To the ones who drag their feet to work every day. To the ones who struggle to find meaning in their day-to-day work. To the ones who are lost, burnt-out, or stuck in your career. This one is for you.
In 2018, CNA produced a documentary “Regardless of Class” that went viral in Singapore, raising questions on inequality and class discrimination. One of the scenes featured a young girl who recalled her father telling her to “work harder in my exams, or else I would become the person who drives the garbage truck and those cleaners on streets”. Her words cut straight to my heart. Two years on, I still feel that sense of uneasiness over that remark.
How did we grow up to have the belief that some jobs are ‘better’ than others?
But also, what does it say of Singaporeans’ attitudes and beliefs about work?
What is Work to You?
I wanted to find out more about what Singaporeans thought about work, so I went on a mission to gather views from individuals of different ages and backgrounds. Thanks to the power of social media, I managed to garner over 100 responses from Singaporeans from different walks of life!
1) Why is work important to you?
Not to anyone’s surprise, “Money” emerged as the topmost priority, because it allowed people to achieve stability, financial independence, and sustain themselves and their loved ones. This was followed by a “Sense of purpose” and “Help people”, where many people recognised that work, despite its occasional heartaches, gave meaning and purpose to their lives. A surprisingly sizeable group of Singaporeans shared that work “keeps me occupied”, for “how else would I spend my time?”
2) What do you hope to achieve from work?
I saw a slight shift in the way people approached this question. The desire to “Help people” increased to overtake “Money” as the top response, with many people hoping that their humble contributions at work would ultimately make a difference in other’s lives. A handful of people mentioned “self-development” and “learning”, sharing that their experiences from work can build their knowledge and skills, and also their character and maturity as a person.
We spend 8 hours a day, 2,080 hours a year, 90,000 hours in a lifetime at work.
Why is work important to you?
There is Value in Every Work
I wonder how many of us think about the value your work brings when we wake up every morning. Believe it, that every job is created for a specific purpose and meaning. Your job was created because someone understood that there’s a need or a lack in this world, and your role at work is to fill in that gap. If you are:
A Waiter.
It’s because the process of collecting food, carrying utensils and getting refills could disrupt a nice family meal. And people saw a need for you to help them.
Who else could meet that need?
A Driver.
It’s because people needed a quick and safe way to move from one destination to another so that they could dedicate more time to becoming a better spouse, parent, worker, child.
Who else could meet that need?
A Mechanic.
It’s because someone realised that it was difficult for ordinary people to fix their vehicles and needed an expert’s hands to repair the damages at a reasonable price.
Who else could meet that need?
An Admin Assistant.
It’s because the office struggled with inefficiency and messy processes, and they needed someone to help organise their data and work.
Who else could meet that need?
All work has value, simply because every job is a way to serve and care for someone in society. From admin assistants to receptionists, to public servants and private businesses, your job enables people to be cared for. Your job meets the day-to-day needs of others. We must first believe in the value behind every work. Only then, we can be an all-inclusive society, regardless of class.
A True Story: From Embarrassed to Inspired Food Delivery Rider
A friend related to me a story when he coached a young man who was a Food Delivery Rider — let’s call him Freddy. Freddy loved riding his motorbike but felt embarrassed when he had to place that brightly-coloured food box on his bike while making deliveries. He felt uncomfortable and afraid that his friends would see him delivering food, what he thought of as a “lowly” job.
During one of their career coaching sessions, my friend asked him a question: When are your peak hours?
As Freddy shared that his busy hours tended to be 6pm — 8pm, my friend pointed out to him that these were the high traffic hours because it was when working adults would rush home from work. These folks didn’t have time to cook because of their long work hours, but food deliveries opened possibilities for them to enjoy family meals together. It was then when Freddy found a new mission and purpose in his work.
In the past, when Freddy made food deliveries, he would quickly drop the food off at his destination and sneak off as quickly as possible in fear that someone he knows will see him. Now, as Freddy stands outside the house with the food box in hand, he slips out a timid “enjoy your meal!”, before riding off to his next destination.
End with these Reflection Questions
You might end off this article thinking: Well, that was all great and inspiring, but what work is best suited for me? You can start by thinking about these reflection questions and get third party insights by speaking to a Career Coach.
- What excites you to get out of bed every day?
- What things do you catch yourself thinking about in your free time?
- What problems do you see in this world that you would like to solve?
- What advice do your colleagues ask from you?
