Book by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans
I find myself unmotivated, uncertain, and dissatisfied with my career from time to time. Yet, I am fortunate enough to have a job that I absolutely love at a company that aligns with my values, and filled with people who are intelligent and kind. So why is it that I feel restless with my career at times and how do I deal with it? Luckily, the title "Designing Your Work Life" by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans caught my eye at a bookstore in D.C. and after reading it, offered me a perspective to my dilemma.
Designing Your Work Life provides thoughtful exercises to hone in on what it means to work in a capitalistic world that can often times be inhumane. The book encourages to think deeper on the effects work has on ourselves, our loved ones, and society.
Disclaimer: This book isn't for everyone. It's for a certain sect of professionals who are conflicted between being content with their job while being dissatisfied with how soulless corporate settings can sometimes be. It's for professionals who are wanting to find balance and personal meaning in their work.
"Why do we work?", "What defines good work?", "What does money have to do with it?" are some inner reflection prompts the author strongly encourages to answer on paper not just in your head. The end goal and the idea is that it'll become easier to identify if your job aligns with what matters most and if it is in alignment with your values. And in return, it becomes easier to shift perspective when we do eventually run into any career related issues. I tried to be as authentic as possible answering the prompts posed in the book.
WORKVIEW
Why Work?
To keep busy and to make a living
What’s Work for?
To be contribute to society
What does work mean?
Contributing to society with our skills and talent
How does it relate to the individual, others, society?
We can improve the quality of our living with our ideas, talent, and labor as a collective
What defines good or worthwhile work?
Benefits others and brings satisfaction to self
What does money have to do with it?
Money certainly helps if you want to make an impact and to be in "thrive" mode, not "survive" mode.
LIFEVIEW
Why are we here?
To connect with and love others
What is the meaning/purpose of life?
To connect with and love others
What is the relationship between the individual and others?
To learn and grow from one another
Where does family fit in?
Family shapes who we are
What is good? What is evil?
Evil is to be selfish. To gain at the expense of others
Is there a higher power and if so, how does this impact my life?
Karma, Law of attraction, faith, and love
Why do you want to be successful?
So I can be financially stable enough to prioritize tending to the emotional needs of myself and family.
To enjoy life and to connect with others.
Hopefully to make a positive impact.
Writing down my work view and life view values has given me a North Star to keep my focus on when I get discouraged or resign to thinking if my career is a waste of my time. This book has given me perspective on how to deal with these issues when they arise.
Here is a list of reminders that worked for me at most times:
Accept the situation
Reframe your perception. "Be good with good enough for now."
Become more people focused
Let curiosity take lead when problem solving
I've learned that dissatisfaction with the present arrives when we compare to others, the past, the future, and the would've, could've, should'ves.
Reality is what we make it.
"The Past gives you an identity and the future gives you a sense of hope. Both are illusions."
- The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
By making present reality our priority, and accepting it with love and grace, we can start to shift away from fruitless worries and maybe find reasonable solutions to real problems. I encourage you to answer on paper your thoughts on the prompts from above. You may be surprised by your answers.
Comments