Is it possible to find meaningful work?

[brendannz]

Read the title;

It's time to be honest with myself, Saturday and Sunday I have an awesome time, but Monday to Friday I'm depressed because my job sucks. It's cruisy, but I work from home, so have little people contact.

I make about 20% of an income as an artist, but otherwise my work is totally meaningless.

Any suggestions on how to find meaningful work in the meantime?

[brendannz]

Actually after posting this, I've come up with an answer;

No, it's not possible to find meaningful work, because the meaning you get out of it, is the meaning that you give to it, so that's where looking on the brightside comes into effect. Saying "this job, is helping support my artistic development" or something along those lines..

But still I think I will try and search for more ways of contributing, and more things to do

[ellie]

Good question! I definetly think you can find meaningful work. Is your art meaningful to you?

I think especially if you are a creative, it is hard to stay focussed on the same meaningful work all the time. I know I am a designer with a strong ideas/entrepreneurial mind so I am constantly coming up with new ideas...and I notice naturally I find it hard to concentrate on one thing for a long period of time. I mean even if I find a job that I do like initially I get bored with it after a while...because my mind needs to be constantly stimulated with new ideas and jobs. So what's my solution? Embrace it

[brendannz]

[QUOTE=ellie;460593]

Good question! I definetly think you can find meaningful work. Is your art meaningful to you?

Yes.. it says that the world is a fun, awesome and beautiful place.. So there's meaning

So what's my solution? Embrace it

Yes, I think it's a matter of having ambitions, going for it. In my case, I'm going to try and get more freelance work, doing stuff that I know but haven't been getting any projects in, such as cartooning, banner design maybe (I do that for an e-commerce store)

and with the menial tasks, accept that they're meaningful to the big picture.

[ellie]

You know what job I have found that I really like (I'm a freelancer too)...delegating my work to other people aka contractors

I have to say it's pretty awesome and free's up my mind so I can concentrate on things that really interest me, like learning and growing as a person.

I am slowly trying to phase out any menial mundane job. Now I am trying to start my own online site, so I can do something I am passionate about. The key for me is really understanding my passion...this has been the journey for me...making sure my passion is really my passion or at least fine-tuning my passion. I know I am in the right vicinity, but I think it has to be more defined for me.

[brendannz]

[QUOTE=ellie;460610]

You know what job I have found that I really like (I'm a freelancer too)...delegating my work to other people aka contractors

I'm not a freelancer, I work as a contractor for an e-commerce store on the other side of the world.. it's a very cruisy and convenient stress free income, so I can fit my artwork in alongside it, but I'd like to be having fun monday to sunday, rather than just on the weekends, basically.

[Conan Stevens]

Originally Posted by brendannz

No, it's not possible to find meaningful work, because the meaning you get out of it, is the meaning that you give to it, so that's where looking on the brightside comes into effect.

I am going to blast your conceptions and give you hope:

So the volunteers in Cambodia helping the poor have meaningless work?
Peace keeping troops in Somalia have meaningless work?
Steve Pavlina's work is meaningless to him?
My work is meaningless to me?

You need to look outside your box, it seems very limited at present.

I'll finish with my favourite PD quote, from Jim Rohne:

Never wish life were easier, wish that you were better

[aggie]

what is the old saying? "that's why they call it WORK!"

work of ANY type as meaning...it is obviously something that needs to be done by someone to serve some purpose.

some may be "menial" to people or boring or not serving one's OWN needs and purpose in life.

but yes this is just part of the process, part of embracing life.

Conan makes some wonderfful points.

obviously we all want to have jobs that are fun and don't feel like work and we get paid well for something you love...alas, few people can say that...but if it puts food on the table and pays the bills...VERY meaningful!

if you have a PASSION for what will be meaningful to you...you will find it!

[ar81]

What is meaningful to you?
What makes you feel inspired?

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by brendannz

It's cruisy, but I work from home, so have little people contact.

........ Any suggestions on how to find meaningful work in the meantime?

If people contact makes you feel that your work is meaningful, then look for a job which brings you into lots of contact with people.

[Flaming pie]

When the joy or meaning is gone from your work , maybe because you feel unappreciated- we all need positive feedback at work, not necessary money...... managers or boss are often under a lot of stress , so they forget to give praise or never get around to it, gently remind your boss by ask for comments, politely let your boss know you'd appreciate hearing how you're doing.

[brendannz]

Hey guys

I was wondering if my job wasn't going anywhere, but since then my boss is shouting me a trip to London (where they're based) from New Zealand to learn the new system at work..

This makes me feel like my jobs going somewhere, and I'm going to work on a sideline business and my current art business. 2009's been a hard year (even though a good year) but 2010 will be much better for me..

[ar81]

Is he yelling at you? Or did I understand incorrectly?

[brendannz]

Originally Posted by ar81

Is he yelling at you? Or did I understand incorrectly?

No, he wants to show me the new system.

I'm getting a free expensive plane trip to the other side of the world, I definitely can't complain about that..

[ellie]

Originally Posted by brendannz

No, he wants to show me the new system.

I'm getting a free expensive plane trip to the other side of the world, I definitely can't complain about that..

Well that's cool

[brendannz]

Originally Posted by ellie

Well that's cool

Quite a lot of mixed feelings about it actually it's funny..

Not just a working issue, but sentimentality for my old home, etc. Will wait and see.. best not to count your chickens before they hatch..

Means my job's more likely of going somewhere, but what I like about the job is the flexibility, I don't think I'm well suited for 9-5 kinda structure..

[ellie]

I hear ya. Totally understand. I'm not a 9-5 person either.

[Henri J]

You can always get out a pen and paper and figure out what kind of things you are passionate about that you can work at. Find the next best thing if you cannot find something that is your #1 passion, which seems to be art.

You don't have to stay anywhere if you don't want to, but at the same time you have to be practical. Like Gary Vaynerchuk puts it... work your dayjob and once you're done, work your face off on your passion. Start a blog around art, start hanging out at art forums, art blogs and really work to get it off the ground and give massive value.

I'll end there before I go on a massive rambling spree

[brendannz]

[QUOTE=Conan Stevens;462183]

I am going to blast your conceptions and give you hope:

So the volunteers in Cambodia helping the poor have meaningless work?
Peace keeping troops in Somalia have meaningless work?
Steve Pavlina's work is meaningless to him?
My work is meaningless to me?

You need to look outside your box, it seems very limited at present.

Thanks for your feedback mate.. Yes, the box was very limiting, luckily I'm not in that box at the moment.. But I guess sometimes the work I'm doing seems meaningless to me, but only sometimes...

Never wish life were easier, wish that you were better

I'll keep that in mind..

[brendannz]

Originally Posted by ellie

I hear ya. Totally understand. I'm not a 9-5 person either.

I used to work 44 hours a week, and as well as working hard, I'd party hard, those times were great, I had lots of fun, but I wanted to do more with my life still, find 'meaningful' work, etc.

[brendannz]

[QUOTE=Henri J;464284]

You don't have to stay anywhere if you don't want to, but at the same time you have to be practical. Like Gary Vaynerchuk puts it... work your dayjob and once you're done, work your face off on your passion. Start a blog around art, start hanging out at art forums, art blogs and really work to get it off the ground and give massive value.

I'll end there before I go on a massive rambling spree

Some great ideas, thanks!

[brendannz]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

If people contact makes you feel that your work is meaningful, then look for a job which brings you into lots of contact with people.

Actually I've been casually looking for a part time customer service job for people contact and extra cash, but it would probably take up my time in weekends, and as I mentioned earlier, my weekends are good fun but my monday to friday get lonely and boring sometimes, but I think I've started over in my old town again, and built a life, so in 2010, I can make everything be the same / or better.