Purpose and Work


Marci Shimoff tells a story about three men on a building site. When asked what they’re doing, the first replies that he is laying bricks. The second replies that he is proud to be practising his trade as a bricklayer. The third replies that he is building a beautiful cathedral. This story demonstrates the different attitudes we can have towards our work. We can treat it as merely something we have to do to earn a crust; as a chance to shine at our chosen profession; or an opportunity to contribute to a greater goal.

One of the main reasons people leave a job is feeling unappreciated. This can happen when our employer treats us like the first man in the story, even though we have gone to work with the attitude of the second or third. Our dedication, ideas and vision don’t seem to matter to our bosses. It’s a common story, which results from the hierarchical structure of most workplaces, where much energy goes into keeping people in their place, rather than harnessing workers’ enthusiasm towards a shared purpose.

Research shows that people are happiest when their employer’s purpose aligns with their own – but since such organisations are not yet common, we need to find ways to create our own job satisfaction, rather than expecting our bosses to do it for us.

We can find joy in the work itself and in the appreciation of coworkers and others. We can take pride in perfecting our skills, remembering the metaphorical cathedral we are building. The worst thing we can do is reduce ourselves to the level of the first man in the story. He is undoubtedly the most miserable of the three as he monotonously lays his bricks, with no motive other than his weekly pay.

                                                                                                     Stephanie Hills ©

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