Work that Matters

Here is an excerpt from a recent Dave Ramsey newsletter that I came across. I really enjoyed thinking through these questions about my own life and since your current school work is preparing you for your future work, it made sense to pass them along to you.

"Everyone has a dream of being excited about going to work every day, but how many of us are actually making that dream a reality? Doing work that you love—work that matters—is important. Life goes by too fast to be stuck in a j-o-b that you don't enjoy. Here are four key questions you should ask yourself about your job.

Does your work reflect your value system?
Whether you work for a company or are self-employed, don't compromise your values just to earn some money. Spend your time doing something that reflects your beliefs.

Do you have a voice in the workplace?
Are you able to consistently contribute ideas at your business, or are you just a pencil pusher? Knowing that your opinion matters in the workplace is a big deal.

Are you working in your strengths?
Make sure you are in a position that allows you to move toward your long-term career goals while concentrating on your strengths. You'll be more productive if you focus on developing your strengths instead of your weaknesses.

Does your work matter to other people?
Are you and your company focused solely on the bottom line, or are you improving peoples' lives? At Dave's company, we do many different things, but ultimately we are all offering people the same thing—hope. How does your work affect people every day?

If you can't answer yes to these questions, it might be time to look for a new job. We make sure that our team loves their jobs because they are doing work that matters."


Taken from the July 2010 Issue of the Dave Ramsey eNewletter