So is it work?

Student of Intention

So is it work?

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So is it work?

Prepping for the Music Show, defining purpose and making it up as we go along.

Bobby Dysart

Apr 13, 2021

Today’s intention is:

To build. Build for yourself then build for the rest of us. The world awaits your offering.

This post is the fifth in a series of five. For the series, I highlight each of The 5 Buckets recognizing the upcoming release of my book by the same name.

The Work Bucket

Sitting in the living room, I scroll through songs on Spotify. My cousin, Buck, sent over a playlist for the Music Show we’re recording tomorrow.

His playlist includes house, country, pop and rap tracks. I listen to each song, trying to understand how it connects with the other music I feature. A few songs work well. Others don’t feel right. After listening, I create a new playlist and add the ones that work well to the other songs I have planned for the show.

It’s 9:18 PM. I spent most of my afternoon in client meetings, so I didn’t begin prepping for the show until after dinner. Now that I have a playlist, I review what topics we’ll cover between songs.

I find a great excerpt from Steven Pressfield’s, The Legend of Bagger Vance. Buck and I are both golfers, so it should spark some solid discussion. We are both reading Malcom Gladwell’s, Outliers. He has a second child on the way. He is looking to expand his family business. We also haven’t seen each other in over a year so there’s plenty to catch up on.

I jot down an opening and a closing, then shut my laptop. I’ve got enough to feel good going into tomorrow’s show.

Now, it’s 9:45 and I’m beat.

As I lay on the couch, I think about the effort I’m putting into the Music Show.

For each episode, I prep a playlist, content and schedule a guest. I drive to the studio, prepare tea, listen to the music, lead and record the conversation. I work with Chris to edit the content and submit it to Spotify. I usually edit a video clip to share here or on social. In all, I spend a few hours bringing each episode to life.

It requires energy, time and commitment.

It’s also a lot of fun.

So is it work?

I ask myself this question a lot lately.

Each time I write this newsletter.

Each time I complete another part of publishing the book.

Each time I meet with the Student of Intention community.

Each time I do the dishes, go for a run, help a friend or complete a client project.

Work is my contribution. It’s the treasure I add to the world.

This treasure can be paid for in dollars, fulfillment or both.

When adding to this treasure, I experience stress, pain, uncertainty, frustration and hurt.

I also experience growth, satisfaction, confidence, excitement and happiness.

I face challenges and explore opportunities.

So yes, it’s all work.

If work is so many things, then it isn’t just one thing.

It isn’t our day job or a title.

It isn’t our calling or a position.

It’s our collective contributions.

What are you choosing to contribute?

What treasure do you want to add to the world?

Remember, it might require time, energy and commitment.

You may experience stress, uncertainty and frustration.

But it also might be a lot of fun.

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Work VS Purpose

Enjoy the pursuit of purpose.

It's how I define living with intention.

Most people focus on the purpose part. They want to define purpose or are eager to find it.

Some define it as their passion.

Others define it as their work.

But purpose is kind of a big deal.

Maybe it's something incredible. Maybe it's something so unique, we can't even imagine it. Maybe it's something so exceptional, we shouldn't figure it out until we are old and grey.

Life is long.

Don't be in a hurry to define purpose.

Be in a hurry to enjoy the pursuit.