CR101 : Doing Work That Matters
Career reinvention can be approached from many perspectives. One relates to the relative importance given to targeting work aligned with one's worldview, belief system, and personal values.
When helping people with their careers, I consciously strive not to impose my own beliefs onto clients.
This is particularly important around the concepts of Meaningful Work, Right Livelihood or Doing What You Love.
The central premise, in each case, is related to making career decisions related to personal values. The idea can also have a spiritual dimension (i.e. that greater fulfilment will be gained by doing purposeful work).
So, while I ascribe to doing work that matters, I appreciate that for many other people, work is mainly a financial means to a lifestyle end.
Also, even if you and I both want to do work that matters, the reality is that our worldviews, belief systems and values will likely differ. So, our goals will also vary.
If it is important to you to pursue work that you think matters when making career shifts, benefits can include greater:
- Alignment between your future work and own value system
- Motivation and perseverance to overcome obstacles
- Application of creative problem-solving
- Contributions that positively impact chosen groups of people
- Long-term career fulfilment, work engagement, and job satisfaction
