I read this the other day: “Only 50% of working people feel they’re doing meaningful work.” Sad. It means 50% of people go off to work every day thinking the work they spend so much time doing is pointless in the grand scheme of things.
We hear a lot of talk about meaningful work and finding meaning in your work, but not much about what it means.
Well, it’s subjective. It means different things to different people. And that’s probably why it’s hard to pin down.
For some, it is an inward thing. It is work that makes them happy, makes them money, or makes them feel important.
For others, it is outward. It is work that helps others or makes the community better in some way.
Everything I have seen though points to the former being short-lived and temporary, while the latter is more lasting.
Why? It’s most likely chemistry. When we do things for others, our brains give us a dose of feel-good chemicals that influence us to not only do it again but to push through difficult work even when it’s menial or less than inspiring. Largely, it’s part of our survival machinery. Helping each other is critical to our continuing as a species, so Mother Nature does her best to push us in that direction.
Given that, it seems natural that meaningful work that makes us happy is work that is done to help others be happy.
Case in point. I have been to Disney World many times, and in talking to cast members (employees), they suffer with all the challenges, drudgeries, and downsides of work that any employee does; however, they, for the most part, say that it all melts away when they see a child smile with joyful eyes. It doesn’t matter what their pay is, their work schedule, or any other number of work-related “hassles,” seeing happiness is what gives meaning to the job.
So, everyone wants meaningful work, and if the above is any indication, any work can be. But there’s a caveat: to make it last, you must look outward and make it something you do for others. Whether it is customers, fellow employees, friends, or family, you must be looking for their smiles and joyful eyes.
Want to be in that 50% with meaningful work? It isn’t something given to you; it’s something you give. You must imbue your work with meaning by making it meaningful for others. Before you head off to work, ask yourself this: What can I do to help someone be happy today? And then, do it.
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Neal Woodson 
Neal, this really resonates with me, especially your point about meaning being something we give rather than something we’re handed.
I’ve come to a similar conclusion over time, but from a slightly different path. Earlier in my career—particularly in my last few years in corporate CX—I found myself in environments where the work should have been meaningful, yet it didn’t feel that way at all. Not because the work lacked purpose, but because the surrounding culture made it difficult to experience that purpose in any real, human way.
What I’ve come to believe is that meaningful work lives at the intersection of two things: an outward focus, as you describe, and an environment that actually allows that focus to come through. When either of those is missing, the meaning gets diluted or lost entirely.
Today, working independently, I feel something very different. I can see the impact of what I do more clearly, and I can engage with people in a way that feels direct and human. That has made all the difference. The work itself didn’t fundamentally change—but the connection to it did.
I especially appreciate your framing around helping others and looking for those “smiles and joyful eyes.” That’s a simple but powerful way to ground the idea of meaning in something tangible. It’s also a good reminder that even within imperfect systems, there are still moments where we can choose to create that kind of impact.
Really thoughtful post.
— Karl Sharicz
Great insights, Karl. You just made my work more meaningful.
We make each other’s work meaningful. Thank you for your comment and your support in all things human.