Microsoft Word who will cry when u die doc

42. 
Look for the Higher Meaning
of Your Work 
One of my favorite magazines is Fast Company, it provides a refreshingly human look at the new world of 
work. In a recent issue, Xerox PARC guru John Seely Brown said something that really made me think: “The 
job of leadership today is not just to make money, it’s to make meaning.” 
In the old days, most of us were content to have a job that simply paid the bills. But now, we crave so 
much more in our work. We want fulfillment, creative challenge, growth, joy and a sense that we are living for 
something more than ourselves. In a word, we seek meaning. One of the best ways to find the higher meaning in 
the work you do is to use the technique of creative questioning to become aware of the impact your work has on 
the world around you. Ask yourself questions like, Who ultimately benefits from the products and services my 
company offers? Or What difference do my services my company offers? or What difference do my daily 
efforts make? Once you do so, you will start noticing the connection between the work you do and the lives you 
touch. 
For example, if you are a teacher, stop focusing on all the tremendous changes in your profession, and 
remember that every day you enter that classroom, you have the privileged to shape a young mind, there are 
children and families that count on you. If you are a financial adviser, remain centered on the fact that your 
services help people retire early, build the homes they have always wanted and fulfill their dreams. If you are an 
insurance professional, remember that you help people bring security to their lives and serve them in times of 
need. And if you are a retail clerk, think about how your work serves people and how the products you offer 
them add joy to their lives. 
By concentrating on the value your work adds and the contribution you make, you will see quantum 
improvements in your satisfaction and motivation levels. Few things energize the human spirit more than the 
desire to make a difference in the lives of others. Mahatma Gandhi knew this. Nelson Mandela knew this. And 
Mother Teresa knew this. The simple shift of mind I am encouraging you make can bring a whole new sense of 
enjoyment into your life. 

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