综合商务英语B1 U8

Unit8WorkandLifeLeadin01单击此处编辑母版文本样式第二级第三级第四级第五级Threequestions1.Doyouoftenstressed?2.Howdoyoudealwiththestress?3.Canyoubalanceyourstudyandleisures?Open-mindedLead-inTextA

ThePriceofa24-7World02QuestionsonTextA(1)Whenandunderwhatcircumstancesdidtheidea“work-lifebalance”comeintobeing?(para.1)(2)Whatarethepositiveinfluencestechnologyhasbroughttowork?(para.2)(3)Whatwouldbethenegativeinfluencestechnologyhasbroughttowork?(para.3)(4)Whatwouldbesomeeffectivemeasuresthathumanresourcesmanagerscouldtaketohelpenhancework-lifebalanceforitsemployees?(paras.7-8)(5)Asanemployee,whatwouldbeyouractionplantopursueabalancedlife?(para.9)QuestionsonTextA(1)Whenandunderwhatcircumstancesdidtheidea“work-lifebalance”comeintobeing?--Theideaof“workandlifebalance”cameintobeingduringtheIndustrialErainthemid-19thCenturyinEurope,whenpeoplebagantohavetheawarenessofseparatingone’spleasurefromone’swork.

QuestionsonTextA(2)Whatarethepositiveinfluencestechnologyhasbroughttowork?--Technologyhasimprovedpeople’slivesinmanydifferentways.Peoplecanlivelonger,healthierlivesbecauseoftechnologicaladvancements.One’sstudyefficiency,workingstyle,andinterpersonalcommunicationhavebecomedramaticallymoreeffective.Thewholeworldisbecomingsmallerduetothepopularityoftechnology.QuestionsonTextA(3)Whatwouldbethenegativeinfluencestechnologyhasbroughttowork?

--Whilesuchaccessdoesallowthemtospendmoretimeathome,ithasblurredthelinesbetweenworkandlife.Peopleneedtoreacttheworkrequirementsanytime,anywhere.(4)Whatwouldbesomeeffectivemeasuresthathumanresourcesmanagerscouldtaketohelpenhancework-lifebalanceforitsemployees?OneexampleofwhatHRcandointhisregardisoverridetheculturetoencourageemployeestotaketimeforthemselves.HRcansuggesttoemployeesthattheyturnofftheirworkphonesintheeveningsandleavetheirworkcomputersintheofficeunlessabsolutelynecessary.Anotherusefultoolformanagementisflextime.

QuestionsonTextA(5)Asanemployee,whatwouldbeyouractionplantopursueabalancedlife?It’simportanttotrytosetboundariesaroundtechnology.Trysomesmallexperiments—leaveyourphonebehindwhenyougotolunchortakeawalk,oravoidlookingatitfirstthinginthemorning.Theimportanceofbalancingworkandlife,andsuggestionstoHRandindividuals.Thepostiveandnegativeimpactoftechnologyonmodernworklife.Theoriginsofwork-lifebalance.

PartOne(Para.1)PartTwo

(Paras.2-4)

PartThree(Paras.5-9)

StructureofTextAU1:TextAThePriceofa24-7World1

Theideaof“work-lifebalance”isaninventionofthemid-19thcentury.Thenotionofcultivating

awarenessofone’sworkversusone’spleasureemergedwhentheword“leisure”caughtoninEuropeintheIndustrialEra.Workbecameseparatefrom“life”(atleastforacertainclassofmen)andwe’vebeenstrugglingtojugglethemeversince.Q1:

Whenandunderwhatcircumstancesdidtheidea“work-lifebalance”comeintobeing?

2Technologyhasimprovedpeople’slivesinmanydifferentways....Astudentcanaccessvastresourcesofinformationtocompleteassignments...

Theadvancementsinthewaypeopleaccessinformation,communicatewithoneanother,andcompletetaskshaveallowedforflexibilityintheworkplace.Globalmarketshaveopenedupandcommunicationhasallowedinstantaccesstolocalexpertise,enabling

incomestreamsandrelationshipbuildinganywhereintheworld.(全球市场开放，通信使得能够即时获取当地的专业知识，从而在世界各地都能创造收入来源并建立关系。)3A2016surveyfromDeloittefoundthat...

Whilesuchaccessdoesallowthemtospendmoretimeathome,ithasblurredthelinesbetweenworkandlife.Ifthebosssendsatextatelevenatnight,doestheemployeehavetoanswerit?Whenshouldapersonshutdownthelaptopandspendtimewithfriendsandfamilyorpursuetheirowninterests？(discusssion)

4

While

telecommuting

eliminatestheneedtodrivetotheoffice,theabilitytoworkfromhomecanmakeworkconsumeaperson’slife.Whatwasonceaforty-hour-a-weekjobcaneasilybecomeasixty-hour-a-weekjob.Thepersoninthisscenariowillbebothstressedandlesseffectiveprofessionally.

5Whataresymptoms

ofstressandburnoutfor

overworkedemployees?TheImportanceofWork-LifeBalance6WhatareHumanresource(HR)responsiblefor?Whilehiring,training,employmentcontractsandregulatoryconsiderationsarewellwithintheHRframework,sotooisensuringthatemployeesarebothhealthyandsatisfiedatwork.TheRoleofManagementinPromotingWork-LifeBalanceThisrequirestakingstandsonbehalfoftheemployees,andputtingorganizationalandmanagerialexpectationsandpoliciesinplacetoensurethatemployeesaretreatedproperly.7

OneexampleofwhatHRand/oruppermanagementcandointhisregardisoverridetheculturetoencourageemployeestotaketimeforthemselves.workcommunicationpastacertaintimeofnight(orontheweekends)isnotacceptable；turnofftheirworkphonesintheeveningsandleavetheirworkcomputersintheoffice.8

Anotherusefultoolformanagementisflextime...HRprofessionalsshouldbeobservant

andcreative,identifyingwhenemployeesarepushingthemselvestoohardandofferingsolutions.Whatisflexitimesuitablefor?（一）标准8小时工时示例（核心+弹性结合制）1.弹性带宽：每日7:00–19:00（员工可在此区间内自主选择上下班时间）；2.核心工作时间：10:00–16:00（需全员在岗/在线，用于团队会议、跨部门协作、业务对接等关键工作）；3.弹性时段分配：上班弹性时段7:00–10:00、下班弹性时段16:00–19:00，员工需通过弹性时段补满每日8小时总工时；4.考勤与协作要求：核心时段需签到/保持在线，及时响应工作消息、参与会议；弹性时段需保持通讯畅通，完成个人工作任务，考勤系统自动统计总工时。

9

Wecarryourphonesaroundeverywhereasiftheyareepi-pens[4]andweallhavefatalallergies.Surveysandpollsshowit’saglobalphenomenon:smartphonesusageisontherise,andnotimeissacrosanct.Infact,1in10ofusevenadmitstousingourphonesinthebathroom.Butbeingalwaysconnectedhascosts:Onesurveyfoundthat82%ofussaythatsmartphoneshavehurtourabilitytoconverse

withothers,and89%saytheirdeviceshaveresultedinchronicphysicalpain.YourActionPlanToday,whensomuchworkandleisuretimeinvolvestaringatscreens,it’simportanttotrytosetboundariesaroundtechnology.Trysomesmallexperiments—leaveyourphonebehindwhenyougotolunchortakeawalk,oravoidlookingatitfirstthinginthemorning.Whatotheractionswouldyoutry?cultivate/'kʌltIveIt/v.toworkhardtodevelopaparticularskill,attitude,orquality培养（态度、技巧等）;树立（形象、观念等）eg.公司成功地树立了一种非常专业的形象。—Thecompanyhasbeensuccessfulincultivatingaveryprofessionalimage.symptom/'sImptəm/n.somethingwrongwithyourbodyormindwhichshowsthatyouhaveaparticularillness症状eg.一般来说，高血压没有什么症状，所以很多人很多年都不会察觉。—Usually,highbloodpressurehasnosymptoms,somanypeoplehaveitforyearswithoutknowing.observant/əb‘zɜ:vənt/adj.goodorquickatnoticingthings观察力敏锐的，机警的（TEM-8）eg.警察被训练成具备善于观察和记住细节的能力。—Policearetrainedtobeobservantandtorememberdetails.allergy/'ælədʒi/n.Ifyouhaveaparticularallergy,youbecomeillorgetarashwhenyoueat,smell,ortouchsomethingthatdoesnotnormallymakepeopleill.过敏eg.食物过敏会导致多种不同的症状。—Foodallergiescanresultinanenormousvarietyofdifferentsymptoms.Exercises03第八单元(1)

Thenotionofcultivatingawarenessofone’sworkversusone’spleasureemergedwhentheword“leisure”caughtoninEuropeintheIndustrialEra.catchon:

tobegintounderstandorrealizesomethingDuringtheIndustrialRevolutiontimeinEurope,thewideusageofnewinventionshasallowedhumankindtohavemorefreetime.Itwaatthattimethatpeoplebagantorealizethatone’sworkdoesn’tequaltoone’spleasure.2.Paraphrase:Replacetheexpressionsofthebold.(2)Globalmarketshaveopenedupandcommunicationhasallowedinstantaccesstolocalexpertise,enablingincomestreamsandrelationshipbuildinganywhereintheworld.openup:

Ifamarket,shop,office,etc.opensupataparticulartime,itstartsbusinessatthattime.Duetomoderntechnology,itbecomespossibletoexploreoverseasmarket,andanylocalexpertscouldbeeasilyconnectedimmediately,people’sincomelevelandrelationshipnetworkhavebeenimprovedconsequently.2.Paraphrase:Replacetheexpressionsofthebold.(3)Whilesuchaccessdoesallowthemtospendmoretimeathome,ithasblurredthelines

betweenworkandlife.blurthelines:

makethedifferencebetweentwoideas,subjects,etc.lessclearWhentechnologymakesitpossibletospendmoretimeathome,workhastakenupmoreprivatetime,andtheboundarybetweenworkandlifehasbecomelessclear.2.Paraphrase:Replacetheexpressionsofthebold.(4)Peoplewhoareconstantlytiedtotheirjobsdealwiththesymptomsofstressandburnout.dealwith:tosucceedincontrollingyourfeelingsaboutanemotionalproblemsothatitdoesnotaffectyourlifeForthosewhoarecloselybondedtotheirwork,theyaresufferingfromheavystressandburnout.2.Paraphrase:Replacetheexpressionsofthebold.(5)

Wecarryourphonesaroundeverywhereasiftheyareepi-pensandweallhavefatal

allergies.(metaphor)…theyareepi-pensandwehavefatalallergies:…theyaretheepi-pensreadytosaveourlivesinemergency.Wecarryourphonesanywherewego,asifthayaretheepi-pensreadytosaveourlivesinemergency.2.Paraphrase:Replacetheexpressionsofthebold.3.

Comparethefollowingtwogroupsofsynonyms(atod;etog),whicharecommonlyusedinBusinessEnglishcontext,andfillintheblanksinthesentences.a.liveb.alivec.livelyd.livinge.evaluationf.estimateg.assessment(1)Aftertheaccident,hewasbarely

.(2)Wewatchedthe

broadcastoftheoperaonTV.

b

aa.liveb.alivec.livelyd.livinge.evaluationf.estimateg.assessment(3)Whoistheworld’sgreatest

artist？(4)Sheisa

younggirl,alwayslaughinganddoingthings.(5)Wehavealow

onourproperty.(6)Themechanicgavemearough

oftwoorthreehundreddollarsfortherepairstomycar.(7)Hegaveapositive

ofourscientificresearch.

d

c

g

f

e4.Cloze:Decidewhichofthechoicesgivenbelowwouldbestcompletethepassageifinsertedinthecorrespondingblanks.[A]devices

[B]released[C]reported[D]nothing[E]owning[F]distance[G]substantial[H]have[I]chronic

[J]shift[K]remotely

[L]obsessed[M]transfer[N]essentially

[O]emergingAccordingtorecentdatafromNielsen,87%ofSingapore’s5.4millionpopulationreports(1)

asmartphone,whileasmallerbutstill(2)

68%ofAmericansownsmartphones.Ahefty89%ofAmericanworkers

E

G[A]devices[B]released[C]reported[D]nothing[E]owning[F]distance[G]substantial[H]have[I]chronic[J]shift[K]remotely[L]obsessed[M]transfer[N]essentially[O]emerginghavereportedfeeling(3)

bodypainasaresultoftheposturethey’vedevelopedusingthese(4)

,and82%ofthissamegroupalsosaythatthepresenceofphones“deteriorated”theirmostrecentconversations.PewGlobalrecently(5)

areportaboutthecorrelationbetweensmartphoneuseandeconomicgrowth,(6)

thattheratesoftechnology-usearenotonlyclimbingsteadilyinadvanced

economies,but

I

ABD[A]devices[B]released[C]reported[D]nothing[E]owning[F]distance[G]substantial[H]have[I]chronic[J]shift[K]remotely[L]obsessed[M]transfer[N]essentially[O]emergingalsoincountrieswith(7)

economies.Asadditionalreferencepoints,39%oftheJapanesepopulationreportsowningasmartphone,while59%ofTurkeyreportsrelyingonmobileInternetuse.Thesenumbersdecreaseindevelopingcountries,giventherelationshipthatexistsbetweenaperson’s

educationalbackground,socioeconomicstatus,andtheiraccesstotechnology.

O[A]devices[B]released[C]reported[D]nothing[E]owning[F]distance[G]substantial[H]have[I]chronic[J]shift[K]remotely[L]obsessed[M]transfer[N]essentially[O]emergingButwhetherweareamongthosewhouseourdevicestowork(8)

,orwearejust(9)

withthembecauseofthecultureweliveinregardlessofhowmuchtimewearespendingon“work,”it’stimeto(10)

ourattentiontowhattech-bodybalancecouldlooklike.

KLJ(1)Technologyalsoallowssomeemployeestoworkfromhomeofficesfulltime,andtheyneverhavetovisittheirplaceofbusiness.科技的发达使得员工可以全职在家办公，无须拜访所在的办公室。

5.E-CTranslation:TranslatethefollowingsentencesintoChinese.(2)HRcansuggesttoemployeesthattheyturnofftheirworkphonesintheeveningsandleavetheirworkcomputersintheofficeunlessabsolutelynecessary.人力资源部门可以建议员工晚上关掉手机，或者非必要时，工作电脑放在办公室即可。5.E-CTranslation:TranslatethefollowingsentencesintoChinese.(3)Today,whensomuchworkandleisuretimeinvolvestaringatscreens,it’simportanttotrytosetboundariesaroundtechnology.如今大量的工作和休闲活动都是在电子屏幕前完成的，是时候要在科技面前立界限了。5.E-CTranslation:TranslatethefollowingsentencesintoChinese.(4)Humanresourcescanalterorganizationalculture,offerflextime,andadviseoverworked

employeestoavoidthepitfallsofimbalancedwork-lifedynamics.人力资源部门能够改变公司文化，提供弹性工作方式，并帮助劳累过度的员工从工作——生活失衡的陷阱中解脱出来。

5.E-CTranslation:TranslatethefollowingsentencesintoChinese.(5)Ifpeopledon’thavetimetorelaxandrecharge,theirabilitytodotheirjobdecreasesandtheirperformancelevelsuffers.如果人们没有时间休闲放松，那么他们工作的能力和整体表现水平都会有所下降。5.E-CTranslation:TranslatethefollowingsentencesintoChinese.6.

C-ETranslation:TranslatethefollowingsentencesintoEnglishbasedonthecuewordsinbrackets.(1)最近的调查反映民意有了出人意外的变化。（poll）(2)有了智能手机就用不着携带很多现金。（eliminate）Arecentpollsuggestssomesurprisingchangesinpublicopinion.Smartphoneseliminatetheneedtocarryalotofcash.6.

C-ETranslation:TranslatethefollowingsentencesintoEnglishbasedonthecuewordsinbrackets.(3)他领悟能力很强。（catchon）(4)计算机系统周末关闭。（shutdown）Heisveryquicktocatchontothings.Thecomputersystemwillbeshutdownovertheweekend.6.

C-ETranslation:TranslatethefollowingsentencesintoEnglishbasedonthecuewordsinbrackets.(5)椅子都已经到位。（inplace）Thechairsareallinplace.Role-play

Dividetheclassintosmallgroups,withnomorethanfivestudentsineachgroup.Studentsareencouragedtointerview3–5peoplewhoworkfulltimeindifferentindustries,marriedwith/withoutchildren.Youcouldinterviewonepersoneachtime,orconductagrouptalk,iftheintervieweesknoweachotherwell.Talkwiththemabouttheirachievements,andalsostruggles.Findouthowdotheyovercomethediffculties,andmakeeffortstoachievebalancebetweenworkandfamily.Theinterviewguidelinescouldbeasfollows:InteractwithProfessionalsInteractwithProfessionals

1.Openingoftheconversation:introduceyourselves,statetheaimofthisinterview,andwritedownbasicinformationoftheinterviewee.Informationshouldinclude,andnotlimitedto,thefollowing:name,gender,age,occupation,maritalstatus,andchild/children(boyorgirl,age).

2.Askhim/herjobposition.

3.Askhim/herthebiggestachievementintheworkplace.

4.Askhim/herthehappymomentsinfamilylife.Role-playInteractwithProfessionals

5.Politelytalkaboutthestrugglesfacedbetweenworkandlife.

6.Sincerelyaskthemtosharetheirattitudesoflife,andwisdomtobalanceworkandfamily.

7.Anyotherquestionsyou’reinterested.

Aftercomingback,sortoutyournotes,andmakeagrouppresentationtothewholeclass,aboutthepeopleyouinterviewed,andinspirationsyou’vegotfromthem.Role-playIinterviewedSabrina.(1)Sheisamarriedmotherofa12-year-oldboy.Aged36,ShelivesinHangzhou,workingasabusinesswomaninthecross-bordere-commercefield,whichisher3rdjobaftergraduation.(2)ShewasafreshmaninthisTextileImport&ExportCompanythreeyearsago,andnowsheisthecorporatemarketingmanager.(3)Herbiggestachievementisthepresentjobtitleandadequatefinancialrewardfromherpresentjob.ReferenceKeytoRole-play(4)Sheishappytostaywithherfamilymembersonweekends,duringwhichperiodtheymaygospringouting,gocampinginamountain,gotravellingtosomescenicspots,andsoon.(5)However,shereallyfindsitabigchallengetobalanceworkandfamily.Forexample,whenshehastoworkovertime,hersongetsillandhastobehospitalized,orwhenshehastoentertainanimportantcustomer,herhusbandholdsapartytocelebratetheson’sbirthday,andsoon.ReferenceKeytoRole-play(6)Fromherperspective,itisdifficultforwomantostrikeabalancebetweenworkandfamily.Shechoseajobwithrelativelylesspressurebeforehersonreachedtheageofthreesothatshecouldfrequentlyaccompanyherson.Afterhersonenteredthekindergarten,sheinvitedhermothertodoherafavorbylookingafterthesoninthedaytimesothatshefoundademandingjobwithalittleheavierworkload.However,sheinsistedonaccompanyingthesonaftershewentbackhomenomatterhowlateitwas.ReferenceKeytoRole-play(7)Sheisreallygratefultohermotherforhelpinghertakecareofthechild.Withouthersupport,shecanhardlycommitherselftothepresentjob,whichleadstoherpromotionandextravagantbonuses.Sheisconvincedthatsolongasthosemothersdon’tgiveupthemselvesandkeepmovingaheadaftergivingbirthtobabies,nomatterhowsmallthestepsmayseem,consistenteffortwillleadtoprogress.ReferenceKeytoRole-playTextBStrikingaBalanceBetweenYourPassionandYourPaycheck04第八单元QuestionsonTextB1.Whataretheharbingersofapossiblereversiontoemployer-dominatedoldways?

2.Canitbehazardoustofollowyourpassion?Why?

3.

Whatisthepassionprinciple?QuestionsonTextB4.

Whataretheguidelinesforcreatingtherightbalanceofpassionandprofitinshapingacareer?

5.Accordingtotheauthor,whatdoyoureflectonbyusingthispandemictime?QuestionsonTextB1.Whataretheharbingersofapossiblereversiontoemployer-dominatedoldways?Theyareasfollows:a)companiesaredemandingthat

allworkersreturntotheoffice;andb)businessownersaregrumblingthattheempowermentofworkershas

gonetoofar.QuestionsonTextB2.Canitbehazardoustofollowyourpassion?Why?Yes,

itcanbe.Becauseitcanincursignificantfinancialrisksanditmayrequiresacrificesoftimeandeconomicstability.3.Whatisthepassionprinciple?Iwanttofollowmypassion.

IwantworkthatIlove.Iwantworkthatismeaningful.Iwantworkthatis

me.

ThisidealiswhatIcallthe“passionprinciple.”QuestionsonTextB4.Whataretheguidelinesforcreatingtherightbalanceofpassionandprofitinshapingacareer?Theguidelinesforcreatingtherightbalanceofpassionandprofitinshapingacareerareasfollows:cultivatethejoy;shrinkthefootprint;diversifyyourmeaning-makingportfolio;andmaketheask,andhelpeachother.5.Accordingtotheauthor,

whatdoyoureflectonbyusingthispandemictime?

Usethispandemictransitiontimetoreflectonwhatyouwantyourrelationshiptopaidemploymenttobe.U1:TextBStrikingaBalanceBetweenYourPassionandYourPaycheck1Weareatauniquemomentinthehistoryofthepost-industriallaborforce.Workershave

morecontrol

overtheirworkingconditions—thepay,place,andpaceoftheirjobs—thantheyhavesincetheheydayofworkercollectiveactionandunionizationoverhalfacenturyago.Asaresultofthefinancialandexistentialuncertaintywroughtbythepandemic,manyworkers,especiallyprofessionals,are

reconsidering

whattheywantfromtheirjobsanddaringtoaskforsomethingmore.U1:TextBStrikingaBalanceBetweenYourPassionandYourPaycheck2Andthetimetoactisnow.Thereisnotellinghowlongthismomentwilllastandharbingersofapossiblereversiontoemployer-dominatedoldwaysareoutthere:Companiesaredemandingthat

allworkersreturntotheoffice;businessownersaregrumblingthattheempowermentofworkershasgonetoofar.3

Thisbringsanunprecedentedopportunitytoreflectonwhatwewantfromourjobs.Whatdowewantourrelationshiptoourpaidworktobe

?ThePassionPrincipleanditsRisks4Overthepastthreeyears,ananswertothisquestionthathasresonatedformanyis:Iwanttofollowmypassion.

IwantworkthatIlove.Iwantworkthatismeaningful.Iwantworkthatis

me.

ThisidealiswhatIcallthe“passionprinciple.”AsIdescribeinmybook,thepassionprincipleistheprioritizationofpersonallyfulfillingworkevenattheexpenseofjobsecurityoradecentsalary.Ifindthatmorethan70%ofcollege-educatedworkershighlypraisepassion-relatedconsiderationsintheirnotionsofgoodcareerdecision-making,andalmosttwothirdsrankits

importance

aboveconsiderationslikegoodsalariesandjobsecurity.ThePassionPrincipleanditsRisks5ThepassionprinciplehaslongbeenadrivingaspirationinAmericans’careerdecision-making,andmorerecentlyhasbeenasirensong[1]

temptingmanyU.S.workerstoparticipateinthegreatresignation.Indeed,Ifoundthatpeoplewhoexperiencedpandemic-relatedjobinstability

were

actuallymoreinvested

inpassion-seekingthanpeoplewhosejobsremainedstable.Theincreasedfreedomofajob-seekers’market,pairedwithamoreexistential,“lifeisshort”

mindsetspurredbypandemic-relatedupheavals,hasmadefollowingyourpassionseemmorelogicalandmorewithinreachformanyworkersthaneverbefore.ThePassionPrincipleanditsRisks6Butfollowingyourpassioncanbehazardous,incurringsignificant

financialrisks.Findingajobalignedwithyourpassionrightoutofschoolmayrequiresacrificesoftimeandeconomicstability.Searchingforjobsthatdon’tjustfityourcredentials

andskillsbutfeedyoursoulmaytakemonthsorevenyears.Leavingajobmid-careertostartfreshinanotherlineofworkmaymeanwalkingawayfromthenetworks,habits,andinformalknow-howthathavebeenthebackboneofyourprevioussuccess.ThePassionPrincipleanditsRisks7

Moreover,theabilitytonavigatetheserisks

isnotequallydistributed.Passion-seekersfromwealthyandupper-middle-classfamiliesaremorelikelytohavethesocialspringboards(forexample,familyandfriendnetworks)andeconomicsafetynets(suchasabitofinheritanceorparentswhocanfootthebillsduringanunpaidinternship)thathelpthemlandworkthatisbothintheirpassionanddecentlypaid.Passion-seekersfromworking-classbackgroundsarelesslikelytohaveaccesstotheseresourcesandmorelikelytoendupinprecariousjobsfaroutsideoftheirpassion.ThePassionPrincipleanditsRisks8

Theotherriskofpassion-seekingismoreexistential.Investingsomuchofoursenseofidentityinourpaidemploymentmaybetheworkforceequivalentoffallinginlovewitharobot.Ourworkmaybedeeplymeaningfultous—acorepartofwhoweareandwhowewanttobe.Wemaypourouremotionalaswellasphysicalandmentallaborintoourjobsandworkfarbeyondwhatisformallyaskedofusbyouremployers.Butattheendoftheday,ourrelationshiptoouremployerisultimatelyaneconomicone—ifourorganizationdeemsourpositionreplaceableorunprofitable,noamountofpassionwillsaveus.ThePassionPrincipleanditsRisks9

Weshouldbemindfulofthefactthatbyprioritizingpassioninourcareerdecision-making,wemakeacorepartofoursenseofidentityvulnerabletothewhimsofprofitmaximization,structuralreorganization,andfuturepublichealthshutdowns.BalancingPassionandProfit10

Iamcertainlynotadvocatingthatwetoleratebeingmiserableatourjobsinmyopicpursuitofmaximizinglifetimeearningspotential.Enjoyingthetimespentatworkisanimportantpartofoveralllifesatisfaction.Yetthereisalotofdaylightbetweenpassion-seekingatallcostsandalifetimeofin-it-for-the-moneydrudgery.Herearesomeguidelinesforcreatingtherightbalanceofpassionandprofitinshapingacareer:BalancingPassionandProfit11

Cultivatethejoy.Lovingeverythingaboutyourjobisrare—perhapsevenakindoffantasy.Buttherearemanywaystohaveasatisfyingjobthatdon’tinvolvebeingpassionateaboutitscontent.Findingworkwithcolleaguesyoucherish,workingforanorganizationwhosemissionyouvalue,orfindingabalanceofworktasksthatprovidestherightcombinationofindependentandcollaborativeactivitiesareothers.BalancingPassionandProfit12

Shrinkthefootprint.Itmightnotbeanobviousoreasyoption,buttrytothinkintermsofshrinkingthespacethatfull-timeworktakesupinyourlifetoopenupmoretimeandenergytodothingsyouenjoy.Post-pandemicshiftstoremoteandflexibleworkhavemadethismoreachievable.Ajobthatisunfulfillingbutfitsneatlyintopredictablehoursorpart-timeworkthatprovidesenoughfundsforpersonalandfamilyneedscanoffermuchmorefreedomtopursuemeaningfulactivities.BalancingPassionandProfit13

Diversifyyourmeaning-makingportfolio.Makeroomtoinvestinhobbiesandactivitieswhollyoutsideofworkthatfeelmeaningfulandself-expressive,whetherthat’ssports,volunteering,music,orpubtrivianights.Elbowingregularspaceinourschedulesfornon-workpassionscanbechallenging,butinthismomentweneedtobeevenmoremilitantaboutit.Findthetimeandprotectit.Inthiswaywecanpushbackontheidealworkernorm,andthedefaultdemandthatwemustbesingularlydevotedtoourjobs.BalancingPassionandProfit14

Makethe