have that now.  I think your life, and access to Work with Meaning, is only going to be enhanced by the action you take based on this knowledge.  So when will you do more of what you love and is important to you?  When will you work a little differently?  Make a commitment to yourself.  You don’t have to do this alone so share this commitment and enlist support to make the change.  Those who benefit from the change tend to be more willing supporters.  That might include family, friends, mentors, bosses and or coaches.

Hopefully you are already enjoying Work with Meaning.  If you are not will you apply water or dynamite to shape your work so that it supports you to be your best and do your best work?  

Thank you too Debbie Woods for creating the images used.