The Secret to Work

When it is all said and done at your job, what matters?

Does it matter how many cogs you produced?

How much in sales did you bring in?

Or how many implementations and integrations you successfully completed?

Perhaps to some. And most certainly, those things matter to the Organization.

But what matters to you? The individual.

I’ll wait.

What is More Important Than ‘The What’?

When you end your job or retire or both – what matters (and what should be prioritized) is the process and the connections made along the way – at least at an individual level.

The process, also known as the practice, is the journey you undertake, not what you produce. The things you produce (cogs, revenue, implementations) are simply outputs of the practice. The practice, however, is the desire to undertake the journey without fully knowing what the end state will look like. It is, quite simply, ‘the How.’

Side note: Many folks struggle with the intent of Tech Vs. Humans. “What is it? What are you trying to get out of it? What’s your business model?” Several of these questions have come my way, and my response to all of them is – it’s not a ‘What.’ This space is not about the thing but about the connection, the process, and most importantly, the practice of work for the Modern Tech Worker. Adding humanity into our work is not a ‘What.’

Connection is important because change in the tech world is a constant. Reliance on yourself and your technology alone is a short-term strategy. The tech will change. New “features” will make your work more challenging. Your confidence will waiver. You will become frustrated. It’s how tech works. The only way to keep your head above water is to focus on the practice of work and the human connections within it. If you focus on the people around you, the tech does not matter. It’s all just Ones and Zeros – just rearranged. And fighting a battle with Partners is easier than fighting one alone.

The Thing About Salary

Your salary matters – how much you make matters because things cost money.

But it is not the only driving force. And it should not be treated as such.

And it should not be the thing that keeps you at a job. Life is too short, and too many jobs are out there that would allow you to progress on your journey (and are willing to pay you money)

There are exceptions, of course.

Elon Musk likely doesn’t care about the process but only about Money.

That’s fine, but he’s a complete ass (Just read any of the emails he sent his Twitter employees).

Humanity has little hope if we model our future working world from his philosophy and approach. (I know many idolize Musk’s approach – but I do not). His approach is not Radical Candor. He’s just another narcissistic dick who happens to be a savvy businessman.

In the end, you are constantly building your legacy. What would you want it to be?

The Thing About ‘The Things’

This post is about prioritizing connection and the work process over the things you produce or create – whatever those things are. It is not to say that those things don’t matter. If you are working for customers, they are part of the process and connection, but they also bought ‘the thing.’ It is absolutely vital that you celebrate great work and try to learn from any mistakes – continuously. Your company expects you to do great work – we are just reframing ‘great work’ as the process (and connections) AND ‘the thing’ you were hired to do.

References and Resources

Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield

The Practice by Seth Godin

Executive Summary

• The key to success in one’s professional endeavors lies in consistently practicing one’s craft and establishing strong connections within one’s work.
• Practicing one’s craft entails honing the necessary skills, defining and pursuing a clear purpose, and adopting a resilient and positive attitude toward the work.
• Building connections and fostering a collaborative team are crucial in navigating the ever-evolving technological landscape.
• While remuneration holds importance, it should be regarded as a baseline rather than the sole criterion for measuring one’s professional worth.