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Loving Our Work
There are two ways to try to achieve success. One is with a sense of why, and one is without. Most of us try to succeed without a sense of why. What that means is, we sort of follow whatever the thing is in front of us. We go for a job interview and we take the job that offers us the most money or the best benefits, or has the easiest commute. We try and work with people who we think will help us advance or whatever it is.
Having a clear sense of why actually changes the dynamic and the decision-making entirely. For an individual, knowing their why is unbelievably calming, but it also gives great confidence, because we have a sense that, I know what the right decision is, I know which companies I should work for, I know which companies I should work with.
It gives you a clear sense of the people we should work with and work for, because we want to work with and work for people who believe what we believe. It makes it much easier when we know what we believe. Now we’re looking for places we would belong, places we would feel like we want to contribute. The decisions we make means we may turn down the job that pays more, but we’ll choose the place where we’re more likely to succeed, more likely to feel inspired and fulfilled with the work that we’re doing, which not only means you’ll be more successful, so the shortfall and money usually gets made up, but more importantly you live a happier life and you love your work.
Staying in Control
Once you know your why, it gives you tremendous clarity. And sometimes we find ourselves in positions where we realize we don’t belong. Then we start to rationalize, and we start to say, “Well, I have bills to pay and I have to take care of my family. So even though I don’t belong here, I don’t have a choice.”
Now the fact of the matter is, we always have a choice. Sometimes the choice is leaving to find another job, or sometimes the choice is changing the way in which we operate in the company. But to say we don’t have a choice, it’s not true. Also to resign ourselves to the fact that we can’t leave, means that we’re sort of eliminating the sense of control in our lives. And we all want a sense of control, especially in our jobs. All it is, is a data point. If you’re going to do something that makes you uncomfortable and puts you in a position where you’re out of balance with your why, at least you can see it as something temporary, that maybe in a few years, something will come along, and that will help inspire you to get through it. But to say we have no choice is just not true.