Work is a Gift

I remember the first job I had where I received a "paycheck". I was 16 and had to clean up the shop yard at the sheet metal fabrication company my dad worked for. I made $4.00 an hour which I thought was awesome since minimum wage was $3.35. I worked throughout the summer and distinctly remember the 100+ degree days in August; I'd wear jeans and long sleeves as I cleaned up scrap metal, often lined with insulation. That job was miserable and there was nothing about it I liked. Except for the fact that I had it. See at that time, we had to work to pay for anything we wanted (I bet you can relate!). Our parents provided all we needed, but for anything beyond that we were on our own. And I was grateful to be working.

Work can be demanding. And stressful. In today's narrative it is often seen as something that should be minimized or even worse something we need to be protected from. But in this time of Thanksgiving it's worth recognizing that work really is a gift. Specifically, it is a gift of opportunity.

There was a time in preceding generations where work was more scarce than it is today and as a result the gift of work may have been more naturally appreciated. Times evolve. I think we can all confidently say that the opportunities for work are much more plentiful today than generations ago, in part due to worker mobility, in part due to technological advances, in part due to a more advanced and stable economy. We are all fortunate to benefit from all of that. Yet the opportunity to do honest, meaningful, hard work; to apply our gifts and talents for the benefit of others and ultimately for ourselves, is still a gift and one not to be taken for granted. When a company invites us to work for them (or as a services firm, when a client or customer invites us to do work for them), they are taking on risk and they are extending trust in us. They are creating space; they are giving us a gift of opportunity to create value, make a difference for others, and secure values for ourselves. We each have many talents and passions and work creates the opportunity to apply them in meaningful ways. And it creates space for us to build relationships and make an impact on others.

What then do we do with the gift we are given? Good work is a form of gratitude. The best way to show appreciation for work is to do work well. When we commit to high quality, to excellence, to creating value, we give thanks. But there are other ways we show appreciation for work too: how we show up for our organization, for our customers for our co-workers; how we treat those who invite us in. Our attitude defines our own work reality and our lived experience. And it also influences the reality and lived experience of others. When we show up as our best selves, we give thanks for the gift we are given. ?And when we see our work as a negative force in our life or in the lives of those around us, we need to reconsider the work we're doing. Are we in the right place? doing the right thing? While work isn't easy, it should lift us up...and allow us to lift others up too.

The reality is that work is often stressful too. The fears inherent in work are often what make it stressful: the fear of making a mistake; of performing poorly; of not being successful; of being treated unfairly; of not adding value; of financial insecurity. Stress can also lie in transitions between work. When we are seeking the next opportunity or trying to find who we are or what we do, the pursuit of work can be stressful.

As leaders we can show our gratitude for work by making work better for others. By reducing stress, increasing trust, mitigating fear. By helping others see their strengths and talents; helping people see their potential and the unique gifts they have and how to use them; helping them see how they can grow and develop; helping them see if they are in the right place or if they should move on to something better fitting; helping them create connections. And by helping shape the perspective and experience of others about work itself. All of these are ways to express gratitude.

Research has proven that when we are grateful, we are happier. Work is a big, important, and valuable part of our lives. It is a unique gift that is invaluable and should never be taken for granted. For those of us working, may we all appreciate the joys and gifts that are present in our work and help others do the same. For those in transition, may you see the gifts and talents you have and have faith that the next opportunity to apply them will present itself soon. For all of us, seeing work as something to be grateful for, seeing the fruits that it bears, seeing it for the gift that it is, is a way we can impact our own lives and the lives of those around us.

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Points of Impact" is a weekly publication expressing thoughts on how we might approach our work differently to have a better impact on others and the world. For more related perspectives, check out the book Impact with Love: Building Business for a Better World.