Love the Work You Do

Many writers and speakers today tell their audiences to do what they love and the money will come. I come from a different perspective. I believe we should learn to love the work we do— to find happiness where we are and the money will come.

My Dream

When I graduated from college in 1971, the country was experiencing a recession and we were still engaged in the Vietnam war. I was an English major from a small rural town with few job prospects. I dreamed of being a famous writer and took jobs as a carpenter and as an orderly on a psychiatric ward of a hospital.

I dreamed of being able to write full-time, although I did not know what topic I wanted to write about. I had no burning message that I wanted to deliver to the world. I had no idea that I was passionate about that I wanted to communicate.

In January of 1975 I received a call from a nursing home company asking if I was interested in interviewing for a job as a writer of policy and procedure manuals.

I knew nothing about nursing homes or policy manuals. I interviewed for the job and was hired both to my surprise and delight. I was happy to have a job writing even if I was earning less money than I did working as a carpenter.

I thought I would work for a year and move on to other more lucrative writing jobs. Forty years later, I still work in long-term care and I love the work I do. My work is both satisfying and rewarding. I have learned to have pride in what I do. I have learned that I can make a difference in people’s lives. I touch the lives of the people who care for the patients.

Not everyone knows what they want to do when they grow up and that is okay. Some of us take years to figure it out. As a child I dreamed of being a baseball player, an architect and a preacher. I did not even realize that nursing homes existed, nor did I have any desire to work in health care. Some people know from a very young age that they want to be nurses and doctors. The concept of working in the health care field never entered my mind.

For years I clung to dream of being able to make a living writing full time —of living the creative life. This dream stood in the way of my appreciating what I did have—the opportunity to help others, to inspire others.

And I have found ways to express my creativity and my need to write within the world of business. I have written newspaper ads, video scripts, training programs and articles for trade magazines. I have designed forms, developed brochures and made decisions about graphics. I have been involved in filming training programs.

Your Path

For most people, the path to success is not a straight line. Most paths have hills and valleys as well as road blocks and detours. And somewhere along that path we discover that what we desired at eighteen may not be what we are passionate about at thirty-five. And that is okay.

So here is my simple message to people who hate their jobs and dream about being elsewhere: learn to love what you do. Find reasons to appreciate the business you are in. Learn as much as you can about both the work you do and the business you are in.

Learn to Love What You Do

Here are some action steps to take to help you learn to love what you do.

1. Talk to others in your industry and discover why they love what they do. You might be surprised by what you find out. Learn to have pride in the work you do.
2. Read about the industry in which you work. Discover the thought leaders. Connect with them on LinkedIn.
3. Do not complain and gripe about your work or your company to others. Griping will plant negative seeds in your heart and you will never like what you do. Also do not associate with those who complain and gripe. They will discourage you.
4. Find positive stories that illustrate the importance of the industry in which you work and the work you do. Celebrate the work you do.
5. Identify the strengths and skills that you bring to your work and celebrate them. You are unique with special talents. No one can take that away without your permission.
6. Be thankful each day that you have a job that puts food on the table and pays the rent.

Learn to love the work you do—to find happiness where you are. And the rewards will come.