Work refers to any activity that involves physical or mental effort done to achieve a particular purpose. In other words, work is any energy-consuming activity that is directed towards the accomplishment of something. Work plays a significant role in people’s lives, and it brings along diverse benefits to the modern world. For instance, it promotes productivity in all sectors of life. Working for pay serves as a source of meaningful livelihood for many, and in that case, people can interpret the value of work in life.
Different people would have different perceptions about work, depending on the role it plays in their lives. Work is either paid or unpaid, but the paid category is what many people value most like work. However, these two types of work are certain to achieve a purpose in the form of productivity. Productivity comes from a commitment to accomplishing. Work is a source of meaning in life because it brings many benefits to people’s lives.
The value of work in developing the character of growing children has been pinpointed in the bible and other spiritual books such as the Koran. Teaching children lessons related to work is a vital responsibility of every parent who is concerned with the future of his or her children. My parents didn’t neglect the best lessons about work, as I grew up. It was always in the best will of my parents to ensure that my siblings and I were informed about the principle of responsibility at a very tender age.
The first lesson I learned from my parents was to take care of my possessions, such as my shoes and my toys. This humble introduction to responsibility would later give way to bigger roles, such as doing the dishes or making my bed every morning. All these were like great fun to me, and I enjoyed every bit of it, especially after it dawned on me that working efficiently with my elder siblings impressed our parents so much. My mother would often observe that work is good for children for it helps to train their memory and concentration. More importantly, it builds self-discipline by teaching them to be responsible in life, and this stimulates the sense of self-worth at a very tender age.
From these lessons, I have been able to realize the value of work in life and this has benefited me in many ways. Responsibility, attentiveness, punctuality, diligence, self-restraint, and neatness, among other virtues, don’t just happen from nowhere, but they come by as a result of the many lessons that we gain through life about work. Apart from the economical benefits normally associated with work, there is enough evidence that work is also good for one’s health and wellbeing. Work also brings people together through social interactions, thus playing a significant role in establishing strong interpersonal relationships in workplaces.
I have learned to take work seriously because I believe there is always a purpose at the end of every responsibility, which is delegated to me. No matter the type of work that I must do, I always focus on the outcome, which is likely to be realized in the end. This gives me complete happiness and satisfaction in my work.
Work brings fulfillment in life through the fruits of productivity. This in turn improves people’s ability to access better housing facilities and quality education for their children among other benefits. According to a shop manager, I had previously interviewed, many people are yet to come to terms with the real meaning of work, and some would tend to find value in paid work more than in unpaid work. My interviewee had observed that work is not only the act of doing what you love but whatever is accomplished to gain productivity of any kind. According to my interviewee, it is not easy for people to do what they love and to earn more money as they wish, but what gives one motivation in work is productivity, which is certain to be realized after the work had been done.
The value of work is well manifested in ‘McDonald’s – we do it all for you’ by Barbara Garson. Garson explores the context of work in McDonald’s, which is one of the most famous fast food companies in the world. The company is a leader in offering job opportunities for many young people seeking job opportunities in the U.S. As observed in Barbara’s essay, employees may find meaning in the job opportunities offered at McDonald’s even though the working conditions there have never been impressive to anyone. The working policy in the company is more than strict in a manner that makes people work like machines.
This habit deprives the workers of their ability and creativity as humans (Garson 152). The work at the company is usually too much and is normally characterized by low wages, in a manner that diminishes the value of the labor force.
The nature of the work in McDonald’s is very harsh, and this can be observed through the words of one of Garson’s interviewees by the name of Jason who had asserted that he would never think of going back to the company, not even as a high-profile manager.
All these claims are clear evidence that people can’t find real fulfillment in their work, but what matters most is the final productivity. Young people are always streaming into the company’s gates, seeking employment opportunities, and they never miss an opportunity owing to the company’s steady demand for the labor force. The working conditions in McDonald’s are very strict and poorly-compensated for any employee to cope with. However, the workers can settle small bills in the long run, and this is what matters most to them.
As observed in this essay, many people would tend to miss out on the real meaning of work. All of us can’t be fulfilled in the work we do, and neither is it possible for us to do what we love most or to earn what we need or deserve in life, but our motivation in work can be traced to the productivity of our commitment to work. Work means something that we accomplish so that we can achieve a particular purpose, which can be termed as productivity. As observed in Garson’s essay, the real meaning of work is the outcome that comes from it; the spirit which keeps people attached to their working environments.
Works Cited
Garson, Barbara. McDonald’s—We Do It All For You. Literature, Class, and Culture. Ed. Paul Lauter, and Ann Fitzgerald. New York: Adison Wesley Longman, 2001. Print.