职场感悟为什么我们努力工作Whydoweworksohard

第第页职场感悟为什么我们努力工作Whydoweworksohard？职场感悟为什么我们努⼒⼯作Whydoweworksohard？

whatwouldyoudo

maybe是什么意思

转眼今年⼗⽉过半，前三个季度已经过去。翻看每个季度的⼯作总结发现今年的⼯作时间和密度是⼯作以来最多，同时关于⼯作的感悟和思考也是最丰富的。最近正在思考从什么⾓度切⼊好好梳理⼀番，恰巧看到RyanAvent的⼀篇关于我们为什么努⼒⼯作的⽂章很受启发，于是作为年底职场感悟专题的开篇抛出来，作为开始。

WhenIwasyoung,therewasnothingsobadasbeingaskedtowork.NowIfindithardtoconjureupthatfeeling,butIeitinmyfive-year-olddaughter.“CanIpleahavesomewater,daddy?”

“Youcangetityourlf,you’reabiggirl.”

“WHYDOESEVERYONEALWAYSTREATMELIKEAMAID?”

ThatwasmewhenIwasyoung,rollingonthegroundinagonyonbeingaskedtocleanmyroom.Asachild,

Iwonderinglyobrvedthehoursmyfatherworked.Thestoicalwayhewentofftothejob,chinheldhigh,

emedabeautiful,heroicembraceofpersonalsuffering.Thepoorman!Howfewhourshelefthimlftorestonthecouch,readorwatchAmericanfootball.

MyfatherhadhisownaccountingfirminRaleigh,NorthCarolina.Hisspecialitywashelpingpeoplemanagetheirtaxandfinancialaffairsastheystarted,expanded,orinsomecasshutdowntheirbusiness.Hehastakenhistimeretiring,andInowrealihowmuchhelikedhiswork.Icanremembertheglowingtermsinwhichhisclientswouldtellmeaboutthehelphe’dgiventhem,asifhe’dperformedlife-savingsurgeryonthem.Ialsorememberthewayhisvoicechangedwhenhereceivedacallfromaclientwhenathome.

SuddenlyhespokewithacommandandfacilitythatIneverheardatanyothertime,likeacaptivepenguinreleadintoopenwater,swimminginhiselementwithnaturalea.

At37,Iemyfather’sroutinewithdifferenteyes.IliveinaterracedhouinWandsworth,amoderatelysmartandwildlyexpensivepartofsouth-westLondon,andashorttrainridefromtheheadquartersofTheEconomist,whereIwriteabouteconomics.Igetupat5.30amandspendanhourortwoatmydeskat

home.OncethechildrenareupIjointhemforbreakfast,thengotoworkastheyheadofftoschool.Icanusuallyleavetheofficeintimetojointhefamilyfordinnerandputthechildrentobed.ThenIcangetabitmoredoneathome:writing,ifthereisadeadlinelooming,orreading,whichisalsopart

ofthejob.Iworkhard,doggedly,almostrelentlessly.Thejoke,whichIonlynowget,isthatworkisfun.

Notallwork,ofcour.Whenmyfatherwasaboyonthefamilyfarm,thetasksheandhisfatherdidinthefields–thejobsmanypeoplestilldo–weregruellingandthankless.Ioncevisitedthetextilemillwhere

mygrandmotherworkedforatime.Thenoioftheplacewassooverpoweringthatitwasimpossibletothink.Butmywork–theworkweluckyfewwell-paidprofessionalsdoeveryday,asweco-operatewithtalentedpeoplewhilesolvingcomplex,interestingproblems–isfun.AndIfindthatIcandevotesurprisingquantitiesoftimetoit.

Whatislesscleartome,andtosomanyofmypeers,iswhetherweshoulddosomuchofit.Oneofthefactsofmodernlifeisthatarelativelysmallclassofpeopleworksverylonghoursandearnsgoodmoneyforitsefforts.Nearlyathirdofcollege-educatedAmericanmen,forexample,workmorethan50hoursaweek.Someprofessionalsdotwicethatamount,andelitelawyerscaneasilywork70hoursaweekalmosteveryweekoftheyear.考研秘书网

Work,inthiscontext,meansactive,billablelabour.Butinreality,itrarelystops.Itfollowsushomeoncatch是什么意思

oursmartphones,tuggingatusduringaneveningoutorinthemiddleofourchildren’sbedtimeroutines.Itmakespermanentuofvaluablecognitivespace,andchoosoddhourstopacethroughourthoughts,shovingasidewhatevermighthavebeentherebefore.Itcolonisourpersonalrelationshipsandus

themforitsownends.Itbecomesourlivesifwearenotcareful.Itbecomesus.

WhenJohnMaynardKeynesmudin1930that,acenturyhence,societymightbesorichthatthehoursworkedbyeachpersoncouldbecuttotenor15aweek,hewasnothallucinating,justextrapolating.Theworkingweekwasshrinkingfast.Averagehoursworkeddroppedfrom60attheturnofthecenturyto40bythe1950s.Thecombinationofextratimeandmoneygaveritoanageofmassleisure,tofamilyholidaysandmealstogetherinfrontofthetelevision.Therewasavisionofthegoodlifeinthisera.Itwasoneinwhichworkwaslargelyameanstoanend–theworkingclasshadbecomealeisuredclass.Houholdssavedmoneytobuyahouandacar,totakeholidays,tofinancearetirementatea.Thiswastheeraofthethree-Martinilunch:aleisurely,expen-paddedmiddayboutofharddrinking.Thiswaswhenbankerslivedbythe3-6-3rule:borrowat3%,lendat6%,andheadofftothegolfcourby3pm.

assistantThevisionofaleisure-filledfutureoccurredagainstthebackdropofthecompetitionagainstcommunism,butitisacapitalistdream:oneinwhichtheproductiveapplicationoftechnologyrissteadily,until

arcticfoxmaterialneedscanbemetwithjustafewhoursofwork.Itisastoryofthetriumphofinnovationandmarkets,andoneinwhichthedetailsofapost-workworldareleftsomewhathazy.Keynes,inhisessayonthefuture,reckonedthatwhentheendofworkarrived:

Forthefirsttimesincehiscreationmanwillbefacedwithhisreal,hispermanentproblem–howtouhisfreedomfrompressingeconomiccares,howtooccupytheleisure,whichscienceandcompoundinterestwillhavewonforhim,tolivewilyandagreeablyandwell.

回报英语KarlMarxhadadifferentview:thatbeingoccupiedbygoodworkwaslivingwell.Engagementinproductive,purpofulworkwasthemeansbywhichpeoplecouldrealitheirfullpotential.He’snotcreditedwith

havinggotmuchrightaboutthemodernworld,butmaybehewasn’tsowrongaboutourrelationshipwithwork.

Inthodecadesafterthecondworldwar,Keynesemedtohavethebetteroftheargument.Asproductivityroacrosstherichworld,hourlywagesfortypicalworkerskeptrisingandhoursworkedperweekkeptfalling–tothemid-30s,bythe1970s.Butthensomethingwentwrong.Less-skilledworkersfoundthemlvesforcedtoacceptever-smallerpayristostayinwork.Thebargainingpowerofthetypicalblue-collarworkererodedastechnologyandglobalisationhandedbossawholetoolkitofwaystosqueezelabourcosts.Atthesametime,thewelfarestateceaditsexpansionandbegantoretreat,sweptbackbygovernmentskeentoboostgrowthbycuttingtaxesandremovinglabour-marketrestrictions.Theincomegainsthatmighthavegonetoworkers,thatmighthavekeptlivingstandardsrisingevenashoursfell,thatmighthavekeptsocietyontheroadtotheKeynesiandream,flowedinsteadtothoatthetopoftheincomeladder.Willinglyorunwillingly,tholowerdowntheladderworkedfewerandfewerhours.Thoatthetop,meanwhile,workedlongerandlonger.

Itwasnotobviousthatthingswouldturnoutthisway.Youmighthavethoughtthatwhereas,before,amaleprofessionalworked50hoursaweekwhilehiswifestayedathomewiththechildren,acoupleofmarriedprofessionalsmightinsteadeachopttowork35hoursaweek,sharingmoreofthehouwork,andendingupwithbothmoremoneyandmoreleisure.Thatdidn’thappen.Rather,both

arenowmorelikelytowork60hoursaweekandpayveralpeopletocareforthehouandchildren.

Why?Onepossibilityisthatwehaveallgotstuckonatreadmill.Technologyandglobalisationmeanthatanincreasingnumberofgoodjobsarewinner-take-mostcompetitions.Banksandlawfirmsamassextraordinaryfinancialreturns,directorsandpartnerswithinthofirmsmakecolossalsalaries,andtheroutetothocovetedpositionsliesthroughyearsofround-the-clockwork.Thenumberoffirmswithglobalreach,andoftechstart-upsthatdominateamarketniche,islimited.Securingaplacenearthetopoftheincomespectruminsuchafirm,andremaininginit,isamatterofconstantstruggleandcompetition.Meanwhilethetechnologicalforcesthatenableafewelitefirmstobecomedominantalsoallowwork,intheformofthoconstantlypingingemails,tofollowuseverywhere.

Thisrelentlesscompetitionincreastheneedtoearnhighsalaries,foraswell-paidpeopleclustertogethertheybidupthepriceoftheresourcesforwhichtheycompete.Inthebrainpower-heavycitieswheremost

ofthemlive,gettingonthepropertyladderrequiresthesortofsumthatcanbebuiltuponlythroughl

onghoursinanimportantjob.Thenthereisconspicuousconsumption:theneedtohaveagreat-lookingcarandahomeoutofInteriorsmagazine,thecompetitiontoplacechildreningood(thatis,private)schools,theneedtomaintainacoterieofdomesticworkers–youmeanyoudon’thaveapersonalshopper?Andsoon,andon.

Thedollarsandhourspileupasweaimforagoodlifethatalwaysstaysjustoutofreach.Inmomentsofexhaustionweimaginesimplerlivesinsmallertownswithmorehoursfreeforfamilyandhobbiesandourlves.Perhapswejustliveinanightmarisharmsrace:ifwewerealltodisarm,collectively,thenwecouldallliveacalmer,happier,moreequallife.

Butthatisnotquitehowitis.Theproblemisnotthatoverworkedprofessionalsareallmirable.Theproblemisthattheyarenot.

Drinkingcoffeeonemorningwithafriendfrommyhometown,wediscussourfathers’workinghabits.Botharejustpastretirementage.Bothworkedinanerainwhichagoodjobwasnotall-consuming.Whenmyfatherbeganhisprofessionalcareer,thepost-warconceptofthegoodlifewasstillgoingstrong.Hewasadedicated,evenpassionateworker.Yetheneversuppodthatworkshouldbethecentreofhislife.

Workwasameanstoanend;itwassomethingyoudidtoearnthemoneytopayfortheimportantthingsinlife.ThiswastheadviceIwasgivenasauniversitystudent,strugglingtofigureoutwhatcareertopursue

inordertohavethebestchanceatanimportant,meaningfuljob.Ithinkmyparentswereratherbaffledbymydeterminationtofindsatisfactioninmyprofessionallife.Lifewaswhathappenedoutsidework.Life,inourhou,wasaweek’sholidayatthebeachorPopstandingonthesidelinesatourbaballgames.Itwasmyparentsatchurch,inthepeworvolunteeringinsomewayoranother.Itwashavingkidswhogaveyougrandkids.Workmerelyprovidedmorepeopletowhomtoshowpicturesofthegrandkids.

Thisgenerationofworkers,ontheearlysideofthebabyboom,ismarchingofftoretirementnow.Therearethingstodointhosuntyears.Butthehourswillsurelystretchoutandbecomehardtofill.AsIsitwithmyfrienditdawnsonusthatretirementsoundsawful.Whywouldwestopworking?

Hereisthealternativetothetreadmillthesis.Asprofessionallifehasevolvedoverthepastgeneration,ithasbecomemuchmorepleasant.Softwareandinformationtechnologyhaveeliminate

dmuchofthedrudgeryoftheworkplace.Thedullersortsoflabourhavegone,performedbypeopleinoffshorervice-centresorbymachines.Officesintherichworld’scapitalsarepackednotwithdronesfilingpaperworkoraddingupnumbersbutwithcleverpeopleworkingcollaboratively.

Thepleasureliespartlyinflow,intheprocessoflosingonelfinapuzzlewithasolutiononwhichotherpeopledepend.Thenofpurpofulimmersionandexertionisthemoreappealinggiventhehands-onnatureofthework:topprofessionalsarethemastercraftsmenoftheage,shapinghigh-quality,bespokeproductsfrombeginningtoend.Wedesign,fashion,smoothandimprove,filingtheroughedgesandpolishingthewords,thenumbers,thecodeorwhateverisourchonmaterial.Attheendofthedaywecansitbackandadmireourwork–thecompletedarticle,thealeddeal,thefunctioningapp–inthewaythatartisansoncedid,andthoearningamiddlingwageinthesprawlingrvice-ctornolongerdo.

impoThefactthatourjobsnowfollowusaroundisnotnecessarilyabadthing,either.Workersincognitivelydemandingfields,thinkingtheirwaythroughtrickychallenges,havealwaysdonesoatoddhours.Academicsinthemidstofimportantrearch,oradmencookingupanewcreativecampaign,havealwaysturnedoverthebigquestionsintheirheadswhileshoweringinthemorningorgardeningonaweekendafternoon.Ifmorepeoplefindtheirbrainsconstantlyandprofitablyenga

ged,somuchthebetter.

Smartphonesdonotjustenableworktofollowusaround;theyalsomakelifeeasier.Tasksthatmightotherwirequireyoutostaylateintheofficecanbetakenhome.Parentscanenjoydinnerandbedtimewiththechildrenbeforeturningbacktothejobathand.Technologyisalsoloweringthecostofthesupportstaffthatmakelonghourspossible.Noneedtoemployafull-timepersonalassistanttoruntheerrandsthedays:thereareappstotakecareoftheshopping,thelaundryandthedinner,walkthedog,fixthecarandmendtheholeintheroof.Alloftheallowustofocusevermoreofourtimeandenergyondoingwhatourjobsrequireofus.

郑州考研辅导班Therearedownsidestothislife.Itdoesnotallowusmuchtimewithnewbornchildrenorfamilymembers

whoareill;ortodevelophobbies,side-interestsorthepleasuresofparticular,leisurelyrituals–oranything,indeed,thatisnotintimatelyconnectedwithprofessionalsuccess.Buttheinadmissibletruthisthattheeclipsingoflife’sothercomplicationsispartofthereward.

Itisacognitiveandemotionalrelieftoimmeronelfinsomethingall-consumingwhileotherdifficultiesfloatby.Thecomplexitiesofintellectualpuzzlesarenothingtothoofemotionalones.W

orkisawonderfulrefuge.

Thislifeisapackagedeal.Citiesareexpensive.Lessprestigiousworkthatdemandslesscommitmentfromthowhodoitpaysless–oftenmuchless.Forthowithoutindependentwealth,diallingbackprofessionalambitionandeffortmeansmovingaway,tosmallerandcheaperplaces.

Butsteppingoffthetreadmilldoesnotjustmeanacceptingadifferentvisionofone’sprospectswithadifferentsalarytrajectory.Itmeansupendingone’slifeentirely:changinglocations,tumblingoutofthecommunity,losingone’sidentity.Thatisadifficultthingtosurvive.Onemusthaveanextremelystrong,curenoflftonegotiateit.

I'vewatchedpeopletry.In2023goodfriendsofourspackedtheirthingsandmovedawayfromWashington,DC,wherewelivedatthetime,tothesmallcollegetownofCharlottesville,Virginia.Itwasanidylliclittleplace,nestledintheAppalachianfoothills,surroundedbyhorfarmsandvineyards,withcheap,charminghomes.Hepersuadedhisemployertolethimtelework;sheleftherhigh-pressurejobasvice-presidentatabigwebfirmnearWashingtontotakeapositionatalocalcompany.

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MywifeandIwereintriguedbythethoughtofdoingthesame.Shecouldteachthere,wereckoned,andIcouldwrite.ItwasareasonabletrainridefromWashington,ifIneededtomeeteditors.Wewouldbeabletoenjoythefreshair,andthepeaceandquiet.Perhaps