Written by Shawn P Neal, Executive Producer / Head of Production, PeopleForward Network
What makes work meaningful?
It’s a question that’s been pondered by philosophers and employees alike for centuries. Is it the money we earn? The prestige of a title? The feeling of accomplishment? Or is it something deeper – a sense of purpose that transcends just clocking in and out? I want to explore this concept not just on an individual level, but in the context of the work we do here at PeopleForward Network.
The Daily Grind Can Be Inspiring and Meaningful
Finding inspiration in the every day might seem like a tall order. After all, work is full of tedious tasks, tight deadlines, and the occasional frustrating curveball. I recently spent an hour wrestling with how to place an ad for a client’s book on their podcast. It seems like a simple task, but the answer was buried in there like an Easter egg in a Taylor Swift song – obscure and time-consuming.
But here’s the thing: by the end when I figured it out, I wasn’t frustrated. In fact, I felt good. Accomplished. Like that time was well spent.
Why? Because the work we do at PeopleForward Network has a profound purpose behind it. Our mission statement – “Do meaningful work, live a meaningful life” – isn’t just a slogan, it’s a driving force. We partner with clients who share this belief, and in their own unique ways, they’re all spreading the message of building a better, more fulfilling work environment.
Every task we complete, from marketing and monetization strategies to audio editing and podcast production, contributes to getting this message out to the world. That hour I spent on placing that ad wasn’t wasted – it was an investment. An investment in helping get this client’s vision, which aligns with our core values, heard by a wider audience.
The Ripple Effect: How We Empower Others
Each of our clients acts as a conduit, reaching people who, like many of us, have experienced the downsides of a bad work environment. They may have struggled to value themselves or others. By helping our clients spread their message, we’re empowering others to build more meaningful work experiences. That’s pretty cool, isn’t it?
A Personal Motivation: Making My Time Count
There’s a personal reason why this matters so much to me. I keep a green thermos on the shelf in my studio. It was a gift from Hendrix Regional Hospital after I went through cardiac rehab in 2022. Let’s just say a bypass surgery was a part of my plan and it came as a bit of a surprise. It made me re-evaluate what truly mattered in life.
Coming out of rehab, I knew I wanted my work to be not just something I felt good about, but something that made a real difference. It wasn’t enough to put out positive vibes – I wanted to see results. That green thermos is a daily reminder: my time is finite, and I need to make it count with meaningful work.
You Are All Important
So, to every single person here at PeopleForward Network, I want to say this: you are all incredibly important. The work you do every day, whether it’s creating an email campaign, working with a client, or editing an episode…it all contributes to something much bigger than yourself. You are part of a mission to reshape how people view work and to help them find that elusive sense of purpose.
Be proud of that. Take pride in the seemingly mundane tasks you tackle each day, because they are building an ecosystem…a network…of individuals empowering each other and their audiences to create better work environments and more fulfilling lives. Let’s keep inspiring each other. Keep striving for excellence. And keep doing that meaningful work that can change lives, one person at a time.
