Same work. Two perspectives

Let's have a little make believe session.  There are two scenarios that I would like you to imagine.

First, you go in to work and your boss has had all of the furniture removed from the office. He says if you would like to remain employed, you are going to be spending the next few days painting the walls, setting up bookshelves and creating new furniture.

In this second completely unrelated scenario you and your spouse are going to be having a baby soon. You decide that you will be painting the walls, setting up bookshelves and creating new furniture for the baby's room.

Which one of these two sets of tasks do you think you are more likely to give your very best focus and attention? Which one will you truly enjoy doing? Which one will give you the most satisfaction once complete?

Unless you are really abnormal the answer to all of the above questions is the second scenario. But why? The same work is being done in both circumstances. The same things are required of you.

One might say the first scenario is displeasing because it is a job you are expected to do or because you have no choice. The truth is you do have a choice, but since you decide that you want to keep your job you are being "forced" into the situation. When this happens resentment often sets in.

The other is more acceptable because it is your idea and not something someone else is telling you to do. But the real answer is that the second scenario is a labor of love. It is something that you truly want to do for this new person that is coming into your life soon.

Because of this, you will take great care to make every detail as perfect as it can possibly be. You will put every ounce of care and craftsmanship into the work that you are capable of doing. And you will most likely enjoy every minute spent on these tasks, possibly singing while you work or daydreaming about the time that you and your family will spend in the room when it is done.

Conversely, the work that you do for your boss will be adequate to get the job done and probably enough to keep your position, but the work will not make you happy and neither will the results.

I'd like to go back to the "but why?" question above. Every single circumstance in your life can be a labor of love. There is no reason to ever have the typical viewpoint expressed in the "work" scenario. The only good reason to ever do anything in life is because you want the result of that thing either for yourself or for someone else that you love.

Do not view the hours spent working for your boss as slaving away to make someone else rich. Look at it as what is required in order to support yourself and your family. And then rejoice that you are able to spend that time five days a week making it possible.

The work is the same. It is the point of view that is different. Who decides your point of view? You do. Happy people are more productive people as well as better problem solvers. So, if you are going to spend the same 40 hours working either way, why not enjoy it?