On Work

Finished Joshua Ferris's Then We Came to the End.  It's his first novel, and it centers around a series of workplace dramas.  I've been thinking a lot about work, purpose, and happiness lately.

It's funny: happiness ends up depending on such a random mix of factors.  But, given how many hours we spend working, it's not surprising that how happy you are will partially depend on how satisfied you are by your work.

The following passage is taken from the novel and is a conversation between a partner at an advertising firm and her subordinate:

   He was silent.  "You've worked hard."
   "Yes," she agreed.  She had finished putting on her shoes and was now sitting perpendicular to the table with her hands holding her knees.  "Too hard?"
   There was a note of vulnerability in the question that he wasn't expecting.  But it was also clear, the way she was looking at him, that she wanted him to answer truthfully.  "I don't know," he said.  "What's too hard?"
   "All these other people have so much going on in their lives.  Their nights, their weekends.  Vacations, activities.  I've never been able to do that."
   "Which is why you're a partner."
   "But what am I missing?  What have I missed?"
   "Have you been happy doing it?"
   "Happy?"
   "Content.  Has it been worthwhile?  The work?"
   "Yes," she said.  "Maybe.  I suppose."
   "Then you may be better off than they are.  Many of them would prefer not to be here, and yet this is where they spend most of their time.  Percentagewise, maybe you're the happiest."