By Doug Strickel
Thirty-eight years ago this past Monday, I started my first full-time job with Ernst & Whinney CPA firm (now EY). My four years there were marked by working long days, studying long hours after work and on weekends to pass the CPA exam, and frequently traveling on Sunday nights to be at the client’s location first thing on a Monday morning.
Coincidently, exactly four years later, I started a new job with International Paper. I would eventually leave the accounting world for operations and management. Here again, there were early morning start times, long days, a stint on third shift, customer issues, machine issues, and so many more obstacles to deal with over the years.
Looking back, I gave a lot at work, missed a lot at home, and hopefully made a difference. I am not sure I always made good career decisions, but who needs to second guess now. What I do know for sure are the following items:
- The day after I left each of those companies, work went on. I was not indispensable! Financial statements were reviewed, paper was made, boxes were sold, contracts were signed, and work continued.
- The work-related contributions that were so important at the time, were soon replaced with more pertinent contributions and forgotten.
- The sacrifices, while noted in my departure, were soon forgotten.
Those facts remind of verses 17-23 in chapter 2 of the book Ecclesiastes where the writer (presumably Solomon) talks about his frustration of toiling for years and looking back with no fulfillment as someone else takes over the work.
The one thing that does remain is the investment in people and relationships . While the tangible results of work will be replaced, improved, and at some point, forgotten, they were important at one time. The investments we make in people and relationships that we build, however, will always be relevant. They will always mean something!
Our purpose, therefore, must be more than producing, selling, accounting, servicing, or winning. We must pursue purpose beyond just completing work assignments, tasks, or outcome-based goals. If we are going to find true fulfillment in our work, that purpose will need to include people.
Solomon was on to something over 3000 years ago when he wrote Ecclesiastes. Don’t get so wrapped up in the toil of work that we miss the people around us. True fulfillment will always be wrapped in a relationship.
When I speak to groups today on PLUS DAYS, that “P” stands for purpose. Purposeful living is the key to fulfillment. Purposeful living is directly tied to living out our identity. When that purpose includes a “who” and not just a “what”, the individual or group is on track to experience something special.
Serving God and loving people sounds like a great purpose to me!
Doug provides professional speaking and coaching services to organizations and individuals. Whether you are looking for a speaker for your next event or a leadership coach to develop people and build a team culture, feel free to reach out to Doug at doug.strickel@gmail.com and learn more about PLUS.
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