Generally, when people say “work,” they’re talking about a job or something very similar. Work, as in clocking in at 9, clocking out at 5, rinse and repeat. Work, as in read pages 144 to 170 and be ready to answer questions 1 through 5 next class. Work, as in what we do to buy health insurance.
Work, in these contexts, is a very negative word. It’s something you put up with because you have no other choice. Your task? Learn how to wade through hours of work while keeping enough sanity to enjoy the rest of your life.
There’s another meaning of the word “work.” This is Work with a capital W. As in: your life’s Work. As in: your magnum opus. As in: your legacy.
This is work with meaning. Work you are proud of doing. Work as art.
But here’s something you may not have considered: these two different types of work have a lot in common. They both involve:
- Long hours
- The need to grind things out sometimes
- Failure and frustration
- Competitors and enemies
- Difficult decisions; trial and error
Sometimes we imagine that, once we’ve figured out what we want to do in life, everything gets easy and fun. Not quite. Rewarding, inspiring, exhilarating at times, absolutely – but your life’s Work is still work.
The crucial difference is this: in work-as-health-insurance-fund, you love the results but not the process. You look back at all the hardships you slogged through and say, Well, I guess the mortgage was worth it. Then you look forward and strain your eyes searching for the next milestone – be it a nicer car, another promotion, or a plushier retirement fund – that will make more slogging worth your time. Let me be clear – there’s nothing shameful about working to pay the mortgage or buy health insurance. But it’s often hard to be happy doing it.
In Work-as-art, you love both the results and the process. In Work-as-art, you look back on the long hours, the frustrations, the competition, the difficult decisions, and yes, the occasional grind – and you realize how much you enjoyed all of it. And then (this is the really important part) you look forward and can’t help getting excited all over again – not just at the distant goal, but also at what’s right in front of you.
You see, the dividing line between your day job and your life’s Work is often thinner than you may think. That’s an important thing to understand. The line isn’t financial freedom or location independence; it’s not ditching the 9-to-5; it’s not prestige. All these things are just nice little bonuses you might (or might not) collect along the way.
The line is here, at the small, delicious intersection between what excites you in the moment, what you can share, and what you can be proud of leaving behind. You walk this line in your own way – whether that means quitting your job or not, whether that means moving across the globe or not.
What are you looking for? How will you know when you find it? And what are you going to do about it?
15 Comments on “Another Kind of Work”
says:
Great, great article.
This makes me think about how I feel about coaching. Our season is almost over but I already CAN'T WAIT for next season to start. We are 4-14 on the year but that record means nothing to me. I don't coach for the record– I coach for almost every other reason (I certainly don't coach for the money because I don't make any). However, I can see how this is the beginning of my legacy, my magnum opus, if you will.
says:
Inspiring, short, encouraging and true. I'm trying to do double duty on both of these types of work…the difference is clear and you've stated it well!
says:
That's exactly the kind of work I'm talking about, Sam. Huge kudos to you for doing it! As for money, I think it's completely up to you. If you want to turn your life's work into a financially profitable business, go for it. If you enjoy making another kind of profit (the emotional, internal kind), then that's the way to go.
By the way, I loved your recent post about not worrying and getting started.
says:
That's exactly the kind of work I'm talking about, Sam. Huge kudos to you for doing it! As for money, I think it's completely up to you. If you want to turn your life's work into a financially profitable business, go for it. If you enjoy making another kind of profit (the emotional, internal kind), then that's the way to go.
By the way, I loved your recent post about not worrying and getting started.
says:
That's exactly the kind of work I'm talking about, Sam. Huge kudos to you for doing it! As for money, I think it's completely up to you. If you want to turn your life's work into a financially profitable business, go for it. If you enjoy making another kind of profit (the emotional, internal kind), then that's the way to go.
By the way, I loved your recent post about not worrying and getting started.
says:
I'm doing some double duty myself, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Thanks for stopping by, Rob :)
says:
I think this is a much better way of looking at the old chestnut of doing what you love. Work as art is a great concept and it is nice to see someone recognize that doing what we love is not always easy.
says:
I am not sure yet what type of work I am looking for, I have many passions as a Gemini girl. Need to settle on one or a few. One thing I know for sure, I just want enough to sustain and enjoy my life with kids and husband and family, and help others in need. I do need to be deca rich for it!
says:
It's not always easy to “choose” a passion, is it? The best way, I've found, is to give everything a good try, and let the experience answer for you. Best of luck!
says:
Doing what you love is no cakewalk – but it's much more rewarding to have to work for something than to have it handed to you on a silver platter.
If you're interested in the work as art concept, Quinn, you might want to check out Seth Godin's book, Linchpin. I'm only partway through it, but it's fantastic.
says:
“In Work-as-art, you love both the results and the process”. Well put, and a vision for what is possible. Will you be proud of what you leave behind? Inspiring read.
says:
Skillfully defined 'work' and ‘Work’.
Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. — Confucius quotes
Cheers,
Cheryl Paris Blog
says:
Jeffrey, I really love this post. So true.
says:
Jeffrey, A really good discussion. It's interesing to me that a day job (such as my last job) can have elements of both kinds of work. I'd hear negative cynical comments (“It all counts toward retirement”), yet see some of the people fully engaged and committed at least some of the time.
Management style was definitely a factor, but that's the subject for another post.