Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Is work the new religion?

Job worship

Do you love your work too much? Is it taking over your heart as well as your mind? Ian Wylie poses these questions in an article he writes for the Guardian. If you bring your heart and soul to work, Wylie argues, there's a good chance you'll end up feeling betrayed. Wylie writes:

Should we accept that work is our new religion, where we worship and sacrifice our time? Or should we put our work back in context? The Spanish word for work, "trabajo", comes from a Latin word for an instrument of torture. Even the Puritans considered work a means to an end.

To find out if you're hopelessly devoted to your job, click here.

If you are a workaholic, perhaps it's because you love your employer. We all know that there are good bosses - and others who are, well, challenging. Fast Company, a magazine that offers management, leadership and career advice to executives, takes a light-hearted look at bosses to avoid. For a heads up, check out this amusing slideshow.

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13 comments:

S A J Shirazi said...

Yes, I have always been dovoted to work. And yes, this has paid. Good subject to discuss.

Deb Sistrunk Nelson said...

Shirazi: I have been devoted to work, too. It would be interestng to know how you maintain balance between your career and your personal life.

S A J Shirazi said...

I have been lucky in this, I admit. I loved field work and traveling while in the army. Then, even at sandatory nature jobs, I have has part of my work out of the office and in the field. I take it as a personal life when I am out even for work. Do I make a point here?

Alina said...

I don't know if it is a new religion, but it is quite interesting to analyze...The major trend is to have less hours of work and more leisure...Yet everybody is complaining about long hours, too much work, no spare time! So, let's all move to France, they have the shortest working week.

AsianSmiles said...

I think it IS becoming a new religion, but I don't agree that it should be. Like what you said, there should always be a balance. We all have the tendency to stick to things, people and activities that make us feel fulfilled, but becoming fixated on them makes us dependent on them. IMO, it is too dangerous. It's still a lot more fun to be a well-rounded individual and free from any type of risky dependence.

have a great day Sis!

DareDevil said...

imteresting post

Deb Sistrunk Nelson said...

Shi: Yes, you have made your point. Thank you.

Kayla: I agree! Let's all move to France! I'm starting to pack now. :-)

AsianSmiles: As always, there is great wisdom in what you say. I know I can always count on insight from our own expert on culture. :-)

DareDevil: Thanks for stopping by. I hope you return from time to time.

Georganna Hancock M.S. said...

Voice from the far end of life: I wish I'd played more ...

Meadow said...

I learned the hard way about loving a job too much. There is a sense of betrayal in the end.

AsianSmiles said...

whoa.. loaded comment from Goddess ;)

what do we do make her tell us more, sis? (time to make a call perhaps?) :D

;)G!

:):):)

Deb Sistrunk Nelson said...

Georganna: Both of us have voices from the far end of life. I wish I had played more, also.

Goddess: I have had the same experience. Are you sure we're not related??

AsianSmiles: If I make Goddess tell us more publicly, then I would have to do the same. And I'm not going there! :-)
But the three of us could do a conference call, couldn't we? ;-)

Cecilia said...

Recently I experienced the bitterness of the fruit borne out of loving work. Indeed, one has to find the balance. On the other hand, work CAN get overwhelming when deadlines are coming up or when events are looming over the horizon. When you tend to get buried in it, you just need someone to help pull you out of it.

Deb Sistrunk Nelson said...

Cecilia: I couldn't have said it better.