你是否被妥善地投資在工作中？

幾年前我的一位好友問我這個問題，當時真讓我嚇了一跳，因我從沒有這麼想過。我想了許久。最後，我承認我不會想做當時的工作。我想要做一個完全不同的工作。那次談話開始了新的一段過程，導致一個戲劇性的職業生涯轉變，開啟了我從未想像過的機會之門。

最近另一位朋友推薦我去看一個部落格的貼文，我覺得非常有趣。那位部落客的名字是，賽斯．高汀（Seth Godin），他是一位市場行銷諮詢師、企業家、和演說家。他提到智慧地運用我們的時間、才幹和精力的重要性。這和幾年前我被問到的那個重要問題相呼應。高汀寫道：

「每天你投資一小部份自己到你的工作中，而其中一個你可作的最大選擇是你要把自己投資到何處。投資在你正在作的企劃中──或投資在你要向他報告的老闆身上：值得嗎？

一個星期或一個月都投資到錯誤的地方似乎沒有多大損失。但10年之久都把自己貢獻於你不在乎的事，或為不在乎你的人工作──你其實可以作其他更好的投資。」

我承認，在今天這種不確定且有限的就業市場，換工作是不能掉以輕心的事。有句諺語說：「一鳥在手勝於十鳥在林」，這可以應用在重大的職業生涯決定。我一直認為在辭掉上一份工作前，先要找到下一份工作，這才是合理的作法。

然而，如高汀所指出，這不能合理化我們把生命浪費在似乎沒有意義或沒有價值的事務上。

在我所工作的機構中，我們告訴企業及專業領袖們：「追尋他們的熱情所在」，不論那熱情是在他們的工作之中，或者若有需要，也可在工作之外。當我們有機會去做我們所熱愛的工作或活動，我們就有成就感，覺得滿足，更有生產力，並且能享受生活。

與流行的觀念相反，工作其實並非「必要之惡」。上帝設立了工作，並指派人類去照顧祂的創造物。事實上，聖經形容上帝是一個工作者。「到第七日，　神造物的工已經完畢，就在第七日歇了他一切的工，安息了。神賜福給第七日，定為聖日；因為在這日，　神歇了他一切創造的工，就安息了」（創世記2章2-3節）。就如同上帝所做，追尋你的熱情──然後休息。

工作當然並非易事。但工作可以更容易──並且更能讓你樂在其中──只要你的動機正確。所以聖經說，我們應該求上帝「堅立我們手所做的工；我們手所做的工，願你堅立」（詩篇90篇17節）。終究，工作是上帝的主意，所以我們最好去做祂要我們做的事──而且照祂的方式去做。

勞勃．泰默西是領袖資產協會的傳播部副部長，這是一個總部在美國喬治亞州亞特蘭大的非營利組織。他也是一個有40年經驗的退休新聞工作者。他寫過一本書「最佳狀態的商業：箴言給今日職場的歷久彌新智慧」（Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace）。他也與David A. Stoddard合著一本書「導師之心」（The Heart of Mentoring）。要了解更多資訊, 可上網www.leaderslegacy.com 或上他的部落格www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com以及www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com 。

When a good friend asked me this question years ago, it caught me by surprise. I paused as I considered how to respond. Finally, I admitted that I would not. I would be doing something different. This conversation started a process that resulted in dramatic career changes that opened doors to opportunities I could never have imagined.

So I found it interesting recently when I read a blog post by a writer another friend had recommended. The blogger, Seth Godin, is a marketing consultant, entrepreneur, and public speaker. He cited the importance of making wise, rewarding use of our time, talents and energy, echoing my thoughts years before when I was asked the momentous question. Godin wrote:

“Every day you invest a little bit of yourself into your work, and one of the biggest choices available to you is where you”ll be making that investment. That project you are working on – or that boss you report to: Is it worth it?

“Investing in the wrong place for a week or a month will not kill you. But spending 10 years contributing to something you do not care about, or working with someone who does not care about you – you can do better.”

Admittedly, in today”s uncertain and often limited employment market, changing jobs is not something to be taken lightly. The adage, “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” can apply to major career decisions. I have always reasoned it makes sense to find the next job before leaving the last one.

However, as Godin pointed out, this does not justify squandering substantial portions of our working life performing functions and carrying out responsibilities that seem pointless or unrewarding.

In the organization I work with, we talk with business and professional leaders about “pursuing their passion,” whether within the context of their work or, if necessary, outside of it. When we have the opportunity to do work and engage in activities we feel passionate about, which also provide personal fulfillment, we find contentment, become more productive, and enjoy life.

Contrary to popular notions, work is not a “necessary evil.” God established work and designated mankind to be caretakers of His creation. In fact, the Bible describes God as a worker. “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done” (Genesis 2:2-3). As God did, pursue your passion – and then rest.

Work, of course, is not easy. But it becomes much easier – and more enjoyable – with the right motivation. So the Bible says we should ask God to “…establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands” (Psalm 90:17). Ultimately, work is God”s idea, so it”s best to do what He wants of us – and to do it His way.

Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. A veteran journalist, he has written Tufting Legacies (iUniverse); Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace (River City Press); and has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring (NavPress). For more information, see www.leaderslegacy.com or his blogs, www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com and www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com.