I am what I want to be!

Have you ever wondered how many hours you will work throughout your life? Broadly speaking, a person who is professionally active from the completion of their studies until retirement works more than 80,000 hours! This time represents more than 30% of the hours a person is awake during adulthood. Taking these figures into account, it becomes clear how difficult it is to be happy if you are not happy at work. Who doesn’t know someone who lives in bitterness because they do a job in which they do not feel comfortable? These people suffer every Sunday afternoon thinking about having to go back to work the next day. And then they suffer from Monday to Friday, from the moment they wake up in the morning until they go back to bed, thinking, once again, about the next day. They reproduce this unhappiness in all other areas of their lives and pass it on to those closest to them. They tend to be people who blame others for their unhappiness: their company, their boss, their colleagues, their family, or the government. And they do not take responsibility. They are unable to reverse the situation, to bring about a change in their professional lives. Often out of fear—of uncertainty, of the loss of security. But also out of laziness, due to a lack of self-confidence. But we also all know someone who is passionate about their work. Men and women who go to work every day with desire and joy. Who live intensely from Monday to Sunday. Who do not count the hours. Who feel fulfilled by what they do. These are people who pass on their enthusiasm to their family, friends, and colleagues. They have a positive attitude and tend to achieve their goals. And when circumstances change and they stop feeling that intensity, they seek new opportunities and make decisions. By looking for a new job, changing positions, companies, or sectors. Or by preparing for civil service exams. Or starting your own business. They do not shy away from challenges; they face them with courage, confidence, and conviction.

And how do you achieve happiness at work?

There is a group of people who have a clear vocation, sometimes from childhood; other times this vocation presents itself later, during youth or even in maturity. These are people who are clear about the trade or profession to which they want to dedicate their lives. They are dreamers. They have a goal, they plan it, and they pursue it with enthusiasm, perseverance, and commitment. They do not always achieve it completely, but the constant struggle motivates them and helps them keep moving forward. Most successful professionals, famous artists, and elite athletes fit this model. But not everyone has a defined vocation. There is another group of people who, when choosing their studies or looking for a job, hesitate. But, despite doubting, they make decisions, follow their instinct, seize opportunities, and experiment. And they do so with an open mind and optimism. With a desire to learn to love what they do. Trying to do it as well as possible. Serving others. With pride. Fulfilling their duty. And in many cases, as Steve Jobs shared in his Stanford speech, when they look back and connect the dots of their professional career, it all makes sense. And what do these two groups have in common? Their attitude. They are rebellious, independent, and responsible people who work with excitement, passion, and effort. Being happy at work depends solely on ourselves, and with the right attitude, we can all say out loud, I am what I want to be!