View from our office. Taken in December 2008.
At early morning of Sunday I was reading this four-page interview with Greg Brenneman, Chairman of CCMP Capital, published in NY Times. Music to the ears, as I heard him said these:
I think it’s important to talk to people about how we’re in a fundamentally different world. Ask the question, “If compensation isn’t going to be the same for a while, where do you get your fulfillment in life?” Certainly, work is a big piece of that and work is rewarding well beyond compensation. But faith, family, friends and hobbies create real balance. The conversation I’ve had with a lot of people, both in large groups and small, is make sure you have balance in your life and make sure that all your fulfillment doesn’t come out of economic gain.
“Where do I get the fulfillment in my life? And how do I make sure my job is a big piece of that?” I’ve found that employees who are fulfilled on a much broader basis in their lives usually do a much better job of work than those that are completely, single-mindedly focused on and get all their value out of work.
I think that’s one of the bigger questions we have as a society. We’ve gotten so used to every generation doing better economically than their parents. Are our kids going to do better than we’ve done? I hope so, but I’m not sure. So it seems like we ought to tell them that socioeconomic wealth is not the only, or even the most important, metric of personal happiness.
A great article to start the first day of my workweek. I hope you were inspired, too.
0 thoughts on “What really matters”
luna miranda
thank you for sharing parts of the interview. i’m nodding my head while reading.:D i believe its common in every culture where parents take pride in how successful their kids are, materially and professionally. and how they [secretly] take blame for their kids’ “failures”. it’s not that our parents don’t care if we’re happy or not, as long as we’re getting promotions and good salaries, have nice cars, a beautiful house, travel, our own kids in expensive schools…of course, they want us to be happy. it’s just that it’s not usually open for discussion.:D
i love my job and i am usually willing to extend long hours on the job, but i also make sure my boss understands that i have a life outside the office.
luna mirandas last blog post..Photo-Hunt: yellow
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Sinta
I totally agree. The best performing employees I have seen are those that find fulfilment outside the job. They come to work happy because what’s important to them doesn’t depend on where the job goes.
Sintas last blog post..Gebrannte Mandeln – Sugar Roasted Almonds
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kg
wow wits! super nice naman ng view ng office nyo! ako ang view ko dito ay yung parking lot namin! 🙂 but there is a side of the office where the view is the buildings of Paranaque! 🙂
kgs last blog post..Kwentong Pinoy: larong kalye
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eks
OK, i hate this site now. kidding! that view from your office is so awesome! i also had a similar view… well, similar to that of KG’s, hehehe.
ekss last blog post..Soon-To-Be Senior Citizen X
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PM
i’ve been rereading my tuesday’s with morrie book. it reflects the same values, well sort of. it talks about how relationships make for a better life and when it all boils down to it, being fulfilled has nothing to do with a salary.
PMs last blog post..Silence & Solitude
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Garando
Thanks for sharing! In the company I work in there was this one popular story of a director who lived her life in the fast track of success. She got promoted in no time, had a salary that was well beyond her lifestyle, had the visibility all the way to the top bigwigs. In return, she worked very long hours, almost never took vacations, and never had a partner. When she learned she had cancer, she was filled with regret. She then became our spokesperson for work-life balance & effectiveness. A topic she became very passionate about in the remaining days of her life. It was a great lesson for everybody.
Garandos last blog post..Filipino Cooking, The Garandee Way
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caryn
i completely agree jo. its not the big things, but the little things that keep the balance in check. time spent with family and friends, and doing something that fulfills you is an absolute must 😉
caryns last blog post..stressed?
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dong ho
“socioeconomic wealth is not the only, or even the most important, metric of personal happiness.”>>> i definitely agree. poor people who base their lifestyle on their financial wealth yet miss out the more valuable virtues.
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sheng
I love the view from your office, with my many readings, I think i can never finish a book when i stay “tambay” malapit diyan.
shengs last blog post..A Different High… On a Saturday Gone By (Part2)
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kayni
i know we go through a lot of social pressures to be this and that, but it is important to remain true to ourselves and to what we really want in life. is it the money or the high paying job? or, is it more time with family and friends? in the end, we hold the final decision to follow what truly makes us happy. let us follow what really makes us the happiest.
kaynis last blog post..Cookies And Milk
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witsandnuts
To everyone, this excerpt from the article is a gentle reminder of what’s important in life – beyond epidermis.
Yes, I really appreciate the view from our office. A natural stress reliever. 🙂
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jeanny
lovely view. I envy you. 🙂
Indeed it’s a great reminder for us…it’s not all about work nor money, it’s all about the people that makes us happy…it’s all about the hobbies, the craft, the arts that comforts us. It’s about how we appreciate everything we have. that’s contentment!
jeannys last blog post..On Filipino Wedding
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Josiet
I thought the picture above was taken at an office in Male (capital of Maldives). Except for the edifice on the right side, the view is almost the same – the trees, boats (they call it dhoni), another small island. 🙂
Josiets last blog post..Island Cove
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Rach (Heart of Rachel)
I agree, having significant people in our lives give us meaning and balance. People we love weighs more than financial rewards.
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