What is the meaning of work?

Prompted by my friend Mark Foscoe in a recent comment the question is .... What is the meaning of work in 2008?

‘Work’ and ‘career path’ bear little resemblance with when I started at age 16 as a junior clerk in the National Health Service in 1969.

In those days it was a highly structured and predictable career path. One set out on that path and moved ‘up the ladder’ until eventually reaching the level of competence that one’s skills and experience merited. It was all very predictable.

Nowadays, it seems to me, nothing is predictable anymore and I think we have much more personal control of our destiny and our career direction.

I think it is a terrific time to be starting out on a career because individuals are far more likely to do the things they ‘want’ to do rather than follow a path that is mapped out for them based on history.

Each to their own of course and I’m pretty sure some may argue the lack of structure is a negative thing ….

I would be fascinated to get your take on this one and thanks again Mark for sowing the seed.

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What do we now mean by 'retire'

When I was a kid it seemed like anyone who was 50 years old was way past their 'sell by' date.

I just heard on Talksport Radio an interview with an 85 year old man who plays in the over 85’s world tennis championships.

On Monday this week I played golf with a 76 year old man who plays 18 holes twice a week most weeks. He looked amazingly fit.

Sir Alex Ferguson is 66 years old and still as passionate and ambitious as he ever was for his team (and mine) Manchester United.

I hope to be the player manager of a five-a-side football (soccer) team for men over the age of 100 when I reach that milestone in 2052.

How times have changed ….

As Tom Peters says 60 is the new 30. This surely has massive implications for the definition of ‘retirement’ from work. I hope to work until I am at least 75. My academic supervisor Professor George Giarchi still works at the University of Plymouth at age 77 and as far as I know George has no plans to finish work for few more years.

How do you see retirement nowadays and does it really matter about having an 'age' of retirment?

Dispelling Myths - 'Nice guys' win too

How wonderful to see the genial Irishman Padraig Harrington win his second successive Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Click here to see BBC Report

Winning two successive Opens is very rare – Padraig becomes the first European to successfully defend the Open since James Braid in 1906. Clearly no individual gets to the very top in their profession without focus and dedication but the wonderful news is Padraig clearly overcomes the myth that nice guys don't win.

Another original quote .....

I love the connections I’ve made through Blogging in the last three and a half years. I’m indebted today to yet another virtual friend, Peter Dawson from Canada who I’ve never met but occasionally communicated with via e mail and Blogging.

Thanks Peter for this marvellous quote:

“Simplicity is hard to build, easy to use, and hard to charge for. Complexity is easy to build, hard to use, and easy to charge for.”

This is where the original quote came from.

Cheers Peter – As we say in England - I owe you a pint!