\u201cYou know, for so long, I looked at myself as this kid that was a talented swimmer that just went up and down the pool and didn’t really know who I was as a person. To the point in my life where I didn’t like who I saw in the mirror.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Michael Phelps, Olympic medalist swimmer [ 1 ]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You could replace the words \u201ckid\u201d, \u201cswimmer\u201d and \u201cpool\u201d by…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cwoman\u201d, \u201ccopywriter\u201d and \u201cagency\u2019s hallways\u201d in the statement above,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
and it would still ring true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The same if you used \u201cguy\u201d, \u201cinventory clerk\u201d and \u201caisles\u201d instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cause it kind of grows on us to define who we are only by the thing we spend most time doing,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
every week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working, that is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At least,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
for most adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Working and\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
going through the motions of the pre-work energy-draining routines we have to do with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like getting our lunch ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Getting stuck in traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The same with the post-work stress reliefs we can\u2019t wait to enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like that drink we pour ourselves,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
once back home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Or that run we go for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To help us turn the switch \u201coff\u201d in our brain,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
and stop thinking about work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyday-life bits and pieces that somehow explain why,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
when you meet someone new and ask \u201cWhat do you do (for work)?\u201d,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
the kind of answer you get most is \u201cI\u2019m a ___ (fill the blank)\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m a copywriter\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m an inventory clerk\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m a ___ (fill the blank). So, this is what I do. This is what I am.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All said in a detached manner<\/p>\n\n\n\n
or with a trace of bitterness in the voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for sure,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
without any pride,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
passion,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
or excitement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cause that person\u2019s job doesn\u2019t inspire,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
energize<\/p>\n\n\n\n
or fulfill him anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If it ever did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A pro-level athlete would use the same words and tone to describe her own situation,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
no one would fall off their chair,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
or seemed bothered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Except maybe for one of her friends who,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
out of empathy,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
would say: \u201cI understand (\u2026) But don\u2019t worry. It\u2019s normal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why she\u2019d say that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To make the bitter \u201csweet\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To make it easier for the athlete to accept what she\u2019s going through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As this is what \u201cdefining who we are only by the thing we spend most time doing\u201d and…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201creaching the point where we don\u2019t like how it makes us feel\u201d became over time;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
something we\u2019re told to accept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause it\u2019s normal\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why something you and I would normally find unacceptable,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
would want to stay away from,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
suddenly becomes \u201cacceptable\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once it\u2019s said to be \u201cnormal\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like \u201cfeeling bad or depressed about ourselves cause of our work\u201d,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
for instance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One reason is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
we do so out of habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Out of getting used to something happening,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
over and over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To the point where we come to expect it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Which somehow matches a broad definition of \u201cwhat\u2019s normal\u201d;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a situation that plays out and ends a certain way,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
each time a specific set of conditions are found together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This also apply to people\u2019s behaviors,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
emotions,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
and reactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Based on how many times we see a given situation happening,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
over and over,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
or a behavior repeating itself,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
without us ever seeing any change in the outcome,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
from one time to the other,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
we start to convince ourselves that \u201cIt\u2019s the way things are<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do it for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It starts to drain more out of us than what it provides us with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We lose,<\/p>\n\n\n\n both,<\/p>\n\n\n\n the excitement and pride we had in doing that same job,<\/p>\n\n\n\n at first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then,<\/p>\n\n\n\n we start talking about our job situation in a detached manner,<\/p>\n\n\n\n or with a trace of bitterness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s no point in trying to change things.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Or make them better.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n They won\u2019t<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe I should simply accept them the way they are<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And go with it<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cnormal<\/em>\u201d becomes a standard,<\/p>\n\n\n\n a benchmark,<\/p>\n\n\n\n a lens we use as a magnifier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To look at ourselves,<\/p>\n\n\n\n at our situation,<\/p>\n\n\n\n and compare it to those of other workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n somehow quiet down and even cheer up,<\/p>\n\n\n\n if it\u2019s possible,<\/p>\n\n\n\n the Eeyore-kind-of-voice (vf: Eeyore est le nom de l\u2019ane dans Winnie The Pooh) that gets louder in our head,<\/p>\n\n\n\n whenever we get started on a \u201ccomparison contest\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cause I\u2019m not alone<\/em>,<\/p>\n\n\n\n all by myself in a corner<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I can see, now, that there are other people like me<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People who just don\u2019t like their job and how it makes them feel<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, I\u2019m \u2018normal\u2019<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m like the others. Like everyone else<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Phew<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n it\u2019s often confused with \u201cwhat\u2019s acceptable<\/em>\u201d,<\/p>\n\n\n\n or \u201cthe thing to do<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n and how it makes them feel,<\/p>\n\n\n\n with their mouth filled with bitter\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n And if we\u2019re expected to end up doing the same, too…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s acceptable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n is automatically \u201cacceptable<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n instead of attending school,<\/p>\n\n\n\n was normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At least,<\/p>\n\n\n\n in developed countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n and send overstocks of \u201cperfect ones<\/em>\u201d to waste was normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s losing it\u2019s \u201cacceptable<\/em>\u201d tag these days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n at one point,<\/p>\n\n\n\n in Michael Phelps\u2019 life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n something else grows to be \u201cnormal<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both in our head and chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n wanting to see a point to the work we do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We don\u2019t want \u201cjust a job<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We don\u2019t want our work to be the only thing we define,<\/p>\n\n\n\n both,<\/p>\n\n\n\n ourselves and our life by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We don\u2019t want to make \u201cjust a living<\/em>\u201d neither.<\/p>\n\n\n\n on top of making a living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n more than we think it has right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We want a job,<\/p>\n\n\n\n a type of work that will allow us to achieve both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Making an impact,<\/p>\n\n\n\n on top of making a living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n once we find it,<\/p>\n\n\n\n would have a point,<\/p>\n\n\n\n a purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of feeling pointless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like the job we have right now does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n this idea of \u201cdoing work that matters<\/em>\u201d expands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like a piece of bread dough you just kneaded<\/p>\n\n\n\n and decided to let rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before sending it to the oven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It gains in character as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n where,<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cwanting to do work that matters<\/em>\u201d starts to brim over (vf: d\u00e9border).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the space that \u201cfeeling bad about ourselves cause of our job<\/em>\u201d had taken,<\/p>\n\n\n\n one day at a time,<\/p>\n\n\n\n both in our chest and head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n we start thinking more about \u201chow to find and do work that matters<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n than \u201chow to keep dealing with a pointless job that makes us feel bad<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n and tweaking it,<\/p>\n\n\n\n the better it seems to fit our expectations,<\/p>\n\n\n\n and match our values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Better than \u201csticking to a job that goes nowhere<\/em>\u201d does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n we realize not everyone share our opinion about work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As long as it provides a steady paycheck every week,<\/p>\n\n\n\n it\u2019s all that matters to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n between their view and ours,<\/p>\n\n\n\n triggers something we didn\u2019t see coming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some sort of tension inside us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With how good \u201ctrying to figure out how to find a line of work with a purpose<\/em>\u201d makes us feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019re not \u201clike everyone else<\/em>\u201d as we thought we were, anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At least,<\/p>\n\n\n\n not when it concerns work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n on us being different from the others,<\/p>\n\n\n\n from the majority,<\/p>\n\n\n\n (on something as important as work is in many people\u2019s life)<\/p>\n\n\n\n makes our stomach churning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being \u201cnormal<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being part of the \u201cnormal people\/workers<\/em>\u201d group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But we\u2019re just not sure we\u2019re still one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That we\u2019re still \u201cnormal<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n trouble with \u201cnormal<\/em>\u201d is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n it\u2019s used as a label that can be put on any situation only if it\u2019s experienced by a majority of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n if,<\/p>\n\n\n\n for example,<\/p>\n\n\n\n a survey summary report says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c80% of employees working in ad agencies, in the UK, are disengaged at work. Meaning they tend to stay away from any given opportunity to help improve how things are done in their team, they have a negative attitude, and show a lack of commitment to, both, their work and workplace<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n if you\u2019re working for an ad agency in the UK,<\/p>\n\n\n\n it would be \u201cnormal<\/em>\u201d for you to be disengaged at work,<\/p>\n\n\n\n at some point,<\/p>\n\n\n\n while working in this industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cause there\u2019s a majority of employees in that same industry (e.g. 80%) who feel the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n though,<\/p>\n\n\n\n and even dismissed,<\/p>\n\n\n\n are the other \u201cnormals<\/em>\u201d that also exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n it\u2019s \u201cbeing engaged at work<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Which is a \u201cnormal<\/em>\u201d to 25% of all employees working in UK\u2019s ad agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (\u201cNormal<\/em>\u201d and \u201cacceptable<\/em>\u201d to them.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n That we\u2019re \u201cnormal<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n by now,<\/p>\n\n\n\n we both understand that \u201ceveryone<\/em>\u201d doesn\u2019t equal 100% of all people,<\/p>\n\n\n\n all the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The same as the \u201cnormal<\/em>\u201d tag can\u2019t be owned only by majorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cause minorities also have \u201cnormals<\/em>\u201d of their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n when you\u2019re an ad agency employee in the UK,<\/p>\n\n\n\n for instance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n and gives hope,<\/p>\n\n\n\n when the Eeyore-kind-of-voice starts to get too loud in our head,<\/p>\n\n\n\n is knowing there are more \u201cnormals<\/em>\u201d out there<\/p>\n\n\n\n than the one we are told the most about,<\/p>\n\n\n\n or asked to accept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n for instance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Or as a pro athlete,<\/p>\n\n\n\n a student,<\/p>\n\n\n\n a parent,<\/p>\n\n\n\n a disabled person,<\/p>\n\n\n\n or many others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n then,<\/p>\n\n\n\n is for you to find your \u201cnormal<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One you\u2019re willing to accept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it doesn\u2019t have to be yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [ 1 ] Michael PHELPS\u2019s Interview… \u201cBecoming Michael Phelps\u201d on Tony Robbins podcast (Apr2019)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Doing work that feel meaningless is considered a \u201cnormal\u201d thing. Does it have to be your \u201cnormal\u201d?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1021,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[373],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1022","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-work-life"],"yoast_head":"\n
We find a job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYep<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As we buy into this,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Enough times that the bits of insights we get to find in the process,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, after all, I\u2019m doing \u2018ok\u2019<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIT\u2019S NORMAL\u201d DOESN\u2019T MEAN \u201cIT\u2019S ACCEPTABLE\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Trouble with \u201cnormal<\/em>\u201d is\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If workers are expected to talk about their job<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Doesn\u2019t mean that any situation considered \u201cnormal<\/em>\u201d,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that it has to remain so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That we have to settle for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For children to work in the early 1900s,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For food companies to discard imperfect\/ugly produces<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The same as going \u201cup and down the pool<\/em>\u201d lost its own \u201cacceptable<\/em>\u201d tag,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NO \u201cNORMAL\u201d LASTS FOREVER<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As we get old in a job or a career,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That \u201csomething<\/em>\u201d is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wanting to do work that matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a bunch of reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All of which make us realize that\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want more than that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We want to make an impact\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cause we come to believe it will help us give some \u201cmeaning<\/em>\u201d to our life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At least,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the work we hope to do,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As it sinks in,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Its shape becomes more clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To the point,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a ripple effect,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the more time we spend playing with the former,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Talking to other people about it,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many people just don\u2019t care whether their job has a point or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Discovering this gap,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because we realize we\u2019re not on the same page as the majority of people we talked to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This wake-up call,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cause there\u2019s something reassuring in knowing we\u2019re like \u201ceveryone else\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On top of being confused with \u201cwhat is acceptable<\/em>\u201d,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The same for a behavior, an emotion or a reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It means that,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is often overlooked,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this case,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s something reassuring in knowing we\u2019re like \u201ceveryone else<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even if,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like \u201cbeing engaged at work<\/em>\u201d,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s even more reassuring,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let it be as a worker,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cause doing work that feel meaningless might be considered a \u201cnormal<\/em>\u201d thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– – – References – – – – – –<\/p>\n\n\n\n