“It’s not supposed to be fun. That’s why they call it work.” That was my father’s attempt at humor whenever I complained about chores around the house. I know he was only kidding, but for many people, this is how they truly feel. It’s work, so it is supposed to be hard and unpleasant. The idea that work could be fun is almost counter-cultural. Several years ago, in spite of what my father said, I came to the realization that work not only can be fun, it should be. That doesn’t mean that we will always love every aspect of our work, but I believe we are doing ourselves a real disservice if we don’t strive to find employment that is fulfilling and enjoyable. This new way of looking at work was a primary driver behind my decision to leave the relative security of my corporate life for the uncertainty of entrepreneurship.
Last week while on an annual family vacation, I had several conversations that reminded me how important it is to help others find what they love to do – and then actually do it. For the past five summers, we have vacationed at the same guest ranch in Colorado. The thing that sets Deer Valley Ranch apart from other places I have vacationed is the quality of the people who work there. Every person I have encountered there has been pleasant, engaged, and trustworthy. The ranch attracts the kind of people any employer would want. These college-aged men and women keep families like ours coming back and recommending Deer Valley to our friends.
Part of the success of Deer Valley Ranch stems from the extraordinary people it hires. While the college kids working at the ranch fully enjoy what they do, many of them wonder if the are wasting time – that waiting tables or cleaning or wrangling won’t serve them in building their careers. Unfortunately, this concern is too common in our society. People believe what my father used to say: “It’s not supposed to be fun. . .” They’re stuck in the trap that says that if work is too fun, it can’ be important or valuable.
One of the conversations I had at the ranch was prompted by my mother, who had been talking with a wrangler about his plans for next summer. He had enjoyed the experience this summer, and part of him wanted to come back. However, another part of him thought he should get a “real job.” He was concerned that most of his friends were doing internships or had jobs that would look good on resumes, so he was thinking about doing the same next year. My mom advised him to ask me about my summer jobs during high school and college. Later that day, we discussed the six summers I spent as an oceanfront lifeguard. I told him about my father’s repeated attempts to get me to do something real, something that would help me get a job after college. I told him about how much fun lifeguarding was, but I also told him how much it taught me and how fulfilling it was. Finally, I shared with him the best part. Those “wasted summers” were the primary reason I was hired for my first job after college. They hired me because, unlike most of my peers, I was able to demonstrate my experience leading others, dealing with crises, and interacting with a diverse group of people. They cared that I had a college degree, but what differentiated me was the experience I had gained as a lifeguard.
I had similar conversations with several other members of the staff, and I repeated one overarching message: “Every job should either be something you love and find fulfilling, or it should help you acquire the skills you need to get there.” Unfortunately, most people struggle with this issue, and it is particularly challenging for people in their late teens or early twenties. That is why they too often jump into roles that sound good, only to find them disappointing or frustrating. This problem is exacerbated by the difficult job market. People at all stages of their careers seem willing to take any job offered to them.
I wish I could say that I had figured this out while I was “wasting my summers” as a lifeguard. The truth is that the recruiter who interviewed me for that first job was curious. He had seen enough on my resume to bring me in for an interview. Then he asked questions that allowed me to expose the experiences I had gained as a lifeguard.
Most people aren’t lucky enough to get their resumes to curious recruiters who prompt them to tell their stories. More often, we have to allow ourselves to be curious. We have to dig into our experiences to find the value within. We can also offer to help others do the same. Whether we’re talking with someone about a job they love or a job they hate, we can help them become curious. We can ask them to tell us what makes the job so enjoyable or not. Chances are even the most enjoyable work experience is more than just fun. In the case of the Deer Valley wrangler, he admitted the job was fun – riding horses all day and being the center of attention were great. But once we started going deeper, he began to talk about how he loved helping guests develop as riders and become more confident. He loved looking for ways to make the guests’ experiences more enjoyable. He liked the responsibility of caring for horses and mules. He was surprised to see how these things that were so much fun for him also demonstrated skills that are important to many employers. All he needed to do was to present these experiences in a way that prospective employers would recognize the skills he had developed.
This type of approach isn’t just for college students trying to find the right summer job. And it’s not just about finding the value in the jobs we love. We should all remain curious about the work we do. Every experience offers the opportunity to learn about ourselves – our likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, values and beliefs. Regardless of our age and experience, our curiosity can help us discover what we love and find fulfilling. Once we do, we can invest ourselves in building a rewarding and satisfying career.
