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Just call me Descartes
What's the meaning of life? Why are we here? Do I need a higher purpose? Quite big topics and probably outside the remit of my blog. Personally I try and avoid tying myself in existential knots but occasionally the brain just can't resist meandering off asking difficult questions that I can't answer...
Getting some real perspective
That's where having kids comes in. One of the great upsides of babies and toddlers is the soothing effect they can have on the tortured mind. Seriously - here's why: the typical ambitious 30 year old slaving away in a pressurised environment with a demanding 25 year journey ahead of them will wake up one day and wonder if there isn't a better way. Isn't it more important to climb Everest and sail the Galapagos than lead your first audit? Aren't health and happiness more important than salary and title? Isn't love more important than loot? Just because you know the answer doesn't make the questions easier.
But throw a couple of young children into the mix and you're suddenly so busy that those questions don't even have time to form. Your job is to provide and protect (and sleep whenever possible).
The power of three
Children might be one of the keys to happiness, but what are the others? Well, when it comes to work rather than family, I have a few theories. What's the magic formula for having a business full of happy and engaged individuals? The TED talk "The surprising truth about what motivates us" is absolutely brilliant.
People need 3 things in the workplace:
- Mastery
- Autonomy and
- Purpose.
All our own bosses?
There are not many excuses for getting mastery or purpose wrong. Autonomy is a bit more complicated. Can you really allow employees complete freedom to make decisions and, thereby, also make mistakes? It's a bit like letting children climb trees: you can and you must. It's the best and only route to true career happiness - until you fall out!
Ben Black
