I hate working when it feels like it is purposeless. Do you ever feel that way? Do you feel that the only reason you go to work is because you have to to make a living?
I believe that most people dread work because they feel no sense of purpose. Many spend time trying to quit their job to “find their dream job.” Yet, when they finally find their “dream” many lose interest because it requires…wait for it…WORK!
I’ve discovered three things that have really helped me find purpose in my work, instead of trying to find my purpose by finding my dream.
- I’m creating something – God created us in His image. God created everything, from the smallest quanti to the expanse of the universe. Therefore, creating something is very satisfying for us. Try finding the creative aspects of what you do. I do heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and sometimes I get to create a system for a building that takes heat energy from one area and transfers it to a place less desirable. This happens through some very sophisticated and amazing equipment.
- Serve people – The way value is added to humanity and the way business operates is through serving people’s needs and wants. Maybe your a pastor who serves people by counseling their spiritual or emotion need. Or perhaps you work for Apple and design phones for people who want them. Either way, focus on how you can serve someone better and influence them towards positivity. There’s nothing like being served by a fantastic customer service representative or salesperson who seeks your benefit instead of making a sale.
- Own your role – This sort of goes along with creating. What ever responsibilities you’ve been given at your work, concentrate on over delivering. Seek out ways to make processes work better. Be the top performer. Half of the people today wonder why they don’t move up in a company or aren’t considered for promotions. It’s probably because they’re not delivering in their current role, so why would anyone want to move them up higher?