Recently, I have been reconsidering what work means for humans. Let’s talk about it from a rational perspective.
What is the meaning of work?
Sometimes, we want to understand the meaning of work.
People’s perspectives vary: some see it as enjoyable and fulfilling, while others consider it a disgusting burden and escaping from it a success.
Is doing work suffering or happiness? What element makes that difference? How should we perceive work?
I have also experienced this doubt. I had conflicting desires. I wished to be freed from exhausting work but also wanted to contribute to others. I wanted money but also desired mental fulfillment even without a salary. I wished to succeed in one specific field but was also interested in many industries. Although it is a matter of balance, I wanted to know what work is.
One solution is to eliminate the distinction between noble and humble from our image of professions. In other words, not competing at all and simply letting things take their course may be an option, especially for logical people. Today, I will explain the logic. This perspective may show you another rational career path.
The meaning of jobs in human activity
In my current opinion, removing the distinction between superior and inferior professions leads us to the best position to contribute to society, especially for logical people. In other words, logical people don’t need to compete with others.
Rationally speaking, there is no distinction between high and low jobs. Although there is a difference in income, which is one factor we should pursue, it is determined by social trends rather than by industry. In other words, logical people need to focus on environmental circumstances rather than a specific industry.
Work is the collaborative effort among humans. Humans realized efficiency by socially cooperating. Some focus on agriculture, some maintain irrigation, some create tools, and some manage them. Dividing work developed more advanced skills, and exchanging their products and services created more total efficiency than everyone doing the same thing.
It means that a job is an activity that complements each other’s shortcomings. Farming becomes more effective with proper irrigation. Advanced tools make creating irrigation easier. Well-planned management streamlines those processes. If any of them are missing, efficiency will decline.
That shows us that there is no distinction between noble and humble works. They are incomparable.
How we perceive income
However, there is a difference in income, which indicates the amount of social contribution. Since people pay for value, those with higher incomes are fundamentally contributing to the majority of society.
The income reflects how socially important the role is during that period. In other words, an industry doesn’t determine income; the trend does.
For example, rulers and managers tend to have high incomes. However, there are situations where top athletes and businessmen earn more, and politicians become relatively poorer.
People’s demands shift according to the economic situation, and that affects the amount of income.
That shows us that if we want to contribute more, it would be more efficient to discern the trend without identifying superior and inferior jobs.
Specialist vs. manager
For logical people, avoiding competition and letting the environment decide can lead to industries with the greatest shortage of talent, in my current opinion.
To make it easier to understand, let’s look at my case.
I have helped my brother at his pastry shop every weekend over those months.
I realized that it was pointless to distinguish between noble and humble tasks. For example, we usually despise the job that only does preparation and cleanup. At a pastry shop, pastry chefs who create beautiful cakes are often in the spotlight.
However, being noticed is often different from being needed. In his shop, there was a lack of management. The manager’s task is fundamentally preparation and cleanup. They administer the plan, staff, resources, and progress, and lead the team to accomplish their goals.
In this situation, the competition among chefs is intense, and fewer people want to administer it. In such an environment, they make the newcomers do mainly the preparation and cleanup. Naturally, those with management talent contribute more easily.
Logical people can adapt to any situation and improve it as long as it requires logical talents. It means that there is no need to choose between being a manager and a chef intentionally. Since both are enjoyable for us, we can let the environment decide. If the environment doesn’t require logical people, they will kick us out, and that is also no problem. We can move to another environment. That is not a failure.
In my current perspective, logical people don’t need to choose jobs. Although it may be best to look at the whole picture of society and understand the trends, we cannot always do that, especially when we are aware of our ignorance. In such a situation, giving up competition and simply letting the environment decide would be a rational way to show our talents.
Conclusion
That is my current understanding of the meaning of work.
In my current opinion, removing the distinction between noble and humble professions leads us to our best position to contribute to society, especially for logical people.
In other words, logical people don’t need to compete with others.
This perspective may show you another career path.
Thank you for reading this article. I hope to see you in the next one.
