Why is it so hard for us to enjoy our work? Why is it rare that we say “today was a great day!”?
Two days ago I began my work with excitement as I anticipated all I’d accomplish that day. I’d devised a plan to complete several significant tasks and advance the progress of a couple of key projects. As the day unfolded unforeseen circumstances delayed my start. A critical task drug on and on and my excitement waned. I ended the day frustrated and discouraged. Why had so little been accomplished?
Reflecting on the day I realized there was little I could have done to increase my productivity that day. Attending to customers at hand took precedent over some of the tasks I had planned. An opportunity to deepen a new friendship required a trade-off in project productivity for relational benefit. Lack of experience in a recently assigned job function meant I wasn’t able to function at the rate I’d hoped.
If finding satisfaction in my work is a function of my productivity, I will be at the mercy of the world the rest of my working days. So the real question to ask at the end of the day must be “did I fulfill my purpose?”.
Are the tasks you complete fulfilling the purpose of your work?