 |
| Image: David, Petrol Attendant and Work Ethic Master, via mtcleroux |
I have come to the conclusion that fears of a zombie apocalypse may be perfectly justified. With a small modification. It is not the Walking Dead that are to be feared. It is the Working Dead.
Defining Work
A dear mentor of mine used to intone, mantra-like, that work is to the soul what food is to the body. And I agree. I love to work: work is my play and I approach it in that spirit. Work, here, is defined as meaningful, constructive activity. What is meaningful? The answer to that question is personal and profound. I am often struck by the intelligence and zeal that some "unskilled workers" bring to what they do. One example in my neighbourhood is the radiant petrol attendant David, pictured right, whose professionalism, dedication, integrity and genuine kindness would be an asset at any level of any organization. His work is meaningful because he makes it so.
But there is another kind of work: the "daily grind" that societal structure requires in exchange for the currency that is said to make the world go round. Work, in this case, does not necessarily have meaning. It does not necessarily involve scope for initiative, and performance (which tends to be mediocre at best) is driven by punishment rather than intrinsic reward. Maintaining acceptable levels of mediocrity is rewarded extrinsically with a pay cheque. Even in a world where MBAs are as common as weeds, this Working Dead model still persists. In fact, it has undergone a renaissance since the advent of call centres. And, if I may risk the pun, it simply doesn't work.
Defining Ethic
The most suitable definition of ethic in the context of work is that of a guiding philosophy. When it comes to work ethic, the fundamental question would be:
What is my guiding philosophy about work?
Then again, the entire implication of work ethic is that work is unpleasant. Why would anyone need to be ethical about something they simply loved doing?
Work Ethic that Works
I don't have a final answer on the problems of the unpleasant work that needs doing in this world, or the masses of people who claim they need jobs. There are, however, three sources that offer interesting perspectives on how work ethic can be fostered from within.
The Play Ethic is musician-author Pat Kane's "Manifesto for a Different Way of Living". Kane takes play seriously: seriously enough to have devoted this tome and a second career to its study. The book is no light read, but a delightful shift in perspective on play as meaningful and productive - remarkably similar to my earlier definition of work.
Philosopher Alan Watts investigated the nature of work with a rare and courageous perspicacity. His thought-provoking lecture What if Money Was No Object lays the deadening paradox of working for money bare, and has become vastly popular online. In it he even constructs a logical explanation why choosing an occupation that brings you joy has the potential to be more profitable than anything else - but of course, profit is not the object of the game. It is simply a side effect.
The Venus Project, a radical proposal for a functional society, offers yet another perspective. In the organic sci-fi cities proposed by founder Jacque Fresco there is would be very little "work" to do. Scientific knowledge and intelligent design would take care of most of the nitty-gritty, while many of the profitable industries of today would be obsolete. Without poverty, disease, dishonesty and inefficiency (not to mention the monetary system), what demand would one supply? Even if this concept calls for some suspension of disbelief, it is worth considering how one would pass one's time in a world like that.
These three bold perspectives may run wildly contrary to societal values, and of course many whip-cracking bosses and listless employees will dismiss them as idealistic. Idealistic they may be, but are they any less realistic than the model of grudgingly working (or even being exploited) only for money and out of fear of punishment? In the final analysis, true work ethic cannot be forced on anyone, but grows out of a sense of meaning. It simply is an inside job.
