Who Will Cry When You Die\?: Life Lessons From The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari pdfdrive com

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 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 privilege 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 to make can bring a whole new sense of enjoyment into your
life.

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