I recently enjoyed reading an interview with Catherine Zeta-Jones in the Melbourne Age Sunday Life magazine over a leisurely breakfast.

I particularly loved Catherine’s comment in the final paragraph of the story:

“I don’t want to work with any dickheads. I just want to work with really good people and do good work.”

I share a very similar aspiration.

I finish my book Self-Fidelity by sharing the story of spontaneously deciding the get a small ‘north star’ tattoo on my wrist several years ago.

At the time, I felt I needed a permanent reminder to help me stay true to my highest aspirations for my one short, precious (working) life.

Here are the final few paragraphs of my book:

“I love my little North Star tattoo and the commitment, non-conformity and spontaneous activism it symbolises. I have since learnt that the Latin root of the word desire is de sidere, meaning of the stars. My tattoo is a permanent reminder to stay true to my highest aspirations.

My kids are still young enough to think that my tattoo is cool, and so far, they have not asked when they can get one. My hope is that they will never need one. My hope is that they grow up with an unbroken line of sight to their uniqueness, their worthiness and their right to do good work with good people.”

We all have the right to do good work with good people and to create a working life that uplifts us and those we care most about.

And for most of us reading this post, we are fortunate to be in the privileged position to exercise this right – if we can find the courage to do so.

Self-Fidelity Practice to Play With 

Here are a few burning questions for you to ponder in the week ahead:

Do I feel like I am doing good work with good people?

If the answer is no, what is holding me back from exercising this right?

What is the smallest step I can take this week towards a more uplifting working life?

 

The future depends on what you do today.
Mahatma Gandhi