Dr. Barbara Moses, Career Guru, International Speaker,
Bestselling Author of DISH: Midlife Women Tell the Truth About Work,
Relationships and the Rest of Life, and Work/Life Expert speaks on
"Creating Work with Meaning".
1. Why is it important to have work that is meaningful?
According to Barbara, meaningful is a loaded term and its definition varies by generation. “Everyone is motivated by something different. For one person, it might be work that makes a difference. Others may want to be stretched. Someone else might say, ‘I don’t need work that’s challenging right now, I want work that is flexible and accommodates my lifestyle’.”
They key is to determine what you value and decide if your work is in line with your current values. Sometimes, satisfying can be synonymous with meaningful.
2. What holds people back from creating the work they love?
According to Barbara, there are both internal and external obstacles getting in the way of the ultimate career.
Barbara cites three factors:
The Fear Demon: “The fear of stepping into the unknown and dealing with ambiguity can be very nerve-wracking,” says Barbara. “You ask yourself, ‘What if I do this and it doesn’t turn out to be any better than what I’m already doing?’” But you must overcome this fear and pursue the alternative if you are committed to creating the work you love.
Pressures from ‘all-knowing’ loved ones: “No job is perfect. You have a pension, you get great vacation days, so stick with it!” Barbara says, “People don’t want to lose face among loved ones, so they allow that to hold them back.”
The Status Issue: “People often have the desire to do something totally different, but it doesn’t have the same status that their current job,” says Barbara. “People might see it as a backward move, so they continue with work they don’t love.”
3. Is it important to have creativity in work?
“What people are really saying, and that’s what’s important, is: ‘I want to be free to express my talents, I want to own my own work. I want to be able to design my day. I want to be able to put my mark on my work. I don’t want to be fettered by organizational politics. I don’t want to be second guessed. I want to have an impact.’”
