All work has dignity, as long as the work creates a useful product or service. If you find that your work is not supporting your sense of importance, you can look two places – to your own mindset about it, or to a new job. For instance, I find that employers often ask me to take on work well outside the scope of the role as we originally planned it. Because of my personality, they ask me to take on tough conversations that may or may not be part of my scope as HR director. I once found myself having a series of interesting conversations with a client who was 90 days past due. I don’t want to be an A/P clerk, but when you’re not getting paid and making payroll depends on it, that becomes the most important job in the company.
Don’t waste time worrying about if your job is worthy of your sparkling talents. Instead, worry about whether you are making yourself useful. In use there is dignity, and importance.








#1 by Ted on August 11, 2009 - 4:44 pm
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I love what you wrote about “making yourself useful.” To me, there is a huge difference between the people that wait to be told to do something remarkable and the people who surprise you by doing it without an assignment. I guess you can call it being a self-starter, but it’s a heck of a lot more than that. Looking forward to the next 47 memos.