The question about the perception that many people have towards their jobs has been a matter of debate for a long time. The

Do what you love and love what you do

debate has divided the people into two contrasting groups. On one hand, there are those who argue that it is not pragmatic to say that one can do a job out of love and duty. Their argument centers around the circumstances that face the current turbulent economic times which motivates people to work primarily for survival. On the other hand, there are those who argue that one should take a job out of love. This group also holds that the love for a job motivates a person to have a duty for the job. It is therefore paramount that one gains a comprehensive understanding of both concepts and consequently apply the same in the workplace. 

The Love for Your Job

Tevis Rose Trowler, the founder and chief executive of New York-based Balance Integration Corporation, says that changing your attitude makes the work more engaging and more enjoyable. Consequently, everyday routine brings comfort and connection. For example, when your company has a positive impact on the neighborhood, it makes all those who contributed to such an impact satisfied. Work is not about how much one will earn or the recognition therein. Rather, it is about the feeling that one has made some efforts in making the world a better place.

A Gall Up poll noted that less than 27 % of the workforce is engaged in its work. Getting engaged means becoming involved at your workplace. Having said that, loving your job does not require a job transition. Rather, it requires an attitudinal shift to your job. This can be done by keeping your job friendly, having a positive attitude towards work, carrying out mentorship, and sharing your experiences with others.

Deborah Jian Lee, a New York-based freelance journalist and author of a forthcoming narrative nonfiction about progressive evangelicals (Beacon Press), says that even when work and studies consume a lot of energy and time, one should always set aside time for crucial activities. These include sleeping, eating, and exercising. She adds that self-care is a great component of one’s life and should never be ignored.

Kerry Hannon, a freelance journalist and a prominent columnist with The Guardian, says that developing love for your job comes with making changes albeit small changes. In connection to this, one should appreciate his or her contribution to the work place. For example, one should volunteer either in his or her mainstream work or at the side.

The Duty for Your Job

The Online Etymology Dictionary notes that the term duty is derived from an Old French word ‘due’ which means an obligation or moral commitment to somebody or something. Cicero, an early Roman philosopher in his work On Duty, says that duty can arise as a result of being human, as a result of one’s character, one’s moral expectations, and due to one’s status and position.

Steven Granich, an assistant professor of social work at Lock Haven University, gives an example of duty in work. He says that in the field of social work and other helping disciplines, the duty to warn and protect has become an ethical obligation in social justice since the Tarasoff case in 1974. In other words, the case imposed a liability on all mental health professionals. Similarly, all professionals have their code of conduct that guides their behavior in the workplace and their interaction with clients.

Reconciliation of Love and Duty

Jaycane Kay Johnson, the author of the book Between Love and Duty, argues that the mere declaration that one loves a job is inconsequential and does not hold water. Rather, loving a job should be accompanied by a deliberate attempt at creating an outstanding contribution and input in your workplace.

It should be noted that there is a very thin demarcation between love and duty. It can be said that love calls people to duty. In a recent survey, 78 % of college students responded that love and duty should stay together because duty comes from love. Similarly, love cannot exist without duty.

One can stand out among others by being diligent, going for further studies, responding to duty without coercion, fair treatment to fellow employees, having a policy of nondiscrimination, wise use of resources, respecting others, being courteous to other people, and doing the right thing without expecting favors.

Conclusion
The question is not “how can I get the job I love?” the question is “how can I love the job I have?”. According to Aristotle, the behavior of all men should be shaped by their moral paradigm. By extension, duty-centered love and morality guides people to do what is right. In the workplace, they go beyond the convectional motivation to work in order to make an impact in the society. They are not confined within the professional code of ethics for its own sake. Rather, their love motivates them to duty which in turn helps them love their job and create a positive impact.

Now ask yourself, do you love your job?