Today I had to wake up earlier than I would normally do. And even though I felt a little tired and cold when getting in my car, I also felt a deep sense of gratitude.
For most of us, careers span nearly five decades—a significant portion of our lives. That’s why what you do for a living should be more than just a job; it should be your craft.
Too often, we hear about the importance of work-life balance. While balance is undeniably essential, the common framing of this discussion—separating work from life—feels strange to me. It creates a distinction that assumes work is a burden, something to endure, while "life" is where fulfillment begins. Instead, I believe the goal should be integration. Work and life are not two opposing forces but interconnected parts of a whole.
In every career, there’s a tension between external validation and internal satisfaction. What do you need to do to earn praise? And what do you need to do to feel true accomplishment? For me, the answer lies in focusing on being just a little better today than I was yesterday. This isn’t measured by an external scoreboard but by my own sense of progress.
The truth is, we become what we do. Our daily actions at work shape habits, and over time, these habits define our identity. An artist isn’t just an artist in the studio; an entrepreneur doesn’t leave their entrepreneurial mindset at the office. What we do isn’t separate from who we are—it’s an extension of our values and choices.
At its core, every profession has a touch of artistry. Whether we see it or not depends on the intention behind our actions. The artisan within us emerges when we approach our work with care, curiosity, and a commitment to mastery. So, let’s embrace our craft, integrate work with life, and remember that loving what we do is the ultimate accomplishment.
After all, life is too short to settle for less than passion and purpose in what we do each day.
