Looking at my nephew working in Starbucks as his first job brings back memories of when I started working in Jollibee as a dining crew. It was hard. Cleaning tables, wiping floors, and attending to customers’ needs, not to mention irate customers.
Watching my nephew navigate the world of work for the first time with his new job at Starbucks brings a wave of nostalgia crashing over me. It transports me back to my own fledgling days in the workforce, a time when my uniform wasn’t the crisp green apron he sported, but the familiar red and yellow stripes of a Jollibee dining crew member.
Those were demanding days, filled with challenges that tested my grit and work ethic. Every day was a whirlwind of activity. There were tables to be cleared with lightning speed, ensuring a steady flow for the hungry customers. Floors, inevitably stained with the remnants of countless Chickenjoy meals, required constant attention. And on top of that, there were the customers themselves, a diverse range of personalities with varying levels of patience and needs. Sometimes, frustration boiled over, and I’d find myself dealing with irate customers whose orders were delayed or meals weren’t quite right. It was a crash course in customer service, resilience, and the importance of a smile, even on days when your feet ached and the fryer seemed to be on a personal mission to soak you in oil.
Took the job because everyone, almost everyone, I knew in college was working. With the potential of earning for myself, I decided to try it. And luckily, I was accepted. Had it for about five months before I quit because it was tiring and made me sleep in class.
We all started working because we wanted to earn money. Because we want to be able to buy things for ourselves and for many of us, to provide for our families and loved ones.
And as we progress in our careers, move to different companies, and meet a lot of different people, we forget what was our initial purpose. Under the pressure at work, the politics, and the dramas, we slipped in forgetting why are we working.
We all begin our working lives driven by a fundamental need: financial security. It’s the fuel that propels us forward, the desire to afford basic necessities like food and shelter. But this initial motivation goes beyond just ourselves. For many, it transforms into a desire to provide a comfortable life for our families, to be the ones who put food on the table and clothes on their backs. It’s about building a future where loved ones can pursue their dreams and ambitions, a future secured by our hard work and dedication.
However, as careers unfold, a subtle shift can occur. We climb the professional ladder, navigate the complexities of new companies, and forge relationships with a diverse range of colleagues. This dynamic environment, while offering growth and learning opportunities, can also introduce unexpected challenges. The pressures to perform, meet deadlines, and navigate office politics can become all-consuming. We get caught up in the daily grind, the emails, meetings, and performance reviews. Slowly, but surely, the initial spark that ignited our work ethic – the desire to provide and build a secure future – can begin to fade.
This forgetting isn’t always a conscious choice. The relentless demands of the job can create a tunnel vision effect, narrowing our focus to the immediate tasks at hand. Deadlines loom large, and the pressure to succeed becomes overwhelming. We may lose sight of the bigger picture, the very reason we embarked on this professional journey in the first place. We become cogs in the machine, defined by our titles and productivity metrics rather than the dreams and aspirations that fueled our initial motivation.
This disconnect can have a significant impact on our overall well-being. When work becomes solely about achieving external goals – promotions, bonuses, or simply surviving the next performance review – it can lead to feelings of emptiness and dissatisfaction. The spark of joy, the sense of purpose derived from contributing and providing, can be extinguished. We may find ourselves questioning the meaning behind the long hours, the sacrifices made, and the energy expended.
Regaining that sense of purpose requires a conscious effort. It means taking a step back, reflecting on our core values, and reconnecting with the initial reasons we chose our career paths. Perhaps it was the desire to use our skills to make a positive impact, the intellectual challenge of a specific field, or the sense of accomplishment that comes with completing a complex project. Reconnecting with these intrinsic motivators can reignite our passion and fuel our dedication.
Remembering why we work allows us to approach our jobs with a renewed perspective. We can leverage our skills and experience not just to climb the corporate ladder, but to make a meaningful contribution. It allows us to find satisfaction in the process, not just the outcome. After all, true fulfillment comes not just from the paycheck, but from the sense that our work contributes to something larger than ourselves, whether it’s supporting our families, building a better product, or simply making a positive difference in the world.
Our careers begin fueled by a primal desire: security. We chase the ability to afford necessities – a roof overhead, and food on the table. But this drive quickly expands beyond ourselves. It becomes about providing for loved ones, becoming the pillar that ensures their comfort. We dream of building a future where they can chase their passions, a future safeguarded by our efforts.
However, as our careers progress, a subtle shift occurs. We navigate new companies, conquer professional hurdles, and build diverse networks. This dynamic world, while enriching, presents unforeseen challenges. Performance pressures, looming deadlines, and office politics can become all-consuming. We get caught in the daily whirlwind, the constant emails, meetings, and evaluations. Slowly, the reason we embarked on this journey – to provide and build a secure future – can fade into the background.
This isn’t always intentional. The relentless demands create a tunnel vision, narrowing our focus to the immediate tasks. Deadlines become all-encompassing, and the pressure to succeed suffocates the bigger picture. We lose sight of the very foundation of our work ethic – the desire to empower ourselves and those we love.
It is all about the money. It is all about earning. It is all about providing. It is all about being able.
Underneath everything, let us not forget that.
