In high school, my history teacher quickly figured me out. Within the first two weeks, he "invited" me to sit in the front row. My assigned seat was close enough that a sneeze could scatter his papers. Though I don't remember much about his western civilization lessons, I do remember the bumper sticker affixed to the front of his old wooden desk. I read it every day from September through December. It simply said, “88% of life is showing up.”
I initially planned to write about how impactful work motivates us and how changing lives inspires us to work even harder to achieve our best selves. However, I realized soon after starting to write that those topics are a known quantity. The real power lies in navigating periods when you no longer feel the impact of your work.
Life and work are cyclical. You'll have highs, marked by incredible successes, patient recoveries, effortless referrals, skill development, and an abundance of glowing reviews. But inevitably, our spigot will just shut off. There are lows where nothing seems to connect and your conversations don't land. Your metrics are a struggle, and interactions feel forced and frictional. It's during these lows that I hear that bumper sticker rattle in my mind: “88% of life is showing up.” The first step to finding your way back to impactful work is being fully present, even for the mundane tasks, as they lay the groundwork for future opportunities.
Just as we set plans for our patients, we need to establish measurable, attainable, and meaningful goals for ourselves. Write them down and track your progress on a whiteboard, erasing each goal as you complete them. Keep your goals visible, especially when progress feels slow. You'll see your progress as the list changes. Have alternative plans ready for when motivation dips in a specific task.
It may also help to rank your tasks based on their alignment with organizational objectives. When your organization has a clear direction, aligning your efforts with this path is exponentially easier than going against it. When you doubt the significance of your work, it might not be the best time to challenge conventional wisdom. Align your goals with the company's and celebrate wins alongside the organization.
Feeling that your work is impactful can also come from shared wins. Ask how you can support others involved in meaningful or interesting projects. Expand your influence, share your skills, and contribute to others' success in substantive ways. All these ideas center on the core principle of showing up. When you feel like disappearing, be there anyway. Be prepared for the work ahead. Make use of your current skills and be open to gaining new skills.
Unfortunately, there's no magic solution for finding satisfaction in impactful work. The grind is real, but this time is essential for preparation and organization. Build foundations and hone skills. Be persistent in accomplishing goals and completing even the mundane tasks to prepare yourself for better times. Don't underestimate the power of showing up.