Someone asked me something like “Do you like work?” and “Why do you work?” I thought about it for a few seconds and then spontaneously said, “I’m trying to be the best I can be.”
The next morning I read these words by Joseph Conrad (who was one of the greatest novelists of the 20th century) – “I don’t like work – no man does – but I like what is in the work – the chance to find yourself.”
By “working” we mean a classic job and/or working for a cause or goal which takes labor of the mind and/or body. What becomes of a person who does not work?
I think work is a path to being the best version of you by finding out what you can do. What do you think?
I agree – work develops character and virtue, which moves us closer to being the best version of ourself.
Reminds me of the story of a man passing a construction site. He asks one of the workers, “what are you doing?” The reply, “lifting bricks”. He ask another the same. That answer, “working for money”. He asks a third the same question. “Building a cathedral” says tha last one. Work can feel like lifting bricks and sometimes we just have to do it for the money, but we should always focus on the vision of the cathedral we are building for and within ourselves.
I agree completely. Working develops the best me.
‘Actualize yourself through labor’ One of my old pitches to young guys just starting out. You can actualize yourself through all kinds of work, or you can just work. Thinking of people who do nothing to serve others, I see emptiness.
I think work is absolutely your best friend.
1. It will help you get anything in the world you want.
2. It makes you become the best version of yourself.
3. It never lies to you or sugar coats what is.
Eccl 3:13
People who do not continue to work or move forward become the worst version of a human. Conflicted, anxious, angry, negative…….. the life of leisure that is sought after, is an illusion, it literally goes against our programming.
Amen Brother!
Last weekend I was with 10-time Baja 1000 champion and Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame inductee Larry Roeseler at a desert race. He has been racing competitively on two wheels and four wheels for nearly 40 years. One of the last things he did before he got suited up to race was put a small decal next to his name on the door of the truck. It said “100%”.
Wow….that’s deep thinking! Never thought of work this way, but it makes sense. It does tell you if your a quitter, or a explorer, or a dedicated person, a fair or good person(or not), etc. Sitting here on a beautiful calm morning, by a lake in Michigan….thinking about talents. Is it your talents that drive your work, or is it work that brings out your talents? I was once told by a older friend of mine, “listen and watch people…they will tell you who they are”. Ha…I’m getting it.