Meaningful Work

Bees don't wait. They don't wait for someone to give them orders, they don't wait for perfection, they don't wait for later. We don't have to wait either. We cannot waste today. A re-evaluation of what work and leadership can be, from the mind of visionary, renowned author and thought leader Seth Godin. Why does work take the form it does, why is it becoming increasingly exhausting, and what can we all—especially leaders—do to give it a new, more human shape? Economic uncertainty, coupled with the rise of working from home, is causing us to feel more disconnected from the meaning of the work we do. Unsettled by this, managers are reacting with tougher conditions and sanctions, redundancies, increased monitoring, and mandatory meeting attendance. Employees are leaving their positions more frequently or doing only the bare minimum. We convince each other to give up our dreams and our souls, and in return, we can buy a few things that will bring us status and satisfaction. BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. Seth Godin, author of legendary books on business and marketing, touches upon the sources of what is so painful about work for both employees and management in 144 stanzas. He shows what's behind these trends and how to approach work in a better, more meaningful way. We are facing a simple decision. Either participate in the hangover that industrial capitalism is going through, continue to think of people as replaceable cogs in a machine, and take part in a futile competition with artificial intelligence, a race to the bottom. Or we can connect to build an organisation that has a greater purpose than just generating profit, where everyone will have their place, purpose, and the trust that allows them to give their best—regardless of where they work from. This book is meant to be shared with bosses and colleagues, to be discussed and put into practice. Whatever our position, we have the power to change something. For, as Godin writes: “PEOPLE ARE NOT RESOURCES. THEY ARE NOT A TOOL. THEY ARE THE POINT.”