4 types of work one should do at least once in life

Thread Content

42% of workers in the United States feel exhausted by the end of the day, and 69% want a more relaxed lifestyle； In the UK, 77% of managers feel stressed at work, and 74% are worried that their work will affect their relationship with their partners ； In France, 80% of people believe that the economy will not improve any further, and we Chinese are no exception. Many people feel that although their incomes and spending have increased, the quality of life has declined. 　　So, what kind of organizational structure can make a company a place where employees can work happily? What will organizations look like in the future? How can individuals live and work more happily? The father of management philosophy, the British gentleman and management expert Charles. In \"The Elephant and the Flea,\" Handi suggests being a happy flea. 　　Elephants can be generally understood as large companies, while “fleas” refer to freelancers, as well as individuals in small-scale economies such as micro-enterprises and independent contractors. Handy advocates a \"composite life\" of joyful fleas; through reflecting on his own experiences, he says that a fulfilling life should consist of a \"composite life\" made up of paid work, voluntary work, learning-related work, household chores, and leisure time. 　　Handy predicted that the 21st century would belong to fleas. 　　The 21st century is the century of fleas. Nowadays, our career development opportunities far exceed what organizations can offer. New jobs will no longer guarantee us the retirement benefits enjoyed by the previous generation; even the few excellent positions available in large companies no longer offer such benefits. 　　In the world of today, elephant-sized organizations still exist, but they are surrounded by a swarm of fleas: small independent suppliers, subcontractors, consultants, advisors, and various new entrepreneurs. The same is true within organizations; you will find that many organizations encourage individuals to take responsibility for their own future and develop their expertise. 　　Many of us simply happen to work within an organization. 　　Handy believes that in such a world, whether within or outside an organization, an individual’s thinking and actions must be those of an independent genius ； In such a world, it might seem at first glance to be a world of elephants; yet surprisingly, it is the fleas that may be the real winners. 　　The spirit essential for a happy flea Handi said that when he left the organized world, he felt as though he had lost something as well – the comfort of having strong backing. Once one becomes independent, all success and failure lie entirely in one’s own hands ； You have to stay alert at all times and not slack off. 　　Free, but also lonely. How to overcome loneliness and achieve success – even a happy flea has the spirit it needs. 　　The first is enthusiasm. One must have passion for whatever they do, whether it’s starting a business, founding a theater group, or revitalizing a declining community – passion is essential in all cases. 　　How can one find this passion? Handy said, “It can be found in dreams.” “Everyone dreams while sleeping, but some people also dream during the day. Such people are amazing, because they can make dreams come true. ” 　　Over 20 years ago, Handy’s spouse wrote down a New Year’s wish: to spend more time on photography. At that time, she had no idea that 3 years later she would pursue a degree in photography, nor did she think she would eventually have her own photography studio and be able to publish photo albums. His wife said, “Photography has always been my dream; I’ve dreamed of it since I was a little girl holding a toy camera.” Although she started taking up photography again after retiring in her 50s, she still fulfilled her dream and became an excellent photographer. 　　Handy concluded by saying: A person’s dreams and passions never fade; they are always ready to come into action at any time. 　　The second spirit is to be brave enough to try. 　　Be brave enough to try; passion will surely make it happen. It’s much easier to see enthusiasm in others than to discover one’s own. Handy himself is not a passionate person; rather, he is quite shy and hesitant. After trying to work as a corporate manager for many years, he also wanted to be a teacher and write novels, but in the end he realized that these were not his true dreams. 　　For those who have not yet found what they are passionate about, Handy advises: try more; as long as you desire it, go ahead and give it a try ； But before these aspirations to become your favorite take center stage in your life, never let them dominate it, because they won’t last. 　　Third, step outside one’s own boundaries to be more innovative. In a world in constant change, as a professional, one should not only be familiar with their field and become an expert in it, but also ideally be able to lead that field. Handy believes that to stand out, one must step outside of their own field of expertise. Only in this way can one see more clearly and develop more innovative ideas. 　　When Handi resigned to work as a flea market vendor, his first aspiration was to become a management expert. He desperately read those books on management theory, only to find that business books were often full of good ideas; yet after reading many of them, he found them quite boring. 　　At that point, he stopped reading those works by management authorities and began diving into history, biographies, and novels in search of the ideas he wanted. These books, filled with various aspects of life, ultimately helped him become the father of management philosophy. 　　Another lesson that “The Elephant and the Flea” teaches us is that to lead a life like that of a flea, two conditions are necessary. 　　1. Fleas need to confidently establish their own reputation. 　　Freedom after independence is tempting, but to make a name for oneself one needs to be a bit arrogant. 　　You might say, why should others acknowledge your authority? In any case, you need to have sufficient confidence from the start. Confidence, in truth, is nothing but arrogance in private. Of course, self-doubt is also necessary in the process of becoming arrogant; it is a positive form of self-doubt that helps one remain honest at all times. 　　2. A harmonious family brings prosperity in all things. When a family is well cared for, its members remain healthy both physically and mentally, and when they feel grateful and full of love, the family becomes a haven for an individual in a chaotic world. 　　As a flea, Handy took on a large portion of the household chores. He said that a balanced life should include a certain amount of household work. The independent life of fleas gives us the opportunity to lead a balanced life. 　　Home work, voluntary work to give back to society, along with study* work and paid work, a balanced lifestyle means living by coordinating these four types of work. 　　Remember, throughout one’s life, there are at least four types of work to undertake. Don’t focus solely on paid jobs; effectively managing the relationship with the other three types of work is the source of a happy life and continuous progress.