The Long History of Purpose-Driven Work

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Work is Worship if two conditions are met – (a) it is lawful and (b) it is done with devotion.
To cite an example a thief needs to plan his activities meticulously in order to not leave a trail but we cannot describe theft as lawful.
On the other hand, a cashier at a bank who is honest but who doesn’t really want to work as a teller cannot claim to be engaged in worship while on the job since the work is done without devotion.

Zameer of CA 7:34AM February 10, 2009

This article points to a larger trend: one of the most direct paths to purpose is to make work spiritual practice. For some, spirituality is a loaded word because many associate spirituality with organized religion. To me, spirituality is the basic desire to find meaning and purpose in one’s life. That means being connected to something larger than one’s self, and can include many paths: religion, nature, art, science, philosophy, or a noble idea. Based upon what I’ve seen in my practice, people are starving for it.
One of the places this hunger shows up most is at work. Many of us get to a point in our careers where we begin to wonder if Peggy Lee wasn’t right when she sang: “Is that all there is?”
I believe work can become spiritual practice, and when it does we become more:
1. Energized and enthusiastic
2. Creative and innovative
3. Connected
4. Resilient
5. Peaceful
And our organizations benefit, too. Studies have shown that companies who embrace spirituality in the workplace experience improved:
1. Absenteeism
2. Morale
3. Recruitment and Retention
4. Profits
In some cases, the more spirited companies have outperformed others by 400 to 500 percent in terms of net earnings, return on investment, and shareholder value.
When work becomes spiritual practice, we take our whole selves to work, and work becomes a place for:
1. Inner growth
2. Expression
4. Service
5. Connection to our highest self, highest power or noble ideal, and each other
Randy Siegel
BuildYourInfluence.com

Randy Siegel of NC 7:08AM October 10, 2008

The trick going forward (as it always has been) is to find work that pays what you need to make that is not also a fraud pertpetrated on the people who are paying for it.
Examples that don't pay enough: Teacher, skilled laborer, retail clerk, cook, custodian, bus driver, child daycare worker.
Examples that are often frauds on the customer: Doctor, lawyer, broker, real estate agent, middle-management supervisor.
Purpose? To do good for the world and the immediate customers? To make enough money?

of 2:25PM October 09, 2008