Work With Gusto Like Nietzsche

A hunger for self-creation

For many, work is a necessary evil, a means to an end, not a source of fulfilment. Their motivation is dormant, buried deep under the weight of routine and drudgery.

Controversial philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche offers a powerful antidote: find your gusto; a strong sense of enthusiasm for something.

Working with gusto means approaching your tasks with a combination of high energy, curiosity, and enjoyment.

It’s not about faking it.

It’s bringing your whole self to your tasks and making the most of the experience. It’s harder to achieve if what you do is not a combination of what you are good at, your curiosities and long term mission or goal in life.

“In all those moments when we do our best, we do not work. Work is merely a means to these moments,” Nietzsche said.

His philosophy, often misunderstood as nihilistic, offers a surprisingly potent lens to view work. He challenges us to reject passivity and embrace an active, self-affirming approach to life, even in the seemingly mundane realm of work.

It’s a vibrant approach that infuses our professional lives with purpose, joy, and self-creation. “What has not killed me, makes me stronger!” he wrote. Despite his isolation and illness, he poured his entire being into his work.

Work should not just be a duty but a discovery of meaning, a place of self-creation. “There exists above the “productive” man a yet higher species,” Nietzsche said.

He argues for a “will to power,” a driving force not of domination but of self-overcoming and growth. Work, then, becomes an opportunity to hone your skills, test your limits, and express your talents.

Building my digital portfolio has been ten years in the making. I started with a fire in my belly. I wanted to own my work and life. I aimed for gusto in what I do for a living.

Owning your career is time-consuming, but it’s infused with purpose, with the echo of Nietzsche’s “Amor Fati,” a love of one’s fate, no matter how challenging.

At its best, meaningful work is an act of creation, but ourselves. Despite his physical ailments, Nietzsche wrote with intensity, pouring his heart and soul into each word.

He saw his work as a self-overcoming, a constant striving towards the “Übermensch,” a being who transcends life’s challenges with joy, purpose and intensity.

His philosophy was about transforming work into a playground for fulfilment. He exemplified the idea that meaningful work demands skill, courage, vulnerability, and a willingness to wrestle with your inner demons.

Work as a hunger for self-creation

“Success has always been the greatest liar — and the “work” itself is a success; the great statesman, the conqueror, the discoverer is disguised by his creations, often beyond recognition; the “work,” whether of the artist or the philosopher, invents the man who has created it, who is supposed to have create it; “great men,” as they are venerated, are subsequent pieces of wretched minor fictio.” — Friedrich Nietzsche

Nietzsche insisted we approach tasks with curiosity, playfulness, and a desire to learn. And with the hunger for self-discovery.

“The highest task,” he declared, “is to create oneself.”

But most people rarely have the kind of motivation Nietzsche talks about because they don’t find fulfilment in what they do for a living.

When I write, it’s not with resignation but with a flicker of Nietzsche’s fire. What I do won’t change the world, but it holds a potential for growth, learning, and carving my own niche in the universe.

And that, as Nietzsche might say, is enough. It’s not about saving the world but about saving myself, one meaningful post at a time.

My relationship with work continues to evolve. It’s not always a flow state experience but a nuanced waltz, with moments of joy and struggle.

Work is an experience shaping my life, not just a job. I approach work not as a burden but as an opportunity for self-creation.

Working with gusto isn’t about burning ourselves out but finding personal fulfilment within the boundaries of our jobs. It’s not a sprint but a continuous process to evolve into our best selves, fuelled by the “gusto” spirit Nietzsche championed.

Start with “why”

Want to apply Nietzschean principles to your own work?

Start with “why.”

What drives you? What gives your work meaning? Identify your personal “Übermensch” project, a chance to test your limits and push your boundaries. Work on it in your free time.

Early mornings or late evenings are good times to unleash your curiosities. Nietzschean approach to work rejects the “herd mentality” that accepts drudgery as inevitable. It’s taking ownership of your work and finding meaning in your own life’s unique path.

He rejects fitting into pre-defined roles and expectations. Instead, he encourages us to “become who we are,” and express our task through our work. It doesn’t necessarily mean pursuing grand artistic endeavours. It can be as simple as injecting your own personality and creativity into your daily tasks. It’s not without its challenges, though.

Nietzsche’s path wasn’t without its pitfalls.

His relentless pursuit of truth often alienated him, and his work remains controversial. Yet, his commitment to his craft and his willingness to embrace the challenges and forge his own path continue to inspire. It requires constantly questioning established norms, a desire to embrace discomfort, and a degree of self-discipline.

But sometimes, the “gusto” wanes. It dips. But with each lapse, remember Nietzsche’s words: “Become who you are.” Make it your mantra. A reminder not to settle and keep evolving.

The Nietzschean perspective doesn’t offer easy answers or guarantee an easy path to meaningful work. What he provides is a framework for transforming our relationship with work.

Meaningful work is not just about what you do but who you become while doing it. Each step or effort shapes you, moulds you, and refines you. You become an artist, working on your body of work.

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