On Something or Toward Something

Are you working on something or toward something?

There is a vast chasm between the people who work on something and the people that work toward something. They are as opposite as apples are to oranges. Working on something means that you are making a forced effort to accomplish a meaningless task required of you and then, reluctantly, move on to the next meaningless square. The steps required to get to a place of vision when you are working toward something look very similar to the steps taken when you are working on something. The difference lies in the attitude, ultimate outcome and the desire to dedicatedly make a lasting impact, independent of the percived size of that impact. Working toward something means you proudly put your signature on it. Working on something means you unknowingly put your signature on it. Either way, your name is on it.

Just take a look at every great accomplishment in history and behind these monumental productive steps  you will find a group of dedicated people, often lead by a visionary individual, working toward something. They did not allow temporary setbacks to dissuade them, they overcame and moved on toward the goal that they continually kept in sight. Working toward something is much more fulfilling than working on something.

A survey by a national newspaper asked respondents one question; "Do you like your job." Astonishingly over 70% of the people stated that they did not like their job and many went on to say that they are counting the days until they can retire. We have all seen, first hand, people we know that retire without anything to do and how they decline quickly. If you are not working toward something while you are employed how can you expect to be fulfilled when you are not working. The answer is all to simple. People that work toward something in their professional lives almost always work toward something when they retire.

If you cannot find something to work toward professionally find something worthwhile to work toward in your community. Working is work when you are working on something and work does not exist when you are working toward something. The difference is as stark as comparing apples to oranges.