— Paramahansa Yogananda

Work is the use of energy, skills or personal resources to bring about desired results in an undertaking, enterprise, endeavor, or job. Despite what our culture tends to preach all work can be meaningful, if you approach it with the right attitude (with love and respect for others). Some people may feel that they have wasted time in unrewarding work-related tasks. It does not have to be that way, if you can find the meaning that position may hold for you. Often, when we have a job we don't particularly like, we become depressed. Many people think it is "beneath" them to perform the menial tasks in life. But all work is valuable, and in order to find meaning in your work, you must first find the lesson. Perhaps you were meant to have that experience, so that you could learn something else — a skill or personal quality that will be helpful to you in the future.

Buddha said, "Right livelihood is work done consciously with pure intent and service." The work that is performed is a direct reflection of society's standards and values, which gets filtered down to the individual — we do the work that is available, which is the work that is viewed as important. For instance, we used to think that manufacturing products was a priority. Now we think servicing customers is a priority. As society's mores and values become more complex and differentiated, people are deciding for themselves what work needs to be done and then creating their own opportunities. I think it is safe to say that work in the 21st century is in the process of reinvention. For example, for a long time "society" did not think conserving and preserving our natural resources was important, but now tens of thousands of people have created their life's work based on environmental issues.

In the Industrial Age, the richest person in the world owned natural resources. In the Information Age, the richest person in the world owns information/knowledge. And the business of retrieving, storing, and disseminating information is what our high-tech, cyber world is all about. From the farms to the factories, work meant long hours and hard labor in exchange for the feeling of a job well done and a paycheck. Today, people are getting very rich who have put in very little (if any) blood, sweat, or tears into their daily work. Thanks (or no thanks) to the Internet, companies are going public at the blink of an eye and twenty-one-year olds are becoming instant millionaires. Obviously, this new worker has put to rest the old idea of "working hard pays off."

Now more than ever, what is work? is an interesting question because all of our ideas about what is important and how to "make it" in the world of work are changing. Our ideas about how one should earn a living are changing. In the "good ole days," it took a long time to earn a fortune. Nowadays, we live in a get rich quick world, where people spend millions upon millions of dollars on lottery tickets and hope to get on game shows that feature everyday, ordinary people becoming instant millionaires.

Defining what your concept of work is will enable you to create your life's work. Stop and think about the who, what, where, when and why do you want to work? And try to consider what would be a healthy fit for you? Be sure to consider your life vision and life purpose statements when you answer these questions.

• Who do you want to work with?

• What kind of work do you want to do?

• Where do you want to work?

• When do you want to work?

• Why do you want to work?

For the challenge? Money/benefits? Opportunity to share your gifts?

Of course keep in mind your overall lifestyle. How much money do you need to earn in order to live the kind of life you want? The smart thing to do is to live within your means and create a career that allows you to have the time to enjoy other things in life.

What kind of worker are you? Someone who has a balance between working and living? Or are you a workaholic? As spiritual beings, we are meant to seek happiness. Fulfillment comes from many sources, work is simply one of them. Is it important not to let society's standards of the 50-60 hour work week dictate how you work.

As a society, we need to learn to relax. All work and no play is making us dull. Due to overwork and more time constraints, we are not fully living or working at our peak potential. How is it that Americans barely get two weeks of vacation a year and Europeans enjoy a month of "holiday" every year? In fact, we have been taught to be rugged individualists, fiercely independent people who have to fight for everything we get. We want to direct our destiny and be the master of our domain, which can be helpful in most cases. But when we go against nature, we go against ourselves. When it comes to modern career development, I advocate "becoming," which is a lifelong process of following your intuition and keeping your skills updated as the best way to stay employed. But most career development programs and counselors focus on what "job" or "title" you want to hold. Just look at the pressure we put on children to be productive, and to make major decisions and choices. It is somewhat frightening that as early as nine or ten, we are asking what little Johnny wants to be when he grows up. Some of the most interesting people I have met who are in their 50's and 60's still haven't figured that one out!

College is another place where career plans and expectations are forced on young people. Having worked with college students for several years, I cannot tell you how many of them choose majors and careers because of parental pressure, rather than basing it on what felt right to them. What is going on here? Does it really matter if you don't know exactly what you want to do in the world of work while you are still in school? College is a time for exploration and discovery, not limiting, premature career/life decisions. The fact is most people will not be staying in the same job they had when they first got out of college. But if they haven't learned how to become, then they will continue to believe they have to choose one thing.

Sad to say, grownups don't get much of a break either. Adult students who return to school to finish a degree, seldom return because they want to know more about the world or themselves, or to learn for the sake of learning, but rather to get "a better job." The mindset here is that a better job leads to a better life, which may or may not be true. Believe it or not, it is o.k. not to have everything figured out about life! The best we can do is to stay centered in who we are and what we have to offer, and feel positive about the uncertainty of life. We put too much pressure on ourselves to know exactly what we want and how to get it — to have all the answers. What we should be cultivating in our children is a different focus. Instead of concentrating on what they want to be, or what we want them to be, let's focus on helping them realize who they want to become.

The question really comes down to not the "how" of work, but the "why?" There are two main applications.

When Humans are @Work, we work:

Because the world is changing and we are experiencing shifts in demographics and economics, and becoming a more global society with an emphasis on technology — we have to consciously decide what kind of world we want to leave to our grandchildren.

When our Spirit is @Work, we work:

Where there is a large majority of underemployed people, it negatively impacts on society as a whole. Human beings need to feel they are giving and sharing with others in a meaningful way, which means all people have an inherent need to do some kind of work.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "The one thing in the world of value, is the active soul. " In other words, a person who is actively living, working, and loving in this world is making a real contribution. How can we contribute to a better workplace? How can we bring more of our Spirit to our work? By sharing more of our real selves with others, by being aware of what our purpose is, and by doing our work in a loving way. If part of our mission is to evolve to a higher level of awareness — of being — by learning important lessons, then we need to become more aware of the power of choice. Sometimes we may choose to learn our lessons the easy way, sometimes the hard way. In work, we have inevitably learned our lessons both ways. When we consciously create our life's work, our soul has the opportunity to learn more meaningful ways to express itself.

As enlightened beings, we will not confuse our job or titles with who we really are. We will know that our Spirit is meant to learn and experience many things, and that everything in life is temporary (even a bad job or situation). We will realize that Oliver Wendell Holmes was right when he said, "Every calling is great, when greatly pursued. "

Buddha taught that the only reality is impermanence and change. And that it is best not to resist. (No wonder the Buddha looks so relaxed!) The way we choose to approach our life's work impacts on how fulfilled we feel, and our overall effect on others. The more we can bring our Spirit into our work, the more soulful the experience for all. When we care about the work we do, no matter how menial the task, we pay attention to the details and take pride in our craftsmanship.

When you are doing your life's work, it will feel almost like play because it will be so enjoyable and rewarding. It's as if your work is your hobby and your hobby is your work. When you are sharing your gifts and talents, time flies! Unlike when you have a job, the time drags, and you have to know exactly the "right" way to do something. Working on projects for your life's work keeps you wondering how and what to do next. In fact, you are not exactly sure where you are going with it, rather it evolves as you get further into it.

Your life's work, like your entire life, does not have a specific direction or map. It just shows up and you have to follow it. I know that when I am called to write, I simply must do it. I don't really know where I'm headed with it, but I'm not concerned. The next step in my process comes from my intuitive self, and I follow my inner guide. The "message" flows naturally and effortlessly as a result. When you are working on purpose, instead of going through the motions, the motions go through you. You flow with your work and your work flows through you. In fact, the work will show you how to do it. This quote from an unknown author sums up how you will surely feel when you are doing your life's work:

Since the modern world of work is rapidly changing to keep up with the demands of our fast-paced lives and lifestyles, here are some characteristics of what the new work contract will look like:

• Seeking more meaning from work.
• Equating "career success" with personal satisfaction over paycheck or status.
• More self-employment, short-term and contractual work.
• Everyone will need their own "name-brand."
• Striving for life balance
• Increased use of technology.
• Finding work that needs doing.
• Changing in the way management and leadership is conducted (less arrogance at the top level, more power on lower levels).
• Increased need for networking and self-marketing.
• Lifelong "trying on" of various roles, jobs, and industries.
• Creating a plan that is flexible, and continually assessing the "fit" of the work.
• Increased representation of women and minorities in the workforce.
• Changing career fields numerous times in a lifetime.
• Self-responsibility: Everyone knowing they have to chart their own career direction.
• Dedication to quality customer service in all career fields.
• Emphasis on lifelong learning.

1. Communication

The ability to effectively communicate your thoughts and ideas in person, on paper, and over the telephone. To listen to others and be open to other viewpoints and opinions.

2. Creativity

The ability to think and act "out of the box." To discover new and innovative ways of thinking and doing things.

3. Technology

The ability to understand and utilize computer systems, the latest software, etc. To use the computer in your daily life and on the job.

4. Team Work

The ability to work effectively in a team situation. To be able to utilize the right people to get the best results. To be willing to lead and to follow.

5. Flexibility

The ability to "go with the flow." To change on an as-needed basis. To become multi-task oriented, to be able to change hats frequently.

6. Information Management

The ability to know where to get needed information. To be able to search, locate, and retrieve information. To utilize various resources, whether they be people, printed materials, or the vast world of technology.

7. Self Management

The ability to manage oneself in personal and professional situations. To be able to respond appropriately to stressful situations.

8. Customer Care

The ability to care about the needs and concerns of other people, especially those you serve. To "go the extra mile" for your customers or clients.

9. Character

The ability to project a positive image by acting in a manner that reflects trust, confidence, honesty, and integrity.

10. Personal Development

The ability to continuously improve upon one's skill set. To be dedicated to lifelong learning.

Are you ready for the modern world of work? What skills do you possess that make you marketable? What skills can you develop?