Business Pain vs Business Pleasure
by John Ruh
Is your business life a source of pleasure or is it a source of pain and suffering for you?
Do you have a reason for doing your job other than to pay the bills? Or do you feel you have no other choice? Do the sacrifices you make for your work have meaning to you? Or does your job seem like a series of endless tasks? Can you see how what you are doing fits into your personal and professional vision and goals? Or do you feel you’re on a road leading nowhere?
Why is it that some people get so much pleasure from their work? Why do others, doing similar work to yours, see it as fulfilling and purposeful? How do they get pleasure from doing the same tasks that cause you pain? What do they know that you don’t? Have you ever thought about this?
Perhaps it’s their context or perspective.
Victor Frankl in his classic book, “Man’s Search For Meaning,” said, “In some way, suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning, such as the meaning of a sacrifice.”
Every one of us is facing a business environment that is tough. However, it does not have to be so painful if you accept it for what it is and do that which is necessary to get through it. Perhaps the hard part is recognizing that it requires both acceptance and sacrifice. You must change. The market or business climate is like the weather…you must adapt to it; it will not adapt to you.
I’m suggesting that the faster you get to acceptance (the “so now what do I do?” stage), put the right business plan in place, combine it with being innovative (creating products and/or services that meet your client’s real needs) and sprinkle the whole thing with a little common sense, the better off you will be. This formula may be the right Rx to end your pain and put you on the road toward pleasure
As Frankl implies, knowing your real purpose may change your context.
I’m hoping this piece stimulates you to action. If you want our support, you can request a free session introducing and explaining our personal, professional development program (CLICK HERE). Let us know how we can be of service to you.
Hoping your business life is pleasurable.