Satisfaction
I have seen more than a few short videos on social media in the last couple of months that portray different ways in which individuals can make money while investing only a couple of hours a day or less. These endeavors take various forms. In some instances, the focus is on earning passive income through means such as using artificial intelligence and design software to write electronic books. In others, individuals are buying products on sale from their local big box store and selling them at the full retail price through their shops on Amazon. In yet another, a couple is making a living by packaging goods for a business and shipping the products to customers.
I have not explored any of these ideas in any detail, nor do I begrudge those whose desire for additional income leads them to embark on such ventures. I suspect that some of the videos are merely come-ons for internet age get-rich-quick schemes. Setting that skepticism aside, I am left with wondering where those who undertake such initiatives get satisfaction through what they do. How do they find meaning and purpose? Or is it only about the money and they look for meaning and purpose elsewhere?
That I am asking such questions says quite a bit about my connection to work and my attitude toward money. Work is important to me. And money? Not so much. There is an important distinction between the ways in which I occupy my time and the income I derive from at least some of those activities. They tasks to which I devote my energies, both volunteer and compensated, must be those which will provide me a sense of satisfaction. In contrast, I can be content with whatever I earn from the tasks for which I am paid simply by adjusting my material needs.
There is an interesting evolution in the meaning of the word "satisfaction." In its original context, it related to completing the penance one must perform after confessing a sin. This sense is retained in a secular context when we refer to satisfying a debt. In its simplest conception, then, to be satisfied is to say, in whatever context, that it is enough.
This provides an important clue, then, as to the distinction between contentment and satisfaction. One can be content regardless of circumstances. It is a function of adjusting one's expectations. To be satisfied, however, is specific to the circumstances. It involves examining one's situation and concluding that one could want nothing more.
Life satisfaction is one of the components of well-being. For those like me for whom work is an essential element of living well, finding satisfaction through one's endeavors is key to overall life satisfaction.
There are some interesting statistics available online derived from surveys of job satisfaction. As one might expect, even among those who are satisfied generally with their employment, there is dissatisfaction with the pay they receive for their work. What this indicates is that there are other features of work that make up for perceived deficiencies in compensation.
Based on the reports I have read, it does not appear that those administering the surveys are asking the questions that would interest me. Does the work offer a challenge commensurate with your skills and knowledge? Do you feel that what you do is making a difference? Would you recommend this job to others who are just beginning their time in the workforce?
These are important questions, particularly for those of us concerned with the future of local government. It has become very difficult in recent years to fill vacancies in a wide range of classifications essential to the work for which cities, counties, and special districts were created.
I am particularly concerned about the shallow pool of candidates applying for executive level positions in these jurisdictions. These jobs are not easy, as I can attest. They are important, though, and they address the three questions that I posed above.
I heard a presentation recently in which the speaker described her use of "stay" interviews to identify factors that affect satisfaction among employees in the municipal organization she leads. She takes this input seriously and works to design responses that address areas of concern that are identified.
It would not have occurred to me that I should do such a thing in the cities I managed. Has something significant changed over the decades since I began my career in terms of employee expectations? I suspect there is not clear yes or no answer to this question. As one measure of change, more women have chosen to pursue professional careers in organizations of all types over that period of time. Their increased participation in the workforce has carried with it the quest for modifications to the work environment. The provision of parental leave is just one example. Similarly, members of younger generations are insisting on a better balance between work and other aspects of their lives. For some, the money they earn serves primarily to provide a life focused on finding joy in non-work pursuits.
I have a sense, though, that what has changed is my awareness that not everyone approaches job satisfaction in the way that I did and still do. There are two competing components of my approach to the tasks before me. On the one hand, I am excited by taking on a new and difficult challenge, one that tests my abilities and provides an opportunity to learn and grow. On the other hand, I am loyal to the people for whom and with whom I am working. It is important that I succeed and they succeed as well.
I am inclined to think that the number people seeking to create a fair balance between personal accomplishment and organizational loyalty has declined over time. This might be due to leaders' failure to conduct "stay" interviews as opposed to exit interviews. It might also be due to the demands of a population that seems increasingly entitled and less generous in their appreciation for those who serve them.
Perhaps I should not be surprised, then, that there are those whose response to the need for job satisfaction is to conclude that it is unimportant to them. If they can make $10,000 each month while working just one or two hours a day, they will do so and not think twice about it. This would not work for me. I would wander around the house trying to find something else I should be doing. I would write a weekly newsletter. I would start a podcast. I would take on additional volunteer duties.
For those who fall somewhere in between the extremes of those working the fewest hours for the greatest pay and those who need to be busy with something meaningful much of the day, there is another question: when it comes to work, is what I'm doing enough for me? That is the meaning of satisfaction in the context of work, that my pursuits are filling every need I have for meaning and purpose.
I apologize for the late delivery of this week’s edition of Field Notes & Reflections. I have no excuse other than being busy with other things.