I was listening to a talkback radio discussion last night about what constitutes achievement and success in work and life. While not a particularly original topic for evening radio, I was struck by the tone of the calls. During quite a lengthy discussion, not a single caller suggested that success is about climbing the corporate ladder or making money.
The emphasis was on the simple idea that success is about being happy.
Has something changed? Sure, ‘happiness’ and ‘balance’ have been part of the work-life discussion for many years. But, perhaps until recently, they have been given more lip service than committed embrace. We’ve trotted out the old line about no one going to their death bed saying “I wish I had worked more”, then rushed off back to our 50 hour a week jobs.
‘Downshifting’ is the idea of leaving a demanding career for something less onerous, even if it costs you money by way of reduced earnings. The concept has been around since the mid-1990s, but it has largely been seen as sitting in the same cabinet as organic food and renewable energy: a good idea, but still a bit radical. Something ‘other people’ do.
In the last few years, however, I’ve learnt of at least half a dozen of my ‘normal’ friends who have downshifted. Some from big jobs, some not so big. But in every case looking to work less and spend more time at home, with family or simply doing stuff they enjoy doing.
This is not to say that changing jobs and reducing working hours are the secrets to happiness. Nor even that we are any closer to understanding what happiness is.
What is changing, I perceive, is the willingness to pursue happiness or satisfaction, simplicity or balance, or whatever it is that an individual is looking for in their work and life. There seems to be increased acceptance of the notion that it’s okay to take a career risk if the end result will be greater contentment for yourself and your family. And that maybe, for much of the population, money doesn’t buy happiness.
Hanging around for the gold watch is becoming less hip. Instead, work-life balance and flexibility are fast becoming catch-cries for the twenty first century. Working from home is now both environmentally friendly and socially acceptable. Loyally working a sixty hour week for a corporation who will let you go tomorrow if it needs to buttress the share price is starting to be recognised for the con that it is.
Where is this change coming from? A number of factors are at play. Ceaseless cost cutting and the resultant increased expectations on employees is one. Everyone has an overload threshold and more and more people are being pushed over theirs. Increased overall affluence (even if it was an illusion) is perhaps another factor. Or maybe I just have a skewed perspective. What do you think?
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Sarah G…)
David Brewster is the editor of Your Balance. He is a Melbourne-based freelance writer and editor, writing on work, society, management and politics. He is also the author of two books. www.davidbrewster.com
