What Does Work Mean to You?

June 27, 2012 in Lifestyle, People, Society, Work

Work. It’s a huge part of our lives. We rely on it for income, we spend 8 (ok, maybe 10) hours a day there and hopefully, for most of us, we gain satisfaction and enjoyment out of our work.

Not how anyone actually lawyers in real life, there is no time to sit up and look pretty but skeptical at the other solicitor making submissions.

When I wrote about what I would do if I became a Lotto winner, I thought about the things I wouldn’t do if I won the Lotto. I have thought about it several times prior to writing the post (prior to KiKi & Tea even launching) and discussed it with Mr W in some of our “what would we do with loads of money” talks. Usually these are prompted when there is a big lotto draw on that evening.

Funnily enough, when I was at my old job and questioning if I wanted to continue a career in law, my first response was “QUIT, QUIT MY BLOODY JOB AND STUDY HEAPS OF DIFFERENT DEGREES BE A PERPETUAL UNI STUDENT BUT A RICH ONE”. His response was always “I’d never quit my job”. I scoffed at him at the time.

However, I have been at my current job for about 18 months. I surprised myself when a $70 million Lotto draw was on and we were fantasising about what to do with that sort of money. I blurted out “Never, I’d never quit my job if I won that much money”. WOW. What a complete 180 I’d done!

Why? Well, I suppose it is simple, really. I like my work. I love my employer. I love the people I work with. I gain immense satisfaction from the challenge of my work and the highly specialised level of analytical and intellectual thinking involved. I’m comfortable to admit that I’m proud of being a lawyer and I love filling in the employment section of forms with “solicitor” or (when arriving in America on the customs forms) “lawyer”. I’m proud.

Of course, no matter how much I loved the work, if I was employed somewhere where I had difficult colleagues, I was overworked to the point where 12 hour days were normal, or they didn’t treat their staff well, I wouldn’t like it so much. I’m just lucky that I have landed on my feet in an area of practice I love with an employer I equally love.

Work, though, is different for everyone. Some people could take it or leave it, and if they didn’t have to work, they wouldn’t. They are perfectly happy going to work each day, but if they were told they didn’t have to work anymore, they wouldn’t. Some people absolutely hate work. Some people can’t work, though they desperately want to. Work is what some people do, not who they are. For others, work and career form part of their identity and is a fundamental aspect of who they are.

Do you love your job? Do you hate it? Do you work to live or live to work?

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Whippersnapper has written 37 posts.

10 Comments »

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http://music.johnanthonyjames.com/ John James

Like I mentioned on MM this week, I only work to make a living. The things I love to do – write, and co-edit KiKi & Tea – don’t make me any money…but if they did I would quit my job and do the things I love.

Some people are lucky that their job is also the thing they love to do…maybe I’ll be one of those people one day…
- Whippersnapper
  
  I was so annoyed by that post, I had this one drafted and ready to go before that post was published on Sunday!!
  - http://music.johnanthonyjames.com/ John James
    
    Wont be the last time…
Mandi Aylmore

I work to pay bills. I definitely don’t have a career.

If I didn’t have to work I wouldn’t. I would much prefer to volunteer at places that need lots of help. It would still be “work” I suppose, but unpaid.
carohutchison

As someone who is focussing more on raising kids than a career at the moment, I feel like my attitude to paid work has changed since I had them. I’m extremely lucky enough to work because I want to not because I have to, having said that, it often feels like it is bottom of the priority list after family, relationships and volunteering.

I enjoy what I do, and I think I enjoy having the label of ‘financial planner’ to use when people ask what I do, rather than Mum. It also makes me feel connected to my industry and able to maintain some sort of experience while the kids are little, and I can ramp it up when they go to school.
- Whippersnapper
  
  One thing I can’t really judge on until I have kids!
  
  At this stage, I want to keep working, going back to work part time until maternity leave stints are up, and going back full time once the youngest is in high school, but I say that now and have no idea as to how I am going to feel once I have them! I somehow don’t think I’d be very good at being a SAHM.
Mazi Gray

I love my job, and the lifestyle it affords me. I would love the pay of my cousins, the Truck drivers in the mines, but I doubt despite the money I would have as much fun.
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Valentina B

Thanks for reminding me to play tatts for the 30 mill draw tomorrow!!

At this stage of my life, if i were to win a significant amount of money, i’d probably work less hours but keep my job, and then slowly quit until I found something that I truly loved. I’d go back to uni to be qualified in the field that i want and probably get qualifications for stuff that only interests me that i wouldn’t want to work in.

I’d probably eventually end up volunteering for a nfp organisation because that’s what gives me my satisfaction in life. If i could start my own charity i probably would do that too and work in that.
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