I’ve been discussing these questions with myself quite often lately, having retired from a always-on corporate tech career last year. I always assumed I would jump straight into writing and volunteering with unlimited freedom of retirement. Yet I have not jumped in. Why kit? At first I was stunned senseless by my empty calendar. Cured quickly. The blocky thing that is lingering, I’m realizing, is that I’m missing my work tribes.
Every company - its colleagues, customers and partners - is a tribe. Working has always been a way to join/evolve/affect a global tribal community. Find people with shared values, different perspectives. Grow with them. Help them along their growth path.
I’m not going to take a job to get that sense of community back. I do want to find a way to replace it.
thankyou Barbara - great insights. Funny how you talk about the calendar and the blocky thing. Not sure if you listen to the podcast - but just last week Frederick Van J was on talking about exactly the same thing - Tetris for Business is how he put it - always juggling moving those little colored blocks around a fixed sheet ...
One of your (John's) summary points - "We have our dreams, but fear holds us back". I thought about this....when I had kids, one of the overriding themes became "Provider". And, I think, directed my focus to both purpose and income. Growing up relatively poor, my parents did the best they could. And encouraged me to go to college. Which I did, but with plenty of 9% student loans and a 20-hour per week job at UPS.
So I wanted to get my kids through higher education without incurring debt. Work got that done. Was there an element of fear? I don't know. did it "throttle" my choices in work? Perhaps. Any regrets? no
I work because I genuinely enjoy it! And when I do not enjoy, I find something else to do. This doesn't mean you don't have days or even weeks where you greatly dislike the work, your job, your boss, peers, or even your crazy clients, but just means you find some sense of purpose and enjoyment out of the good to great days.
Now THAT is a positive outlook on life Leah ... and is a great reminder that life is not always perfect. It also reminds me of how we need to always keep in mind the difference between 'happiness' and 'pleasure'.
I was once told that "God gave us work in order to learn about ourselves through others". Who knows who said it, but it does ring true. What other "thing" gives us such a bounty of opportunity to better ourselves, our decision making, our communication skills, etc.
thankyou for your thoughts Mr. Golladay ... I am presuming you consider this equally relevant today as 500 years ago ... so perhaps I might ask a sub-question for you ... I can see how an "opportunity to better ourselves, our decision making, our communication skills, etc" through work where you are in a position to practice those skills ... but what of the person driving the bus, compacting the trash, making the widget etc etc ... where there is relatively little opportunity to make decisions, to communicate in a meaningful way - what of thise people? should we have that call?
Thanks John. We have the unique gift of consciousness. And the possibility to be mindful, fully paying attention to anything that modifies consciousness....a breath, a noise, a thought, an interaction (no matter how small). So there are always opportunities. So we can "practice" being fully present, or not losing our cool, or deciding not to be angry/sad/judgemental... All ways to learn about ourselves through even the simplest of interactions in a work setting.
I may have posted this before but its worth repeating in partial answer to your question. This quote opens President Biden's book, "Promise Me, Dad":
Rules for Happiness: something to do,
someone to love, something to hope for.
- Immanuel Kant
I am fortunate in this regard, and I'll continue my work as currently constituted until my last breath - some time each week is spent supporting People First, which is its own reward; the rest of my week, I focus upon my writing - essays, stories, poems - which has been my passion/ obsession since I was 12 years old.
A finely wrought metaphor in poems and stories, one that reaches past our limits, is a gift given (for those that prefer evidence, listen to Amanda Gorman's inaugural performance).
This is my "something to do," rain or shine, love lost or being lost, in sickness or health, wherever and whenever we are. We write for those who love to read.
I’ve been discussing these questions with myself quite often lately, having retired from a always-on corporate tech career last year. I always assumed I would jump straight into writing and volunteering with unlimited freedom of retirement. Yet I have not jumped in. Why kit? At first I was stunned senseless by my empty calendar. Cured quickly. The blocky thing that is lingering, I’m realizing, is that I’m missing my work tribes.
Every company - its colleagues, customers and partners - is a tribe. Working has always been a way to join/evolve/affect a global tribal community. Find people with shared values, different perspectives. Grow with them. Help them along their growth path.
I’m not going to take a job to get that sense of community back. I do want to find a way to replace it.
thankyou Barbara - great insights. Funny how you talk about the calendar and the blocky thing. Not sure if you listen to the podcast - but just last week Frederick Van J was on talking about exactly the same thing - Tetris for Business is how he put it - always juggling moving those little colored blocks around a fixed sheet ...
https://peoplefirst.fm/podcast/065-you-can-hear-hear-your-infectious-laugh/
Good luck with your new world.
Ever read 'Tribal Leadership' : Logan, King and Fisher Wright?
One of your (John's) summary points - "We have our dreams, but fear holds us back". I thought about this....when I had kids, one of the overriding themes became "Provider". And, I think, directed my focus to both purpose and income. Growing up relatively poor, my parents did the best they could. And encouraged me to go to college. Which I did, but with plenty of 9% student loans and a 20-hour per week job at UPS.
So I wanted to get my kids through higher education without incurring debt. Work got that done. Was there an element of fear? I don't know. did it "throttle" my choices in work? Perhaps. Any regrets? no
Thanks Bob ... looking at your two children , I would argue awesome job - congratulations.
I work because I genuinely enjoy it! And when I do not enjoy, I find something else to do. This doesn't mean you don't have days or even weeks where you greatly dislike the work, your job, your boss, peers, or even your crazy clients, but just means you find some sense of purpose and enjoyment out of the good to great days.
Now THAT is a positive outlook on life Leah ... and is a great reminder that life is not always perfect. It also reminds me of how we need to always keep in mind the difference between 'happiness' and 'pleasure'.
I was once told that "God gave us work in order to learn about ourselves through others". Who knows who said it, but it does ring true. What other "thing" gives us such a bounty of opportunity to better ourselves, our decision making, our communication skills, etc.
Work represents possibilities.
thankyou for your thoughts Mr. Golladay ... I am presuming you consider this equally relevant today as 500 years ago ... so perhaps I might ask a sub-question for you ... I can see how an "opportunity to better ourselves, our decision making, our communication skills, etc" through work where you are in a position to practice those skills ... but what of the person driving the bus, compacting the trash, making the widget etc etc ... where there is relatively little opportunity to make decisions, to communicate in a meaningful way - what of thise people? should we have that call?
Thanks John. We have the unique gift of consciousness. And the possibility to be mindful, fully paying attention to anything that modifies consciousness....a breath, a noise, a thought, an interaction (no matter how small). So there are always opportunities. So we can "practice" being fully present, or not losing our cool, or deciding not to be angry/sad/judgemental... All ways to learn about ourselves through even the simplest of interactions in a work setting.
ARBEIT MACHT DAS LEBEN SUSS
I may have posted this before but its worth repeating in partial answer to your question. This quote opens President Biden's book, "Promise Me, Dad":
Rules for Happiness: something to do,
someone to love, something to hope for.
- Immanuel Kant
I am fortunate in this regard, and I'll continue my work as currently constituted until my last breath - some time each week is spent supporting People First, which is its own reward; the rest of my week, I focus upon my writing - essays, stories, poems - which has been my passion/ obsession since I was 12 years old.
A finely wrought metaphor in poems and stories, one that reaches past our limits, is a gift given (for those that prefer evidence, listen to Amanda Gorman's inaugural performance).
This is my "something to do," rain or shine, love lost or being lost, in sickness or health, wherever and whenever we are. We write for those who love to read.
Your turn.