Work

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1. Physical or mental effort directed toward a goal

2. A job or employment

3. The activity that serves as one’s regular source of livelihood or occupation

4. Something being produced, studied, or subjected to a process

Times were when a person learned skills for a particular occupation, applied for that position, and once qualifying was given task for pay.

And as many of us found out, the skills that were learned, did not apply to the real world.

If we were lucky, we were mentored into workforce as an apprentice and as new skills were learned and applied, were lucky enough to move up in rank, title and pay.

Then came the stress.

More productivity was demanded, more hours, more reports, more meetings.

And if goals were not achieved, either due to skills, equipment, or economy, management needed answers.

Employees lost energy worrying about their employment, fear of surveillance became rampant, and productivity continued to drop.

The trusting partnership between employer and employee, doing an agreed days work for a day’s pay, was crumbling.

The dedication an employee had toward the employer faded, along with the mission statement and vision statements that eluded the worker, placing demands on time and money.

The family values that made workers strive diminished. The self worth, which is the most important reward, even over money, was doubted.

Is this why they call it “work”?

Why can’t the occupation you have worked for all your life, given so much time and effort to be “fun”?

I was lucky.

For most of the 38+ years, I had fun.