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Motivation and Work

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"It's called work for a reason."

"Your motivation comes on Friday -- it's called a paycheck."

"Are you going to complain about it or are you going to work hard enough to get promoted?"

Does any of that sound old school to you? Do you bristle at the idea of down-playing motivation in your work? Or, maybe a better question is "how do you feel about your work?"

I've never had a job that I didn't hate at first. Not because the work was bad (although honestly, sometimes it was) but because I hadn't yet connected with the job. Until I could find the joy in the work, the work was tough.

There is joy in any job. While no job is perfect, every job includes our own feelings and what we bring to the work. If you can't find the joy in the job, maybe it IS time to find another job -- but don't be too surprised if that one is also disappointing. Work is work as long as you see it that way, and as a means to an end, the ends are limited in appeal.

If work feels like work you might be doing the wrong work -- or you might be doing the work wrong.

Find the choice. Make the choice. Enjoy the ride.

-- doug smith

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