Don't Get Ground by the Grind

For the last 10 months I've been working with a group of guys to try and start a business. I've been neck deep in the excitement, frustration, and uncertainty that comes with attempting to be an entrepreneur, and it's had me thinking a lot about the notions of occupation and working for a living.

In a recent conversation about our jobs, a friend of mine pointed out that the interesting thing about this is, for most of us, what we do for a living says very little about who we are or what we're passionate about. Yet, when we meet somebody for the first time, the question we ask first is: What do you do for a living? For instance, I used to be a janitorial contract services salesman (I led a thrilling life). When asked about it, that’s exactly how I would describe myself. But you would have learned much more about who I am if I had also told you that I’m a musician, a song writer, a philosophy major, a husband, a mountain biker, and I thrive on being in close relationships.

Earlier this year The Conference Board published a report indicating that less than half of all Americans are satisfied with their jobs, and about 20% of the workforce do not see themselves in the same job a year from now.

I don’t know why all of those people are dissatisfied with their jobs, but I suspect it has something to do with the disconnect between what we spend 40 – 60 hours a week doing, and what we would rather spend 40-60 hours a week doing.

I’m not saying we should all quit our jobs and commit ourselves to the pursuit of the utopian life. That’s ridiculous, and I know it just doesn’t work that way. What I am saying is maybe we should risk being a little more honest about who we are. When somebody asks “What do you do” maybe respond with another question “Do you mean what do I spend a bunch of time doing every week, or did you mean Who am I really, and what am I passionate about?”

Just because you spend 60 hours a week doing a thing, doesn't mean that thing is who you are.

Shane Claiborne says in two sentences what I’ve spent the last 374 words trying to:

"I was convinced that what we do is not nearly important as who we are. The question is not whether you will be a doctor or a lawyer but what kind of doctor or lawyer you will be."