Finding purpose at work in everyday moments

Only a small percentage of people truly love what they do for a living. It is a sad reality, but in order to pay for the necessities we require to live and to enjoy life’s pleasures, we have to be employed.

What do you do when you hate your job?

My father has always said, if you are lucky enough to have a job, then you are in an enviable position, the catbird seat. This allows you the luxury to be able to look around for something that fits your credentials, along with finding a workplace culture that will allow for a positive environment. A job interview is not only an opportunity to see if the organization thinks you are a perfect fit, but it is also your opportunity to see if they are a good fit for you.

Good jobs are hard to get. Think about the job that you really wanted. The job description you read that inspired you to submit a resume and cover letter you wrote and edited to perfection, hoping you would get a call for an interview. The organization that seemed to offer all the right benefits and incentives for their employees. Those opportunities generally have no shortage of applicants and have multiple rounds of interviews. You almost feel like you’re attempting to climb Mount Everest rather than trying to get a job. When you finally get to the end of all the hoops you had to jump through, you are either met with an exciting new opportunity or you are crushed because they decided to go with another candidate.

Building a foundation to understand your purpose:

When I was 16-years-old my first job was working at a chain restaurant. My parents made an effort to instill a strong work ethic in their children, but it was a job that I was miserable with.

My parents told me I could quit, but I needed to have a job. Lucky for me, I already had one lined up working in the retail environment. I typically worked on weekends, which was perfect for a high school student. I was not kept out late on a school night, but it had a negative impact on my social life. When my friends were out having fun, I was working.

Looking back, I am glad I was employed at a young age. I may have felt in the moment I was excluded from the social scene, but in the scheme of things, I developed a strong work ethic and it has helped serve me in my professional growth.

While I was working in retail my mind was onto the next big thing. I was ready to identify what my life’s work would be. I could not wait until I graduated from college so that I could begin making my impact. What I did not realize is that despite having a job that seemed mundane, I was building interpersonal skills that would serve me in the future. I was interacting with people who would teach me life lessons that would help shape the adult I would become.

I remember when I was waiting on a customer, an elderly woman. As she loaded her goods onto the counter, I could make out a tattoo on her wrist. Her delicate skin was showing age, but I could make out faded numbers. I figured her age and that tattoo would fit the timeline of one of the most horrific acts against humanity in the 20th century, the Holocaust.

While I was scanning and placing items in bags, I felt compelled to ask her, but I did not want to bring up any bad memories that I am sure she had spent decades trying to heal from. One of the customers behind her saw her tattoo and asked her if she was a survivor. She shared her story with us. She had talked about the camp she was at. Expressed the extreme gratitude for her liberators. Other customers that were behind her joined in the conversation.

It was a ten-minute conversation, that felt like a lifetime, however, it was over far too soon. At that moment, a simple cashier position gave me all the purpose and meaning I could have ever hoped for in a job.

Work should have meaning. Try to find those little moments that can have a profound impact. If you can not find those moments of reflection and awe take steps in your personal life that will allow your creativity to flourish. Explore where there are possibilities to get involved in an area that utilizes any special talents or interests you have.

When you can take steps to allow certain aspects of your life to be nourished you will live a happier and more fulfilled life.

What’s your perspective?

Do you have a story about a time in your work history that left a powerful impact on you? I would love to hear about it! Share your story in the comments section below.

This story is published in The Startup, Medium’s largest entrepreneurship publication followed by +430,678 people.

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