We’ve all had times when we were completely compelled to dive into our productive work, and we’ve all had times when a part of us would do anything within reason to avoid it. I’m willing to bet that anyone reading this can think of at least 3 examples of both.
Understanding why this is implies an understanding of meaning, and of the factors that drive us to action.
On the job, striving for and creating compelling work usually implies:
- Having clarity in terms of what’s going on in the company and where it’s going (based off the company’s objectives and vision, as well as an understanding of what the company does to sustain itself)
- Knowing what it is you are doing, why you’re doing it, and what we are responsible for (involving our actionable plans, our reasons why we are doing the activity and its relevance to the company vision and core business, as well as what specifically we must accomplish and by when)
When we don’t know what’s going on in the company in the first place, if it often hard for us as workers to know that our actions are in alignment with that.
Consequently, we are not clear on why it is that we are doing what we are doing, and so we feel less compelled to completion.
Similarly, if we are not sure as to exactly what is expected of us, and what exactly we will do as an individual, we likely will not feel compelled to act.
If you’re boss runs into your office and quickly blurts out – “Hey, I need you to market our new whatchamacallit,” you’d probably want to ask him a few more questions before you followed his command.
Why? Because such a command is so vague as to be non-actionable. You need to know who you’re marketing to, you need to know how you should place the product. You need to know where this new thing fits into the company’s objectives in the first place.
Until you figure those things out (either from your boss directly, or by coming to a confident conclusion on your own), you will likely not feel driven to finish the project because you do not have what you need to confidently move it forward (meaning, actionable items, specifics as to what needs to be done, etc…)
I argue that the same can be said about our lives in general. In order to move forward in any life change, project or desired outcome, we need to have made determinations about our own highest objectives, our reasons for doing things in the first place, the specifics of the task involved, etc… It needs to make enough grand scene sense for us to be able to wrap our minds fully around it without feeling weird about it.
In life, feeling great while moving forward and making real progress on a desired outcome usually requires us to understand:
- Where we are in our entire life, and where we want to be (based off of our own ideals and purpose, as well as our values and what excites or compels us)
- What we need to do, why we’re doing it, and what we hold ourselves accountable for (involving our actionable plans, our reasons why as connected to our values, purpose, etc…, and a personal decision to bring about an outcome)
If you’ll notice, these criterion are more or less identical to those involved in getting productive work done on the job.
These criterion apply far outside the realm of work (as ideas, or course they can be applied wherever and in whatever way you imagine, this is important to imagine).
If you are putting an activity off, or if you feel down about something you are doing, be sure to have these criterion available.
Recently I wrote about “Modeling a Fulfilling Life,” where I outline a process for understanding and recording a draft of important self understandings, visions, and objectives. It serves as a fine guide in this analysis of activities – which will help to streamline your priorities.
To refer to that article, click here.
Could it be said that some activity do not require these criterion? It could, yes, and I never intend to say out my opinions and thoughts as concrete laws of the gods. However, having these specific understandings under wraps helps us to look at an activity, process, or decision completely and not experience resistance.
It helps give us a sense of congruence in the idealistic and physical world, and aides in eliminating the kind of mental entropy that arises from not finding that congruence.
Thats worthwhile for me.
