Coaching with NLP For Dummies®

Finding the Meaning in Your Work

Perhaps you've heard the story of the three stonemasons.

A man comes along to a building site and asks the stonemasons what they're up to. The first stonemason barely looks up and answers: ‘I'm chipping away at the stone with my chisel. I do it all day, every day, and it's been going on for years.’

The second stonemason invites the man to hold the stone figures he's carved and answers: ‘I'm making the gargoyles that will go over the main door.’

The third stonemason stands up, smiles and gestures expansively before answering: ‘I'm building a cathedral for the glorification of God and for people to enjoy for generations to come. It's going to be truly magnificent.’

Which of the three has found meaning in his work?

In any job, stronger motivation comes when you have a sense of doing something worthwhile, something that adds value for others and makes good use of your time and talents. The third stonemason has connected with a sense of meaning.

Seeking value while questing constantly

The job that engages someone today may not feel fulfilling tomorrow or satisfy an individual's desire to grow and develop. As a coach, your role involves enabling your clients to get clarity about their desires; the more you connect them to find the value in what they do, the happier they'll be jumping out of bed on a Monday morning, yelling ‘Yippee, it's Monday!’.

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