Are you Making a Difference?
Sometimes it's hard to tell
The day before Thanksgiving and a flash of anger ricocheted back. My 35 year old, heavy as a fence post, used a few times a year, food processor is dead. I should have tried it before filling it with cranberries, cilantro, green onions and a jalepeno…I did not.
My sweet spouse came out to investigate the cursing, and after years of therapy together, knew enough to say, “I’m sorry it’s happening and I’ll leave you to it.”
This, is progress. There was a time when he’d get invested in trying to fix it and I would huff and puff and try to blow the house down. Then neither of us would be happy and it would be a few hours before we tentatively spoke about the mundanity of our days. (probably a post for another day)
When left on my own to use the hand chopper on the little cutting board (all the while cursing my newly acquired arthritis of the thumbs) I reminded myself that anger usually comes calling with another, deeper emotion as it’s twin flame. Anger is sometimes called a secondary emotion - and no one likes to be second - that’s what makes it so bombastic and hard to get around.
Anyway, left with my anger, I started chopping and walking through the emotions that generally accompany it, and landed on the combo of feeling inadequate and disappointed. A step deeper and it came clear that I worry that my work (the day job that supports the passion project, and the passion project of the pod and this very newsletter itself) is not really making a difference.
Once I realized what was really bothering me I calmed down, added sugar and lime juice to the chopped cranberry concoction and continued to reflect on meaning.
I’ve mentioned before that I started working outside the house at 15. I associated working with freedom and independence. I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m hard-wired this way. I have siblings that love working and others that will do just about anything to avoid it. All of however do like making money.
Money then is the reason we look for a job, but what keeps us there?
My observation is that the answer is very personal. For some it’s the paycheck, for others it’s the sense of community and relationships with colleagues, for some it’s the ability to have something to complain about, and for those that have that special something - they stay because they feel they are making a positive impact. Or at least that the positive impact days outweigh the others.
The challenge of course is that we’re often too close to the forest to see the trees at work. Getting caught up in the to and fro and actions of the day without an opportunity to step back and see the big picture. Unless you’re in the corner office, odds are that there’s no incentive for you to step back and look at where the ship is going - still, I encourage you to take a beat once a week or so and ask if what you’re doing at work is adding value or taking it away.
Value is up to you. You can add value by keeping parks clean, balancing budgets, or litigating on behalf of the voiceless. Value can be taken away if you feel like you’re forced to charge the voiceless more than they can afford, if you spend more time in meetings than on the trails you were hired to repair or if you’re asked to look the other way when discrimination is happening. Only you decide - that’s the rub, isn’t it? You are the arbiter of what adds value to your life and what takes it away.
I started recruiting in the 90s. And one thing I know for sure - no matter the economy, there will always be a way for you to earn a paycheck. The question is, what do you want to take home along with the pay?
100 subscribers!
I’m thrilled to say there are 100 of you along this ZenCareer ride with me and I’m happy to share a note that I recently received,
I wanted to share some exciting news—I've accepted a job offer iand will be relocating before the year's end. I'm thrilled with both the title and the salary they've offered. I wanted to express my gratitude for your advice and support during a challenging time. Thank you! Your insights and content on your blog have been invaluable to me, and I genuinely appreciate the effort you put into sharing your knowledge. Thank you so much for the inspiration and guidance! ~ SC
Hitting milestones is one of the ways I know that I am making a difference. If there are 100 people who are feeling better about their job hunting journey - that’s enough. I’m thankful for you.
I want to acknowledge that I am writing rom the traditional territory of the Kiskiak.
Big hugs til next week.
Peg