Work and Jobs

I've been watching the Olympics a lot lately - it's a little mind boggling to think of the dedication of time, energy, and resources these athletes have put into the sport they love. My favorite commercials are those that show them as children just picking up their sport. Then on the Olympic stage as 15 year old athletes - childhood and school looks very different. Of course some professional athletes get paid very well for their sport, especially those playing national league sports, but many of them don't. They still do what they love and gift the world with their talents.

I also went to a Pentatonix concert last week. A capella musicians typically aren't world touring acts or getting paid as such. I'm glad this group is able to - they have incredible talents, and I was a thankful recipient of their show. In addition to being talented artists, it's clear they love what they do.

I've spent a significant amount of time in the last two weeks chatting with people about how they spend their day. I grew up expecting to have a traditional, full time job. Very rarely have I truly worked "9-5" ... work travel requirements, natural night owl tendencies, and desire to be involved in community beyond work has found me in 40-60ish hour/week arrangements that for the most part has been salaried, and relatively flexible. I have primarily had office jobs, this seems normal to me and what I expected to do. It's worked out well enough.

Traditional full time jobs are not for everyone. I sat down for coffee a couple weeks ago, and the girl I'm meeting with tells me, "All I want to do is live and work in India. I can't because I have student loans, but that's what I want to do." Then I'm at French Meadow with a friend, and she tells me about being a yoga instructor and working at a restaurant (and loving it) so that she can spend her days building her nonprofit artist community unpaid. I sit down to have lunch with an urban farmer friend, and he asks, "So what's it like to work a 9-5? I've never had one." 

That caught me off guard. I've heard many a time, "Do what you love and the money will follow." I've always found joy and happiness in my work. I'm fortunate that it's always come with steady paycheck - I'm not particularly driven by money, but do value the luxury of comfortable lifestyle without worrying paycheck to paycheck. I am fairly risk averse if it threatens my ability to be independent. But the list of self created/split/portfolio career examples goes on. I have friends that are: start up church pastor/financial guide; musician/engineer; farmer/nonprofit fellow; fair trade pop up shop social entrepreneur/sexual violence advocate; self proclaimed city evangelist; bloggers; consultants. Incredibly brilliant people, spending their time, talent, and energy giving the world their best self. 

I admire them all for doing what they love. I wish everyone could/would be so bold. So willing to give the world their best. Answering the question, "What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" and then actually doing that. What would you do? It may (probably will) require other people to help, support, and love you along the way. I guarantee that no Sochi athlete got to the Olympic stage on their own. Since that's the case, who can you help? One of my favorite things to do is help people that are unhappy at work think about what they'd like to do more, and do anything I can to support them in getting there. People that are happy with their work/contributions, are also happier in home life, and social life. This ripples as a positive influence to everyone they interact with.

Thanks to a rapidly changing world, careers, industries, technology - the definition of "work" has evolved and it doesn't have to be this awful thing we endure. I'd love for everyone to have a chance to love their work and contribute in a meaningful way. I know I appreciate it, and appreciate people I'm with that have chosen to share their best strengths and talents with the world too.