FINDING PURPOSE IN YOUR WORK
By Vanessa Kimoro
I believe that work is intrinsically part of our life, so it is wiser to invest in something you like, not even love, but like. Growing up, I looked up to the traditional appealing professions like medicine. I had the support of everyone to pursue medicine. My late grandfather even invested in two medical books for me to read ahead of time. The dream was so valid, until mid-high school, when my school committed us to voluntary work at the Kenyatta National Hospital for two weeks. Yes, two weeks and that was more than enough for me. That experience was eye-opening enough that I changed my desire and fell into an abyss of confusion. I formed an attachment with every patient I dealt with, and deemed that I was not willing to detach myself from the humanness when it comes to medical treatment.
The next question was, what next? I grappled between engineering or architecture and the feeling of a construction site did not resonate with me. Until I sat in a business studies class, and the world made sense. But how come no one ever highlighted this industry to me? I knew I was in the right place and had to overcome the temptation to choose the more appealing careers, for a space that I felt I belonged. Some of the judgment I got for my career option was quite interesting, but my teenage stubborn nature at that time was quite useful. The trajectory of that decision has led me exactly to where I am meant to be.
Some of us are lucky enough to pick careers aligned with our strengths, some take what life gives them. It is crazy to me that we expect someone at 18 years old to really know what career suits them, without much insight into their chosen industry. A gap year of apprenticeship and vocational skills would do justice to many. Also, leaving out many who do not attain a certain grade threshold, but still have the capability to add value to society, is unfortunate. Like many of us, retrospectively, we have grown and evolved in our interests, which is a completely normal human experience because change is inevitable.
As I continue to grow, one that thing that has stood out most to me is the commitment to the work we choose to pursue. What is the motivating factor of commitment? Money is a good one. However, even with great compensation and benefits, there can still be a gap. A sense of meaning in what we do, is not only rewarding, but fulfilling. Finding purpose in your work may not necessarily mean following a passion, but having a reason greater than yourself to succeed in your field.
Purpose can be in the customer you service, the influence you leave on your colleagues or the impact on the social-economic environment of your community. In a masterclass session (www.masterclass.com) I attended, Sarah Blakely, founder of Spanx, pointed out that purpose is bigger than yourself. What is your ‘why’? To cut a long story short, as you explore, grow and evolve in your career and business, may you have a reason greater than yourself to commit to your life’s work and legacy.
