The perfect job

I picked up a book recently called "I could do anything if only I knew what it was". I like books like this. Books that challenge and question why we do what we do.  One of the exercises in the book was to design the perfect job. It encourages you not to stick within constraints or boundaries, but to put together anything and everything you enjoy.

So here comes mine.

I would be always with people, nice people, crazy people, colorful people, eccentric people, fun people, miserable people. I would probably be offering them a service. That service would come with a conversation and in those few minutes I would make their day a little bit better. Maybe through an observation, a joke or a kind word.

The place where this would happen would be in a community. I would be surrounded by sustainable things and good things, maybe it's organic food or fair trade coffee. Maybe it's an environment where recycling and homemade is valued. However this would be a profitable business and financially lucrative. The success of the undertaking would be visible.  Our friends would come by a lot.

It would be a place where my husband would be present. Not necessarily working with him, but somehow interacting and possibly in the same space. I would be called upon for opinions and direction. For my vision and big picture view. I would be the voice of reason. People would genuinely like being with me and seek out my advise. No one would be mean to one another and people would care. There would be laughter and time for silliness, yet it would be a place for serious exchanges, getting stuff done and for receiving help.

There would be no performance appraisals. No gossip. Noone doing things for the next job or the looming promotion, but tasks would done for the benefit of the business and with people for the benefit of people.

We would all work hard. All in ways that make sense for us. Ways that deploy our strengths. I would work more with my brain, than with my hands. I would supervise and not do. I would have willing people to delegate to.

Most days there would be sun in the building, others the snow would be reflecting light through the glass. Either way, there would always be brightness.

Yes that's the place I want to work?

Whats yours? Go on think it out.