Red ~C Diary: I Heart My Job

(Crossposted from www.c4chaos.com)

"Our jobs determine to a large extent what our lives are like. Is what you do for a living making you ill? Does it keep you from becoming a more fully realized person? Do you feel ashamed of what you have to do at work? All too often, the answer to such questions is yes. Yet it does not have to be like that. Work can be one of the most joyful, most fulfilling aspects of life. Whether it will be or not not depends on the actions we collectively take."

-- Good Business - Leadership, Flow, and the Making of Meaning by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

I'm currently reading the book Good Business. It's one of the goodies I received with my Zaadz Ambassador Kit. I just love this book. I can't put it down. I feel that this book perfectly captures my own attitude on business, "enlightened" capitalism, and Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Reading this book at this time is also very serendipitous for me since I just got anointed as a Zaadz Wizard a few weeks ago. I feel so blessed and thankful that the work I'm doing right now is in alignment with the misson and vision of doing "good business."

You see, I've been working in the IT industry since I graduated from college. I've worked for different companies and consulting firms but I don't remember feeling excited and ecstatic with my work until I joined the Zaadz team.

Previously I looked at my jobs as means to an end -- a necessary "evil" to make ends meet and provide my family, loved ones, and myself with basic needs. I have no regrets because I did just that, and for what it's worth, I think I did my job of being a good provider. However, there comes a time when making ends meet starts to become a burden. It starts to eat us from the inside devouring our creativity, life force, and our very purpose in life. I had been aware of this dilemma for years now. I even wrote a flash fiction about it. And let me tell you, the more you are aware, the harder it is. Cypher was right, "Ignorance is bliss." There were days when even getting up in the morning to go to work was a Herculian task. Who the f*ck gets excited being encased in a cramped cubicle for 8 hours day in and day out? Reporting to managers is one thing, but reporting to stupid managers who don't give a shit on what you think and do is another. Thank God for Dilbert!

But anyway, here are my answers to the questions from the above quote:

Is what you do for a living making you ill?

Hell, no! In fact I look forward waking up every morning to check into my work. I don't mind sleeping late at night doing work-related stuff. Instead of feeling ill, I feel more full the more I engage my work because I know that even the smallest things I do contribute to the bigger purpose and the good of the collective.

Does it keep you from becoming a more fully realized person?

Damnit! No! Actually, my work makes me more realized because I get to meet intelligent, passionate, compassionate, creative, and highly spiritual people from all walks of life on a daily basis. I get to see and appreciate more perspectives. I learn more in the process. My personal growth is accelerated. I get to participate in a bigger more meaningful collective growth.

Do you feel ashamed of what you have to do at work?

Far from it! I've never been more proud of my work. I'm even blogging about it. I walk around coffee shops and restaurants and talk to owners asking them permission to leave promotional flyers on their shelves. I proudly wear the company t-shirt while I hangout at parks and play blues music.

So there you have it. I like to think that working for a living is behind me now. My attitude right now is that I live so I can do more meaningful work. I live so I can make more meaningful connections, online and offline. I live so I can see more places and meet more people. I live so I can work with kindred souls who share the same passion and compassion in this ubiquitous nirvana. I'm thankful for the people who continue to inspire me. I'm thankful for Zaadz for giving me this opportunity.

At this stage in my life, I think I found my ideal job, my calling. But still, I like to leave a space for not knowing in between.

~C (for Compassionate Ubiquitous Nirvana)