Day 2: What is work?

On Day 2, I had to read Chapter 1 and answer the questions at the end called "Countdown To The Work I Love" questions.  I love this quote at the beginning of the chapter.

"The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion.  He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing.  To him he is always doing both."  

                                                                                                                           ~James Michener 

Key Chapter Quotes (for me):

• "What if we were able to create a model for work that included work, play, leisure and spiritual components? Is that reasonable?"
• "Money is never enough compensation for investing one's time and energy"
• "Few obstacles exist beyond those in our minds if we are creative in looking for solutions."
• "Success is not a future event -- it is the "progressive realization of worthwhile goals".  Thus either you are successful today or you are not"
• "When we are not true to ourselves, to our unique God-given characteristics, we lose the power of authenticity, creativity, imagination, and innovation.  Our life becomes performance-based, setting the stage for compromise in all other areas of our life."

COUNTDOWN TO WORK I LOVE

1. Who gave you your first job? What kind of job was it? How much money did you make?
• My first real job was at Pizza Hut as a customer service rep.  I made $5.15/hr  (tragic moment!), but enjoyed it for the most part because it was my first paycheck and I worked with friends.. not to mention free pizza. 
2. From looking at your work life so far, what has been of the greatest value or worth?
• Probably the greatest value has been all the different and unique people I've met along the way.. both good & bad.  Although, I'd say I've been pretty blessed to have some super cool co-workers/colleagues most of the time.
3. If your job changes, does your purpose change?
• This is an excellent question.  My answer is.. I seriously hope not.  I feel like my purpose should go beyond my job.  The only problem is at this present moment.. I'm not sure what that is.
4. Do you think your current job will exist five years from now?
• I honestly think it will but probably not as many people in my department doing it.  They will probably consolidate the area to reduce redundancy. So then.. perhaps that answer should be no.. loll.
5. What would be key characteristics of an ideal job or career?
• Flexibility (i.e. being able to work from anywhere in the world and not always in the office)
• Preferably non-traditional job that's not a strict 8a.m. - 5 pm
• Love  & get along well with the people I work with (minimum drama!)
• Feel personally passionate about what I'm doing & actually care about the end results
• Something that makes me feel alive and that I'm adding value to someone live in some sort of way
• Make good enough money to live more than comfortably, debt free, hefty savings and be able to freely give to others.
• Preferably allows me to be creative and work with latest & coolest technology.. maybe even create that technology
6. When you daydream, what do you see yourself doing?
• This one is a doozy.. lol.  If I've been playing too many games like Bejeweled Blitz.. I daydream about playing it... lol.
• Career wise.. I've daydreamed about being a genius or a prodigy but with personality!  I like my intellect to be stimulated.
• Spiritually.. I've daydreamed about being an effective minstrel of the gospel.  Where literally as I sing, chains are being broken off people and they are free to be in true worship and communion with the Lord.
7. What have been the happiest, most fulfilling moments in your life?
• Believe it or not.. graduation from high school.. actually more fulfilling than Purdue. (wowsers!)
• Programming my computer generated mini-movie a few semesters ago
• Creating & editing web cam movies a few years ago
• Putting a smile on a child's face.. especially a baby.
• Good, stress-free, HILARIOUS conversations with family & friends.
• Singing on the HOPE Praise Team
8. IF nothing changed in your life in the next 5 years, would that be OK?
• AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaHHHHhhhhhh!!!! Not at all!!!  That would be a sad tragedy!

My goal this year is to stop living aimlessly and I will repeat that until it manifests itself in my reality.  No one should live a life in "survival mode".  In this chapter Dan quotes a scripture from Proverbs 18:14 "..a man's spirit can endure sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?".  This spoke volumes to me.  My prayer is that this year the Lord restores the joy of HIS salvation and allows me to gain vision into my destiny so that I can walk it out.  My goal this year is to build a "life plan".

Until tomorrow....