Work That Matters

Making the right salary is important. Sometimes, salaries reflect our basic needs, and other times,  they reflect our wants- in addition to our needs. For some, those wants take the form of a five-digit paycheck and 24/7 access to the company yacht. These are the types of salaries that are so sought after in our society. However, for others, those wants can take an entirely different form. Sometimes, salaries are less about the money and more about being involved in meaningful work that has a positive impact in the world. 

Non-profit organizations are not known for their enticing salaries, monetary bonuses, or filet mignon catered lunches. But then again, I'm fairly certain that most people who work for non-profits are not in it for the money. I'm no exception.  I graduated from college with degrees in business management and economic development- two fields of study that could have pulled me in completely opposite directions. If you had asked me what I wanted to do with my life eight years ago, I would have told you that I wanted to be a high powered manager working my way up the corporate ladder of a Fortune 500. I wanted keys to the company yacht. Ask me that same question today, and you'll get a different response. 

My outlook on work has shifted significantly over the years, as I've begun to more fully understand the impact that 40 or 50 hours a week for the rest of my life can have on the world. I'm certainly not opposed to a high salary, and I would never turn down an end-of-the-year bonus, but one of the things I have come to realize is that money isn't everything in a job. It's a means to an end. And for me, the end is not being a millionaire or having a corner office with a gold-dipped nameplate on my door. What matters more to me is that I am using my time and talent in a meaningful way. Call me a guilty idealist, but I feel a responsibility to contribute back to society through my work. I was born in the United States, one of the wealthiest countries in the world. I fall into the category of 5% of the wealthiest individuals on earth. And you probably do too. So, comparatively speaking, we are unbelievably wealthy. 

As we know from Voltaire and Peter Parker's grandfather, "With great power comes great responsibility." In this world that we live in, money is power- and with it comes great responsibility. Since we possess so much of it compared to the majority of the world, we have a duty to use it responsibly. Part of using money responsibly is maximizing what we have, including positions we are fortunate enough to have secured. Work doesn't have to be glamorous to be meaningful. You don't have to work for international organizations or do cutting edge research to be doing profoundly necessary and important work. So, no matter what position you have, are you using it responsibly? Are you making a tangible difference in the world? 

If even the simplest jobs can be necessary and important when done well, certainly no one is too far away from work that matters. Are you making what you do matter? Are you positively impacting the people around you? I reject the notion that the best job is the highest paying job. Impact and attitude matter far more. So whether you work on Wall Street, Main Street, or no street at all, you can have the right salary if you feel fulfilled in what you do. And for me, fulfillment does not come in stacks of green bills. 

Working Vacation

I've heard the term "working vacation" tossed around before, and it always seemed like a pretty contradictory concept to me. I always think of vacation as an absence of work in one form or another. So whether you're vacationing from washing dishes (work) or from your daily exercise sessions (work) or from going into the office and composing dozens of emails to which you will never receive a response (work), vacation is a brief (or lengthy) hiatus from these typical routines that seem so often to dominate our lives.

So how did this idea of a working vacation come into being? I suspect that it evolved in the US of A as a way to justify professionals who decide not to be in the office for 80+ hours per week, but don't want to appear to be slackers. If you think about it, the work standards in the US (and this is generalization) are far more rigorous than in most other developed countries. Take Europe, for example. I've had the opportunity to travel throughout much of Western Europe, and one of the things that has stood out to me is the fact that Europeans work to live, rather than the other way around, which I think is a problem for so many Americans. For example, some countries (like Italy and Switzerland) close businesses for an hour at lunch to allow for nap time. Mandatory naps... that's got to be one of the greatest inventions since the wheel. Then I think of first year lawyers or doctor who are working an average of 80-90 hours per week with no end in sight. Perhaps one of the reasons for this is that they actually have that much work that needs to be accomplished. However, I'm positive that there's also an element of competition and "proving" of oneself to the boss. Oh self-imposed unattainable standards and skewed perceptions of success... whatever would we do without you?

Moving on from my rambles... I have to say that I've become a working vacation connoisseur over this past year. A significant part of my job involves traveling around the country (and world) networking, giving presentations, and fundraising. I also spend a significant amount of time doing online research and sending emails, which can be done from pretty much anywhere. I'm currently based in Philadelphia, but I am originally from southern California and still have a lot of contacts there, as well as family and friends. Since fundraising is not geographically restricted, I have been able to travel a significant amount with my job. In fact, I'm just reaching the conclusion of my 4th California visit of the year.

The initial reason for returning to my homeland most recently (other than the sunshine) is that two high school friends were getting married, and I was asked to be a bridesmaid in both of their wedding. Since I knew that I'd be coming out anyway, I took it upon myself to set up as many meetings/presentations/networking opportunities as possible during my time on the west coast, and succeeded in prolonging my trip to 2 1/2 weeks. I was able to stay with friends and family the entire time, and since I don't have an office out here, my working space took a variety of forms, depending on my location. However, my absolute favorite work space is beside the pool (pictured above). During the first week of this trip, the weather was sunny and hot, so I spent several hours each day sweating by the pool to the sound of the keyboard as I worked on a business plan, marketing materials, and emails. There's nothing like working on business documents and a tan simultaneously.

All that being said, I've changed my perception of a working vacation from a falsely-advertised hiatus from responsibility to a unique opportunity to capitalize on travels and to take advantage of the random opportunities to visit family and friends while also handling business. It can be challenging to maintain a consistent work ethic and schedule when I'm out of the typical work environment, but with a little self-motivation, I've learned how to balance work with pleasure, and now thoroughly enjoy the freedom and excitement that working vacations provide!

Perpetual Unemployment

It's been three months since I graduated college, and since that time, I've been sort of drifting aimlessly around the U.S., never staying in one place for more than a few weeks. I've made my way up and down the coast of California, graced Philadelphia with my presence, and am currently residing in Oklahoma City until I finally return home to Michigan. While it has been wonderful to relax, I have discovered that really not very good at it. I prefer to keep myself occupied with numerous activities. School has kept me busy for the past 18 years of my life, so now that I'm done with that, I need to find something else to do. The obvious answer is: get a job. I know, I know. That's what typically comes next in the timeline of life. However, due to circumstances beyond my control, I graduated at a time when the economy is worse than it's been in decades. There are virtually no jobs available. All of the entry level positions that would typically be available for recent college grads are now taken by those who were laid off of their old jobs. Unfortunately, they have a huge advantage over me. It's called experience, and apparantly, you can't get a job without it. And herein lies my predicament: I need experience in order to land a decent job, but I need money to pay for that experience. Where else would I get that money but by working? I'm back at point A, and this circuitous route always brings me back to where I don't want to be: stuck in an unemployment rut. It hasn't been too bad up until now. I've plenty of time to detox from the poison of constant tests and papers that threatened to cause serious health issues. Three months worth of constant laziness has rejuvenated my spirit and has prepared me to start this phenomenon called "adulthood." I've even purchased a professional wardrobe. Now all I need is a job. Forget a career at this point. Those are on backorder. I'll settle for a job that pays more than minimum wage and doesn't kill my brain cells. An intellectuallly stimulating job may be too much to ask for at this point in time. Despite these "minor" setbacks, I'm still holding out for that perfect job. But until that crosses my path, I'll be readjusting my life to living at home with the family and spending my weekends at soccer matches and chaperoning dances.