MaineToday.com | Why Do You Work?: Why Do You Work?

LifeWorks

Barbara Babkirk has heard thousands of stories of people's challenges to find work that fits their personalities, skills and values. A licensed counselor with more than 20 years in career counseling, Barbara owns Heart at Work in Yarmouth. She is a frequent public speaker on work and life balance and practices what she teaches by offering an annual women's retreat and individual sabbaticals in the South of France.

August 09, 2005

Why Do You Work?

This is a question that everyone should ask themselves from time to time. When people lose interest in their jobs, it may be because the job no longer aligns with their values and motivation to work. That does not necessarily mean that they made a bad decision in the first place. Rather, it could mean that the job or work culture changed, or that their personal or professional priorities have shifted.

You might find several people doing the same job, but having different attitudes about it. For one, that fact that they receive a paycheck and time off for a fun vacation might be reason enough to show up each day. For another, it might be the sense of satisfaction he or she experiences in a job for which they feel particularly suited that motivates them. Still another might be inspired by an opportunity to make a contribution to something greater than herself or himself. Knowing what is important to you can help you assess job options as well as determine how closely your current job fits with them.

The following is a list of work-related values. Identify your top three and ask yourself how much they are reflected in your current work. Your response might help you understand your current attitude toward your job.

Value/Priority: Definition
•Achievement: accomplishing a goal
•Aesthetics: desire for beauty and harmony
•Affiliation: be recognized as a member of a group or organization
•Altruism: being of service and helping others
•Change/Variety: performing new tasks often
•Creativity: engaging in something new, artistic or innovative
•Education: desire to learn or teach
•Health: well-being of mind/body/spirit
•Independence: determining the nature of your work without significant
direction from others
•Integrity: work demands that are consistent with beliefs
•Justice: working toward fair treatment for all
•Leadership/Influence: having a direct impact on others
•Moral fulfillment: contributing to moral standards that you value
•Prestige: receiving respect and high regard from others
•Stability a work routine and responsibilities that are generally
predictable and not likely to change
•Time Freedom: able to work according to a personal time schedule
•Wealth: earning enough to have a high level of discretionary
income

Posted by Barbara Babkirk at 07:05 AM

Comments

Why do I work? I'm retired, and work part-time a couple months a year. Why work? I'm a right-handed golfer with a slice and usually play courses that seem to have water hazards on the right sides of fairways. I work a bit in the summer so I don't have to fund my winter Florida golfing habit out of my pensions and to purchase golf balls, which I tend to lose quite quickly. My PGA class A son-in-law says it takes a lot of balls to golf the way I do. Wish I were saure about how he wants me to take that comment.

Posted by D. Rotthoff
August 9, 2005 06:56 PM

You seem to have your priorities straight and your part time work supports your game. As I stated, priorities can shift with time and age, and yours is a good example of that.

Posted by Barbara Babkirk
August 9, 2005 08:08 PM

I work because I am passionate about helping others to find their way to wholeness and because it engages my creative self in new ways with new challenges every single day. I get bored easily and my work now is so different every day that I never get bored or inpatient. Finally, at age 58 I have found the work I am meant to do in the world.
Thanks for sharing the list of values & priorities. It's really good to think about these from time to time to ensure I'm in alignment and not in need of a tune up.

Posted by Dory Cote
August 9, 2005 08:39 PM

In the second half of life, people often find the right mix of characteristics and values and settle into "work they are meant to do". I'm happy to hear you have that good fortune, Dory.

Posted by Barbara Babkirk
August 9, 2005 09:01 PM

I have been struggling with my working priorities for several months. The work culture has changed drastically at my current employer and I have been investigating a major move (from Colorado to Maine) and researching my career options. I'm still young (only 27) but I'm ready to be on track with my heart.

Posted by C. S.
August 10, 2005 01:03 PM

C.S., it seems as though you already realize that your work priorities need to factor into your research. Not many people your age think of that, but I applaud your doing so. In the near future, I'll write a blog about "finding a job from away". Stay tuned!

Posted by Barbara
August 10, 2005 01:15 PM

Thank you for this article. At 57 I find the work that has supported me my entire adult life leaves me cold (secretarial at various levels in many different industries). The culture in the work place has changed drastically and not for the better. Your article reaffirms my desire to seek out work that speaks to my spirit. Some of us find a job with good pay benefits just isn't enough. I also feel good that even at 57 I still yearn to grow professionally and spiritually.

Posted by Karen
August 10, 2005 07:26 PM

"Even at 57"...I think it's precisely because of your age that you have the yearning to grow professionally and spiritually. Age can quickly line up priorities and cause one to get on with it. My best to you!

Posted by Barbara
August 10, 2005 09:55 PM