Ask Yourself: Why Am I Doing This Work?

Today, I want to encourage you to conduct a “gut check” on knowing why you are doing what you are doing?

I’ve been reminded recently about how inspiring and refreshing it is to sit with someone who loves their life’s work. At the same, I know how painful it is to listen to someone who is working in a position that neither fits them nor brings them any joy.

If I’ve re-learned anything from this pandemic, it’s that you never know what life will throw at you and totally knock you down. Why not live every moment as intentionally as possible?

If you are going to live a life that is authentic, real, honest and joyful, then your work should allow you to be that person.

And, if it doesn’t, seek it out now!

We humans are so stymied by fear that we allow ourselves to wallow around in work that we don’t like or have any desire to be doing.

Honestly, Richard and I have met too many fundraisers who, one, don’t really like being a fundraiser or, two, don’t like the mission or leadership of the organization for which they are working. Yet, they stay in that work for years sometimes and they’re miserable and spread that misery around them.

Why do this to yourself?

So, today, I really encourage you to take some moments of quiet and sit with these two questions: Am I doing the work that I should be doing? Is the work I’m doing bringing me joy?

If you can’t answer “yes” to both of them, now you are getting real with yourself and can decide the next step on how to get to a “yes.”

Richard and I feel there are just too many unhappy and unfulfilled people working as front-line fundraisers. We don’t want that to be you.