Work what you love

“Oh, no! Tomorrow is Monday again, and I don’t feel like going to work.”
“I hate Mondays.”
“I hate my alarm clock. I wish to discover a way to live without being a slave to it. I wish I could sleep every night for as long as possible.”
“My working day passes so slowly. I can’t wait for it to end.”
“Thank God it is Friday!”
“Why do weekends fly by so quickly?”
“I need a holiday.

We say or hear these complaints far too often. Do we do anything about it? Do we enjoy complaining and decide to do nothing about it? Do we believe there is no alternative, and this is the only way to go, whether we like it or not?
 
Almost everyone has to do work of some kind to earn a living, right? It is how the world functions. The question is: Do we do a job that we love? Are we living to work, or are we working to live?
I remember seeing a movie called “Waffle Street.” Although I have forgotten a few details, I am sure I’ll never forget its central message. What was left imprinted on my mind is this lesson that I would like to convey to you.
 
A talented and capable young man got fired from his previous job. Supposedly his work caused some financial losses to the employer. Before they laid him off, he’d been very successful, worked long hours, enjoyed a generous salary, drove a flashy car, and lived in a spacious house with his wife and a child on the way. He was on the verge of finding multiple jobs to manage to cover all the costs of his large family home. At one point, he started looking for simple jobs that didn’t require higher education. He was ready to accept anything, even a job involving manual work that would only pay low wages. He was overqualified for all the jobs he applied for and finally got one as a waiter.
 
Due to his ability and experience, he soon started to think way beyond his job. He decided to buy the restaurant that hired him. He did everything necessary to make his plan work. That included selling his expensive house and car. He struggled and even worked extra hours learning the business. He was fortunate enough to have his wife’s full support throughout this period. When he was just about to close the deal, he was gutted to learn that the owners had sold the place to somebody else before he’d been able to make an offer.
 
His father offered to support him financially with the opening of another restaurant. He accepted and got straight to work setting it up. As he needed a chef, he asked the one he knew from the previous restaurant. The chef said that he would accept his offer. He had become fond of him. A conversation took place, which went something like this:
 
The cook: Do you love the restaurant business?
The young man: I see potential in it.
The cook: I asked you if you LOVE it!
The young man: No, I don’t.
The cook: What work would you love to do? Even if it were unpaid? Think about it.
 
I might not have realized it then, but this movie inspired me to think a little deeper. I felt fortunate knowing that what I do now is what I love. I would do it for free. I hope you will find the type of work that you love. The job that fulfills you without piling on the pressure. The one that doesn’t cause you to keep checking your watch, wishing the day away. The kind of job that will require your full attention but still allow you time for your family, friends, and yourself.
 
If you already have such a job, you should consider yourself lucky. Or maybe you are on the way to discovering it. In any case, the moment you find it, you’ll know it.
I will let the lyrics from Dolly Parton’s song “9 to 5” conclude my thoughts on the matter.