“Deprived of meaningful work, men . . . lose their reason for existence; they go stark, raving mad.” -Fyodor Dostoevsky
Your goal is to find work that counts, not just work that pays.
Don’t get me wrong, pay does matter. Without it a man can’t support himself or those who depend on him. Let’s be clear, money is not evil, and neither is ambition. But working for just a paycheck is not a blueprint for a fulfilling life.
What you need is work that counts because it contributes to a cause bigger than yourself. It makes other people’s lives better. Think of a mechanic repairing a car so a family can travel safely, a carpenter who sees a pile of lumber as a home for a family, or a manager developing younger employees so they can advance in their careers.
All of those are examples of work that counts.
I want you to realize a man needs income, but he also needs purpose.
I was fortunate to witness this firsthand by watching my friend, the late Dr. Tom Pieplow.
Tom worked for the Army for over 30 years, eventually retiring as an SES. I won’t bore you with what an SES is, other than to say he was the civilian equivalent of a General. He was a big deal.
Conventional wisdom says you have to be self-centered and hyper-focused to climb that high up the ladder. No time for family, no time for friends, and step over as many people as it takes to get to the top.
Not Tom. His secret to career success was radically different. Here’s what he said about how to get promoted in an interview for his retirement.
“What does it take to get promoted? You have to have a well-balanced life, and part of that is giving back to mankind.”
“Volunteering and making a difference in other people’s lives helps you keep things in perspective….. Instead of developing inward, develop outward, and the promotions and opportunities will come your way.”
“A career is not about money. It’s about where you can make the biggest contribution,”
Tom understood the concept of meaningful work.
I met Tom at Lindsay Lane Baptist Church in the mid-90s and got to watch him live out what he said was important. He was a leader in the church, raised two daughters, and still found time to volunteer in prisons. Along the way he also ran marathons!
Tom was the kind of man the world needs more of. He knew his abilities, intelligence, and work ethic were meant to do more than get him a promotion. He knew he was meant to serve a cause larger than his bank account.
“A career is not about money. It’s about where you can make the biggest contribution,”-Tom Pieplow
Dee’s Threes
Tom’s example raises an important question: How do you find meaningful work in your own life? Here are three practical steps.
1. Define what’s meaningful in YOUR life.
Don’t let social media or other people’s expectations define what’s meaningful for you. You need to figure out if it’s family, community, the company your work for, your title, or your ego.
Then ask yourself a hard question: “If I keep working the same way for five years, what will exist because of the work I put in?” More zeros in your bank account? More zeros in your boss’ bank account?
If your answer contradicts what you said was meaningful, you may need to pursue a different job, develop a new skill, volunteer, mentor, or step up the quality of your work where you are.
Work that counts begins with clarity about who and what you consider meaningful.
2. Become excellent at something useful.
People are helped most by men who can get stuff done, not the ones with just good intentions.
You need to learn your trade, improve your communication skills, become a better leader, ask for feedback from bosses, coworkers and employees on how you can improve. Become the man people call when a problem must actually be solved.
Excellence is stewardship. It’s deciding not to waste the gifts and opportunities you’ve been given.
3. Measure your work by impact, not applause.
Most work that matters will never make you famous. You’re probably never going to win an award for being faithful to your wife, going to your kid’s games and recitals, being there for a friend at 1 a.m. or refusing to compromise your ethics.
But it all still counts.
So, every Friday afternoon why not take a few minutes and ask yourself:
Whose burden did I lighten?
What did I improve?
Where did I keep my word?
These questions will let you know whether simply you traded hours for dollars or made an impact in the lives of others.
How you view your work will change when you see yourself as a steward, not just an employee.
This week, don’t just show up to work. Show up with greater intention.
Solve one problem without being asked
Encourage one younger man
Improve one skill that will make you more useful
Go home and give your best attention to the people who need more than your income.
You want work that pays. But more than that, you want work that counts.
“Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” -Theodore Roosevelt