I have just seen a video in which Professor Michelle Simmons (Australian of the Year 2018) is encouraging people to make the most of their lives. She concluded by saying: "Learn about yourself, what you are good at, what you enjoy and then push the boundaries of that to find out where you can excel". Here's the link: https://twitter.com/i/status/1080665975769333760
It expresses - much more simply than I - exactly what I do. So, naturally, I am promoting it as much as possible.
But my interest goes much deeper. Professor Simmons doesn't distinguish between work or leisure to pursue your goals. She simply talks about learning who you are, what you enjoy, what you are good and how you might excel in life.
The work ethic is the product of 19th Century thinking (even earlier!) and totally out of date with 21st Century progress. The distinction between work and leisure is rapidly blurring and disappearing. With the future of work undergoing massive changes and uncertainty, I foresee the distinction disappearing totally.
The emphasis I believe will be, exactly as Professor Simmons says, on who you are, what you enjoy, what you are good at and what you can do to excel in life.
I will go further and suggest that in future, the concept of a work ethic will evolve into a development ethic, in which we all use and develop our natural abilities through our own chosen connections with like-minded people, to be part of something bigger than self in advancing human progress.
I welcome your comments (below).
And I hope 2019 will be your best year yet - at work, home and play.
