Is Your Work Worth It?

Why do we work? Is it just for a paycheck, or is there a deeper purpose we ought to pursue?

1. Work is about more than just earning a paycheck

Work often provides more than financial stability; it also shapes our identity and leaves lasting legacies. After the 9/11 attacks, the personal lives, passions, and values of the victims were spotlighted, revealing how deeply work is intertwined with a fulfilling life. For many, work became a reflection of deeper purposes and commitments rather than just a means to make ends meet.

The “Portraits of Grief” series highlighted the diverse approaches to work. Some saw it as a calling, such as Christopher J. Blackwell, a third-generation firefighter who derived immense purpose from helping others. Others, like Yelena Belilovsky, viewed work as a tool to build stability and overcome life’s hurdles. Even among those who took temporary or menial jobs, like Darren Bohan, work was a stepping stone toward passions like music.

Ultimately, work can define us but should not overshadow the aspects of life we hold dear, such as family and hobbies. These stories prompt us to think critically about the true value of our work beyond monetary gains and corporate titles.

Examples

• Christopher J. Blackwell, a firefighter, made his career a calling through service.
• Yelena Belilovsky used her career to create security and overcome challenges.
• Darren Bohan worked temporary jobs to fund his passion for music.

2. Perspectives shape the meaning we find in work

Work can be a job, a career, or a calling, and how we view it depends largely on perspective. Jobs are often seen as practical means to earn; careers involve ambition and progression, while callings are driven by passion and purpose. However, these categories are fluid, and meaning often arises less from what we do and more from how we see what we’re doing.

Research shows that even roles often viewed as “low-level” can become meaningful with the right mindset. For instance, hospital cleaners who believed their work positively impacted patients’ health reported great satisfaction. This illustrates that fulfillment isn’t confined to high-status fields; it emerges from how we interpret our contributions to the world.

Reevaluating our perspective may help us find meaning in work we previously overlooked. By focusing on how our efforts connect to larger goals, we can transform even mundane tasks into purposeful activities.

Examples

• Hospital cleaners found purpose by contributing to patient health.
• Careers like teaching can shift from being "jobs" to "callings" once passion kicks in.
• Musicians pursuing their art as hobbies often feel more joy than professionals in the field.

3. The challenge of aligning meaning with money

Not all work that creates value or provides purpose is rewarded equally. Meaningful roles, such as care work, are often undervalued financially, whereas high-paying jobs may lack emotional satisfaction. This raises questions about how society rewards labor and values contributions.

Consider the role of daycare employees, who shape young lives but are frequently underpaid. Contrast that with stockbrokers, whose work is highly rewarded materially but may lack deep personal or societal impact. This imbalance often forces workers to choose between financial security and work that fulfills their passions.

This trade-off suggests that redefining societal values and how we compensate work could lead to a more equitable working world. Appreciating all contributions—whether glamorous or not—can make efforts feel acknowledged and purposeful.

Examples

• Daycare workers receive low pay despite their vital roles in child development.
• Stockbrokers often earn high salaries but may experience job dissatisfaction.
• COVID-19 highlighted the essential value of “low-status” jobs like cashiers and delivery drivers.

4. Finding fulfillment becomes harder when passion turns into work

Turning passions into careers can erode the joy those activities once brought. For example, musicians often find performing professionally less enjoyable than playing as a hobby. This reflects the pressure and routine that seep in when passions become tied to income expectations.

The pursuit of a calling may create undue stress when financial survival depends on its success. The need to balance skill, passion, demand, and income—a rare alignment—often leads to frustration. Instead, many have found that reserving passions as hobbies while performing meaningful work in other areas can yield overall happiness.

The lesson here is not to romanticize the idea of the “perfect job,” but to carefully consider whether monetizing passions aligns with your definition of a fulfilling life.

Examples

• Musicians are often less happy as professionals than as hobbyists.
• Artists pursuing passion projects as careers face challenges from financial pressures.
• Writers pursuing success may lose the joy of storytelling under deadline demands.

5. Effort, purpose, and recognition are the cornerstones of meaningful work

Work involves energy, intention, and acknowledgment. Whether physical or mental, all productive labor demands focus and commitment, but its purpose is what truly sets it apart from leisure. Recognition then completes the picture by validating the effort invested and the outcomes achieved.

When these elements fall out of balance, job dissatisfaction arises. For example, if a task requires ceaseless effort but lacks recognition, it mirrors the futility of Sisyphus, endlessly pushing a boulder uphill. On the other hand, low-status jobs often achieve purpose and effort but are underappreciated, resulting in societal disconnects.

Identifying and balancing these three elements can move us toward more satisfying work experiences that affirm both our contributions and our identities.

Examples

• Sisyphus’s myth mirrors meaningless labor without acknowledgment.
• Bureaucrats drowning in fruitless paperwork may feel disconnected from purpose.
• Undervalued cashiers contribute to society yet lack the recognition they deserve.

6. The FIRE movement reimagines work and retirement

The FIRE (Financial Independence and Early Retirement) movement challenges traditional work-life timelines, advocating for intense saving and early exits from obligatory work. By reducing dependence on jobs, adherents aim to pursue more fulfilling activities without financial constraints.

While FIRE promotes freedom, it can also perpetuate present-day sacrifices for the sake of the future. Many grapple with social isolation or identity crises when leaving conventional careers too early. Still, the movement represents a powerful critique of work as life’s primary defining feature.

Through thoughtful planning, FIRE demonstrates that fulfillment can stem from prioritizing meaning and passion-driven activities over traditional career paths.

Examples

• FIRE practitioners save 50–75% of income to retire in their 40s or earlier.
• Some use post-FIRE years to volunteer or start value-based projects.
• Risks include over-preparation for an idealized future that may not arrive.

7. Time is our greatest asset in finding work worth doing

Many pursue work they’re not passionate about, pinning hopes on a future opportunity to engage in what they truly enjoy. But life’s unpredictability—whether unexpected events, shifting financial goals, or external challenges—can derail these intentions.

Instead of deferring meaning to an uncertain tomorrow, finding small ways to integrate passion or purpose into current roles can help bring fulfillment today. Simple adjustments in perspective or rethinking job duties can lead to more satisfying work lives.

Living fully in the present rather than endlessly striving for future ideals shifts the focus from waiting for happiness to making purposeful choices now.

Examples

• A graphic designer may innovate within routine client work.
• A teacher focused on inspiring students finds day-to-day purpose.
• Postponing the pursuit of passions risks leaving dreams unfulfilled.

8. Job satisfaction doesn’t require status or prestige

Meaningful work doesn’t necessarily need to climb corporate ladders or gain global recognition. Even humble roles can be a source of pride if approached with an outlook of genuine contribution. Roles we term “menial” or “low-status” often have surprisingly deep impact when viewed through the lens of purpose.

Cleaners in hospitals, for instance, reported high satisfaction when they saw their work as integral to patient recovery. This challenges common judgments about which jobs “matter,” paving the way for diverse definitions of valuable work.

Elevating underappreciated roles in our society starts with rethinking how we collectively value contributions.

Examples

• A cleaner views their work as essential to health outcomes.
• A grocery store clerk who builds strong community relationships finds purpose.
• Law enforcement officers focus on public safety rather than prestige or power.

9. Redefining success leads to a fulfilling work-life balance

Traditional definitions of success involve promotions, salary increases, and long-term titles, but success is more personal than societal benchmarks suggest. Building lives around passion and timing instead of milestones grants satisfying and balanced work lives.

Aligning work with personal values and spending time meaningfully ensures greater day-to-day contentment. It’s not about achieving external benchmarks but defining personal fulfillment through purpose-driven goals, whether big or small.

Each of us is equipped to decide what success looks like—making thoughtful and intentional choices is where its true value lies.

Examples

• Freelancers redefine success as creative freedom rather than financial metrics.
• Travelers prioritize flexibility over traditional jobs.
• Individuals working meaningful side projects balance passions with security.

Takeaways

1. Evaluate your mindset: Rethink how you approach your current work to uncover purpose where it might not seem obvious.
2. Start now: Create meaning in your work today by integrating small personal passions or broader goals rather than waiting for ideal conditions.
3. Redefine success: Align fulfillment with values rather than societal expectations to find lasting satisfaction in your work and life.