What Will Our Labor Ultimately Produce?

"Genius begins great works; labor alone finishes them" -- Joseph Joubert

I think Labor Day is a great time to seriously reflect on our occupational life and spend some time thinking about what we do, why we do it, and the outcome we really want from it. Are we merely making a living, or are we truly making a life? Certainly, there is nothing wrong with making a living -- and I believe that all work is honorable. We should want to work and want to produce fruit from our labors -- and be paid for our efforts. But, what kind of fruit are we meant to produce and whose orchard are we supposed to be working in?

In his book, The Cashflow Quadrant, Robert Kiyosaki lays out four different ways to make money. He says we can be an Employee, Self-Employed, an Investor, or have a "B-Type Business" that produces an income whether we are present or not. I'm not going to go into detail here or even debate the pluses and minuses of the "ESBI" quadrant or where we are on that quadrant. However, I think it is important to know the options and decide if where we are is where we want to be -- and to answer ourselves in regard to "why" we do what we do, and "what" we want from doing it. If you haven't read the book, I suggest taking time to read it. I do however want to look at "4 Ps" that we can and should think about in terms of what we do for a living.

Purpose: Each of us has a unique mix of talents, abilities, and temperaments. No one is quite like we are and as a result, each of us has a specific purpose. The question is: Is my pragmatic occupation in alignment with my purpose -- or can I find meaningful purpose in my pragmatic occupation? Knowing our purpose helps align our priorities.

People: Who is affected by what I do? Who am I building "it" for? The "who" is an important consideration because it takes the discussion beyond ourselves and helps us understand the impact of our decisions and our actions on the lives of others. We most likely think of our immediate family -- spouse, children, and grandchildren. But, there is also a legacy that impacts a much greater community of people -- perhaps even those who are yet to be born.

Profit: What is the fruit of our occupation providing for? What type of lifestyle is it funding -- and is that the lifestyle I truly want, or the lifestyle I have settled for? It is amazing how we can whittle down our dreams to fit our current fiscal reality. Do we give real and actionable thought on how we can produce a bigger profit -- that is in alignment with our purpose and our people?

Product: What do we want to be known for? How will our work define us and the contribution we will be remembered for? We mentioned legacy in terms of our impact on people -- present and future. When those people speak our name, what will they say? How can we use the work we do, or are intended to do, to leave a lasting impact on the world? Certainly, we are more than just the work we do or will do -- but it is our work that often provides the experience and resources that will ultimately impact our legacy. What are we producing?

I hope this Labor Day provides you an opportunity to rest and recharge. I also hope it provides a moment of reflection and a renewed commitment to do the work that you are designed to do, for who you are designed to do it, to provide a lifestyle of your own design and most importantly, a legacy of your own design. 

Your comments are always welcome.