But what if work didn't feel like work? I've been intrigued with this idea for a while and I've had conversations with a couple people in the last 2 days in which this idea has come up.
There seems to be a distinct feeling of some work that doesn't feel like work and on the flip side is work that feels very much like work.
In the first category of work there is a feeling of "flow". It comes naturally. It isn't difficult and it doesn't seem like hard labor. It actually gives energy rather than sapping it. It's, dare I say, fun? I have become very aware that there are components of what I do when this is very much the case. I walk away from certain things saying to myself, "Wow, that didn't feel like work!"
On the total opposite end of that spectrum is the other work. This work feels like work. It's burdensome, it requires monumental effort and it's painful. It zaps our energy and we often do everything we can to avoid it. Why do you think Facebook is so popular?? Facebook is an excellent way to avoid the work that we don't feel like doing - and don't worry, I'm speaking from personal experience here.
Marcus Buckingham, the author of several books, makes the claim that we should only operate in our strengths and delegate our weaknesses. I'm probably not doing the whole idea justice, but the question looms, "Is that possible?"
Maybe, maybe not.
There's an advantage when you're self-employed like I am to choose. If you have a job that requires you to do certain things that feel like the bad kind of work then that's another matter. However, even if that's the case, should you have to accept that as the reality of your destiny? I don't think so, as lofty as that may sound.
I am, in fact, on a personal mission to do more of the things that don't feel more like work. The things that fulfill me, that give me joy, and that I'm actually pretty good at. By the way, when you do something for your clients that you don't normally do and they hug you and say this is what you should be doing full time - that's a pretty good indicator.
Why don't you join me on my mission? Let's take our work back and make it an enjoyable, fulfilling part of our lives, especially since we have to spend so much time doing it anyway!
