Be ruthlessly honest about why you work

Q: What is your relationship to work?

My answer to this Q has changed drastically over the years. I used to believe:

1. Work is about being successful. To climb the career ladder, get a corner office, and earn a prestigious title.
2. Work is about getting rich. To become financially independent and have F you money.
3. Work is about enabling our ideal lifestyles. To dictate where to live, when to work, and what to work on.
4. Work is about having a good-enough job. It shouldn’t be your life mission.
5. Work is about balance. We need to make $ to survive and pursue our real lives (friends, family, hobbies) after work.
6. Work is about finding meaning. To give us a reason to wake up in the morning.
7. Work is about using our biggest gifts. To naturally express ourselves in any job we do.
8. Work is about security. To have a steady paycheck, health insurance, and a retirement plan.
9. Work is the best opportunity to have a positive impact on the world. To solve the world’s most pressing problems.
10. Work is an infinite game. To find work that feels like a game you never want to stop playing.