How Important to You is 40 Hours?
[Editor's note: A big welcome to our new contributor, Sam Davidson!]
Doing what I do (running CoolPeopleCare.org and speaking to groups of young people and nonprofits) and being who I am (an idealistic 28-year old), I meet a lot of people who are simply dissatisfied with their jobs. Most of these people are under 35 and they usually dread where they have to go spend the next eight hours after waking up.
In fast, last week, I had three meetings with people who simply wanted out. They wanted out of their current job, out of a career that they weren’t passionate about, and out of a life that they were quickly losing control over when it came to the hopes and dreams they so tightly held onto.
I wish I could help.
I wish I could offer them a job. I don’t know what that job would be, mainly because I don’t know when I’d be in such a position. I’d really like to just start a company and hire all of these passionate people who crave meaningful work. Whether we’re cutting grass or coming up with ad campaigns, I can’t escape the idea that it would simply be a ball to work with people you liked. I think this is sort of what Tony Hsieh at Zappos is after.
But, instead of offering them a road out, I asked each person last week to think about a road around.
A few years ago, I was in their shoes. I spent 50+ hours a week at a job I couldn’t care less about. I didn’t want to develop a career where I was – I wanted to be free and start my own thing. Eventually, I did, but not before spending two years in a search for meaning. I made good money and sometimes had fun, but I didn’t love the work and badly wanted to come home to my wife at the end of the day and be able to say that I’d just made a substantial difference in someone’s life for the previous eight hours.
I usually tell these people this anecdote. I’m not sure if it offers them hope that there’s eventually a way out, or if it further discourages them because they’re still not where they want to be.
So, I then challenge them to forget about where they’re spending 40 hours and think instead about what truly makes them happy.
Is it time with their friends? Cooking a delicious meal at home? Watching reruns? Playing ultimate Frisbee on Saturdays? Being able to travel on a moment’s notice? Watching their nest egg grow as they stash away money for retirement? Being a great parent or a fantastic spouse?
What is it that makes you the happiest?
I think very few people answer the above question with what they do for 40 (or more) hours a week. Sure, in our capitalistic world, what you do defines much of who you are. But, it may never come close to making you happy.
For me, I enjoy brunch with my family on Sundays, dinner with my wife, a nice long jog a few times a week, and being able to inspire people when I write and speak. As long as I’m able to consistently do these things, I can spend 40 hours a week doing whatever it takes to make them happen.
But, the moment that I can’t do these things – even if my brainchild stands in the way – I’ve got to get out.
When we let our work define us, whether we love it or hate it, we’re in for a rude awakening. Therefore, we shouldn’t start our search for happiness by searching for different work, hoping that our 40-hour-a-week routine will be the salvation of our very souls. We need to find what makes us happiest in life and make sure – no matter what – that we’re able to do those things.
So, to each of the people I met last week, I say, “Stay put.â€
At least until you know what makes you happy and gives you meaning in life. Then, if your job stands in the way of that, it’s time to move on. But, if what you do for 25% of your week enables you to chase down what you’re really passionate about during the other 75%, then by all means, count your lucky stars.
