Finding meaning in business

A short meditation on finding meaningfulness at work: what’s good for me must surely be good for my clients… 

When I was doing my spring planning, something finally fell into place.

It’s a given that I should offer services to people that are based on the things that I am skilled in, and that I am qualified and able to do.

But this is my new learning: I should be doing work that is meaningful to me, and that I think is worth doing. Work that I like, in short.

I shouldn’t be doing work just because I think it will sell (that is – work that has a ready market and is easy to sell because it fits the templates of the world we live in). This kind of work counts as work I don’t like.

What that means in practice

That doesn’t mean I get to eat ice cream all day (because that counts as work, doesn’t it?).

it means that I should be looking for clients who want me to do the things that I am good at – because the task at hand is meaningful to them and to me.

This is the crucial question: If the work I do doesn’t mean anything to me, what is the client getting from me?

In author Visakan Veerasamy’s memorable phrase. what they get is “‘LinkedIn World’, where everyone is performing a bullshit role in a bullshit play”.

So, what do I do, seen through this framework?

The work I am available to do:

·        Writing for clients: well-researched, in-depth copy (thought leadership, white papers, features) that grabs people’s attention, keeps them reading and leaves them feeling informed and entertained. And the client’s business should resonate with me.

·        Editing and proofreading: preferably meaningful texts, with clients who are willing to work collaboratively.

·        Coaching, mentoring, handholding.

·        Training – online courses, digital downloads.

·        A combination of all of the above, in whichever way works for the client and their teams.

 There’s a downside, of course

It’s possible that working in this authentic way will limit my income-making prospects, or make the potential client pool smaller. There’s no way of knowing how that will pan out, which means uncertainty abounds. But long-term stability and prosperity is the goal, rather than short-term gains.

My question to you

What would limiting your endeavours to work that is meaningful to you look like? Is it possible for you?

My spring planning workbook would be a good place to start thinking about this!

Main picture: Jukan Tateisi, Unsplash

READ MORE

How to do small business planning… in spring! | Safe Hands

How not to hate marketing (part one) | Safe Hands

How not to hate marketing (part two) | Safe Hands

LinkedIn – can I learn to like it? | Safe Hands

The small business year ahead: Adventure – and fear

How to reach me

Contact me if you would like to chat about how I can help with all your communication needs (writing, editing, coaching and training, social media).

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