A Gallup poll from 2013 revealed that 50 percent of working Americans are disengaged with their work, while another 20 percent are actively disengaged. Worse yet, job dissatisfaction is probably killing people. Dan Miller observes that more people die of heart attacks on Monday morning than any other time of the week. Could it be that victims are coming off of an enjoyable weekend, dreading going back to a job they hate?
When you get down to it, a job gives each of us a sense of dignity. Most people find purpose and worth in the work they do. When people can’t work – or they get stuck doing work that’s not a good fit for them – they get depressed or worse.
In December of 2010, Tunisian police confiscated Mohamed Bouazizi’s produce cart and scales because he didn’t have a vending permit. Bouazizi then went to the governor’s office to complain, but no one would see him. He felt desperate and helpless with no way to feed his family, so to protest, he doused himself with gasoline and lit himself on fire.
Work is important; there’s no way around it. Everyone wants to do significant work. Furthermore, the average person will spend more time with coworkers at work over the course of her life than she will with her family. It’s important, then, that each of us finds the right job.
So where is the best work for you to do? How can you find a job you love as an introvert?
