After reading this I've decided I'd really like to work in a calm company and doing calm work. I'm definitely on this path, I've worked on progressively more fun and interesting projects since I went freelance 4 years ago, it's what I get paid for, but still not what I absolutely love doing. I'm trying to make these two converge, amidst the practicalities of supporting a family. In this quest I'm very helped by remembering to be patient and that there are so many ways to contribute. Even though I'm doing the work that will pay me, I still have the opportunity to serve others, which is also one of my goals for my more artistic work. I appreciate your comments on recognizing the importance of both pieces of the puzzle.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment Emily. Glad to hear the piece offered some value for you! In the piece I linked to from Karlsson, I appreciated his concept of unbundling the goods we seek from work: what supports the practicalities may not be a key driver of meaning etc. Worth reading that post if you haven't already!
Thanks, I've not read it and will check it out. For what it is worth, I think there is enormous value to be derived from looking closely at why we feel practical work we are involved in doesn't bring meaning. Often times we need to readjust our definition of meaning. I've been inspired along these lines by the academic work of Jane Dutton at the Univ. of Michigan. They've done a lot of research on job crafting and how we can often access meaning just by crafting certain areas of the jobs that we already have, rather than having to completely start from scratch.
After reading this I've decided I'd really like to work in a calm company and doing calm work. I'm definitely on this path, I've worked on progressively more fun and interesting projects since I went freelance 4 years ago, it's what I get paid for, but still not what I absolutely love doing. I'm trying to make these two converge, amidst the practicalities of supporting a family. In this quest I'm very helped by remembering to be patient and that there are so many ways to contribute. Even though I'm doing the work that will pay me, I still have the opportunity to serve others, which is also one of my goals for my more artistic work. I appreciate your comments on recognizing the importance of both pieces of the puzzle.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment Emily. Glad to hear the piece offered some value for you! In the piece I linked to from Karlsson, I appreciated his concept of unbundling the goods we seek from work: what supports the practicalities may not be a key driver of meaning etc. Worth reading that post if you haven't already!
Thanks, I've not read it and will check it out. For what it is worth, I think there is enormous value to be derived from looking closely at why we feel practical work we are involved in doesn't bring meaning. Often times we need to readjust our definition of meaning. I've been inspired along these lines by the academic work of Jane Dutton at the Univ. of Michigan. They've done a lot of research on job crafting and how we can often access meaning just by crafting certain areas of the jobs that we already have, rather than having to completely start from scratch.
Completely agree with that. Not familiar with Jane Dutton though, so will check her work out!
Really well captured. I trust you'll find out how to fulfill number 2, not least because you wrote this.
Thanks Alex