In this month of Labor Day where we honor workers and their contribution, I want to bring focus to our work. I wonder: what do you think is your work?

My belief is that work includes anything that one pursues outside of leisure time activities, not just work inside businesses or to earn a paycheck. This could include work inside the home, work outside the home, volunteer activities, creative and artistic endeavors, and more.

In fact, if one looks up the definition of work, there is little relationship to a single type of work:

activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result
a task or tasks to be undertaken; something a person or thing has to do
something done or made

Why do I think it’s important to consider one’s work? Because I believe in Jonathan’s Haidt’s conclusions in his book, The Happiness Hypothesis, in which he talks about finding “purpose within life.” He concludes with saying that we can help create conditions for our happiness and that one component is “striving to get the right relationship… between yourself and your work” (along with the right relationship with yourself and others and with something larger than yourself). Our work matters for our happiness.

But perhaps our work isn’t as narrowly defined as society wants us to think. Many of us are seeking meaningful, purposeful work today. And, many of us put a lot of stock in our identities centered around our professional lives. Maybe we can find more joy when we acknowledge, embrace, and celebrate all aspects of the work in our lives.

So, if you were to view work more broadly, how might you think about your work?

What is your life’s work?
What is your professional work?
What is your personal work?
What is your work today?
What is your work this year?
What work lights you up?
What work is meaningful to you?
What work has your attention now?
What work needs your attention now?
What work aligns with your values?

My hope is that you will acknowledge yourself this month for all the work you do in your life.

And perhaps this will help unlock a way to think about your ambitions more broadly beyond just being about professional work. What if you were to give yourself permission to broaden your lens of work and, therefore, acceptable ambitions and to claim those? What might your relationship with your work look like then?

Here’s to celebrating you and your contributions!

Warmly,
Kathy Oneto
Founder of Sustainable Ambition

A Favor?

I’m writing a book and would love and very much appreciate your input. I’m listening!👂

Which of the below statements is most resonant with you?

I am writing a book for:

People who have experienced a shift in ambitions, and the mix of life and work no longer works, who want clarity about how to create a sustainable plan to move forward
Ambitious people who want their work to align better with their life, but they are unclear about their path forward
People who are rethinking their work and life alignment, and still have ambitions, but they need clarity to find a sustainable path forward
People who have experienced a shift in ambitions and want a clear vision for where they want to take their career and how it can weave into their life.
People who are ambitious yet don’t want to have to be driving all the time and want the confidence and skills to relax without throwing off their goals.

If you’d be so kind to take less than a minute, please send me back this pre-filled out email here and share your vote.

I’d be very grateful. Thank you very much, in advance! 🙏

These two episodes feature conversations with guests who both speak about the power of exploration and experimentation. I hope you’ll listen in!

Episode 66: On Smart Strategies to be Fulfilled at Work with Art Markman

Art is a professor of psychology, human dimensions of organizations, and marketing at the University of Texas at Austin. Beyond academia, he offers cognitive science insights to the masses. We cover a lot of ground in this discussion, and Art offers a lot of great wisdom on how to manage one’s career over time, feel more successful day-to-day, be more productive, and sustain oneself.

Listen on your favorite player here or on our website here

Episode 71: On Living Life as an Experiment with Leanne Hughes

Leanne Hughes is an Australian businesswoman, entrepreneur, and high-performance business consultant who helps organizations lift performance through people. Leanne is also the host of two podcasts: First Time Facilitator and Leanne Hughes’ Work and Live Large.

In this conversation, we hear about Leanne’s own career journey, what led her to find her zone of genius, and what took her out on her own leaving Corporate. We learn about one of Leanne’s core philosophies around treating life like an experiment. Leanne is a prime example of someone who leans into taking action and learning by doing. For her, a paradox is that it isn’t confidence that gets her into action, but rather knowing that being in action is what actually breeds confidence.

Listen on your favorite player here or on our website here

You can also find the podcast, subscribe, and listen on Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, and more.

Find Inspiration to Use Your Time Wisely

Do you love podcasts? Here’s a playlist of some of the best I’ve heard over the last few years on Working Smart.

How can we best use the time we have? What will support us operating at our best? How do we get done what we want to get done? What will help us focus? How can flex support making it all more sustainable? What habits will best support us? How do we say no to the right things? How do we avoid burnout? And more.

Give a listen. I hope you find a few that you find interesting and useful!

The Monthly Progress Practice: September

At the beginning of each year, we share our Monthly Progress Practice. Progress is made through small, consistent action. Practice makes progress. We offer a monthly guidance on small actions or inquiries to inspire positive change this year.

Our guidance for September: Make time. It is an act of choice and prioritization. What do you want to make time for? What is important? What shouldn’t wait? What must you do now?

Find Your Guide:

Find the perfect guide to match your journey.

“No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”

—Martin Luther King Jr.

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SUSTAINABLE AMBITION™ IS ABOUT CRAFTING A FULFILLING CAREER TO SUPPORT YOUR LIFE FROM DECADE TO DECADE.

It is centered around articulating your personal definition of success and achieving that without burnout while honoring your personal aspirations and ambitions as they ebb and flow over time. The end game—more fulfillment and ease in your professional and personal life, while still being ambitious.

We offer 1:1 Executive Coaching, Leadership Coaching, or Career Strategy Coaching, as well as VIP Leadership Brand Sessions and Workshops on a range of Sustainable Ambition topics. We also provide tips and inspiration, advice on career management over the decades, guides on key Sustainable Ambition topics of interest, and coverage of tools and inspiration.

Sustainable Ambition Forum - 09.20.22