Hunter S. Thompson, an American writer and journalist, was asked for his career advice. His response was both poignant and insightful. Thompson's advice is in line with what we know from years of research and our work with leaders...

"To reach our potential, we all need to find meaning in what we do and know that we are making a difference.

In 1958, Hume Logan wrote a letter to his friend Thompson asking for his advice on what to do in life. The whole of Thompson's letter is worth reading, but the paragraph that struck me the most was this:

Don't get me wrong! I am not saying that any of us CANNOT be firemen, bankers or doctors; but I am saying that the goal should fit the individual, not the individual fit the goal. Heredity and environment combine to create a being, a human being, with certain skills and desires. The need to live life in a MEANINGFUL way is deep in all of us. Man has to BE something and make a difference.

In all his writings Thompson contradicts conventional thinking. Early on, he encouraged Logan, who wrote this letter to him, to choose meaningful work that aligns with who he is as a person and makes a difference in what he does, rather than choosing a career path that others will approve of or that will give him security in life. This is exactly what I want to talk to you about right now! We all want to make a difference in life.

So how does this advice apply to someone who is already mid-career? What if your chosen profession is not about saving children's lives, educating young minds or making discoveries? Is everything we've done so far meaningless? This is where I want to emphasize that meaning doesn't have to be something big or something advertised on social media. Meaning can be something very simple and pure.

I would like to give the example of a woman I know who has been cleaning houses all her life. She has cleaned tens, maybe hundreds of houses for 30 years. She has brought freshness, cleanliness and order to the homes of many individuals and families in the snow and winter, and made their lives easier. She has ironed the shirts of a young man going for a job interview like a razor blade, cooked delicious meals for the children of a working woman who couldn't cook because she didn't have the opportunity, and made homes clean and livable places. She is careful, unpretentious and frugal. I observed her for years, and with the money she saved little by little, she sent first her children and then her grandchildren to university. I see a tremendous meaning in this life that many people would not even notice.

If you, too, are reading these lines and wondering " what meaning do I find in my work?", I suggest you consider the following questions.

3 Questions to Ask Yourself When Reflecting on Meaning in Your Career:

Do I make other people's lives better? For example, do I teach other people things? Do I make them more comfortable with what I do? Do I care about and ensure their well-being? Does what I offer make people smile? Do I make it easier for others to succeed? Do I care for them with compassion? Do I set an example for other people? Do my good deeds create a bond between me and other people? Do I ensure mutual enjoyment when working with other people?

Am I making my life and my family's life better? It's great to earn money, to bring it home and to provide security. Such a life is of course important. But beyond that, am I creating opportunities to spend more quality and fun time with my family through my work and earnings? Am I learning new things and improving myself in my work? Am I loved and respected for what I do? Do I bring dignity and respect to myself and my family?

Do I contribute to the success of my organization? Just showing up for work does not give a person a sense of meaning. Do I go beyond that? Do I make a difference at work with what I do? Do I pursue the good, whatever my role and position? Do I have a positive attitude while doing my job? Do I help things run well? Do I care about the goals at work and do my best?

If you do your best, you will be successful, and your contributions sometimes bring unexpected returns. The most striking examples of this are Mary Barra, CEO and Chairman of the Board of General Motors, who started her career as an assembly line worker. Muhtar Kent, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Coca Cola, started as a marketing specialist at Coca Cola International in Atlanta. In his first 10 months on the job, he got up at 4 a.m., loaded trucks, and carried Coca Cola in trucks to markets and major outlets. Today he is at the top of one of the biggest companies in America.

Some of you may have answered all 3 of these questions in the affirmative. I think you have answered at least one of them in the affirmative. If you cannot answer any of them in the affirmative, then you need some reflection and change. One way or another, you need to realize and believe in your heart that your work has meaning in this life. Otherwise, what you do is just another job. To paraphrase Thompson, "You have to be something and make a difference." Your challenge is to find that meaning in your work.

What meaning do you find in your work? Share your views with us.

Other Blogs You May Be Interested In:

Who Am I? (What Motivates Me)

Finding Meaning in Work: The Purpose of the Work is Superior to the Work Itself

Employee Engagement "To the Employee What's the Benefit?

Do You Have a Devil's Horn on Your Head or an Angel's Halo?

Every Human Behavior is Based on Purpose