This archive report was first published on 17 November 2019.
Are you doing meaningful work worth taking your precious time? ¶
As I read James Lovelock's new book, Novacene, I couldn't help but laugh out loud at his analogy between termite nests and modern office towers. While Lovelock's point is that humans, like termites, are often admirable in our architectural and engineering feats, he also highlights the similarity between the 'mixing of shit' that termites do and the mundane tasks that many office workers perform.
As someone who has spent much of their life in those glass towers, I have to admit that I'm not as convinced as Lovelock that all office workers are not just 'mixing waste'. While good work is undoubtedly a source of meaning in life, how many of us can say that about our jobs?
Good work, in my opinion, is work that creates things of utility, is valued by those who do it and those who receive it, and is done with a good heart and intention. It's work that brings beauty into the world, protects the beauty that is already there, and eases the burdens of others. It's work that advances our knowledge and understanding.
But how many of us can say that about our work? Years ago, I abandoned my own seemingly well-paid job to venture on my own, and I had a different realization: that any work I created for others must also be work of meaning.
Every thoughtful person should sometimes pause and look around at their colleagues and co-workers, and wonder: what are all these people doing? Is it enough just that they earn a living? Do they do any good, useful, meaningful work? Or are they just passing the time?
What if they stopped doing their work — would anything change? What would give more meaning to what they do — what we all do? What are we all really here for?
As someone with the power of employment in their grasp, please use this power thoughtfully. Give out gifts, not just jobs: the gifts of meaning, of contribution, of dignity.
Nonetheless, some humans are devoting their work to the study of work. I will introduce you to one such person next week, right here.
Sunny Bindra's new book, 'The Bigger Deal', is now on sale. www.sunwords.com
