The question that's changing how we think about work

What if the problem isn't your job? What if it's how we've been taught to think about work?

Last week, I asked a room full of senior leaders a simple question: "When was the last time you felt truly energised by your work?"

The silence was deafening.

These weren't people struggling to find employment. They were successful leaders, high performers at the top of their game. Yet as we went around the room, story after story emerged:

• "I used to love strategy sessions. Now I dread every meeting."
• "I check emails at midnight not because I have to, but because I can't seem to stop."
• "I'm successful on paper, but I feel empty inside."
• "Sunday night anxiety starts on Saturday afternoon now."

Sound familiar?

The mirror doesn't lie

In his famous 2005 speech to Stanford graduates, Steve Jobs said: "For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been 'No' for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something."

He ended that same speech with: "Stay hungry. Stay foolish."

How many consecutive "no" mornings have you had? 

Listen: You are meant for MORE. Not because you need to earn it or prove it – because it's already who you are. You have this incredible power inside you, this inner MOAR! that's been there all along. Stay hungry to let it out.

Here's what I'm realising: We've been asking the wrong question.

Instead of "How do I get through this week?" what if we asked "How do I create work that actually energises me?"

Instead of "How do I achieve work-life balance?" what if we asked "How do I design work that enhances rather than depletes my life?"

The work-life balance myth

Here's the thing about "work-life balance" – it's built on a flawed premise. It suggests that work and life are opposing forces on a scale, competing for our time and energy. But work isn't separate from life – it's an integral part of it.

When we treat work as something to be endured so we can get to "real life," we've already lost. We spend roughly a third of our waking hours working. That's too much time to be miserable.

What if instead of trying to balance work against life, we focussed on creating harmony between all aspects of our experience? What if work could actually enhance our wellbeing rather than drain it?

The hidden cost of "just getting through"

Here's what nobody talks about: When brilliant people like you are running on empty, everyone loses. Your team feels it. Your family feels it. Your potential contributions to the world never see daylight because you're too exhausted to innovate, too drained to lead, too depleted to dream.

The ripple effects are staggering:

• Mental fog where you used to have clarity
• Physical exhaustion that no amount of coffee can fix
• Emotional numbness where passion used to live
• Relationship strain with the people who matter most
• Creative blocks where innovation should flow

Here's what I've recognised:

After leaving my corporate career, moving back to South Africa, and completely reimagining my relationship with work, I've learnt something revolutionary: Wellbeing isn't a reward for working hard, it's the foundation that makes meaningful work possible.

The most successful people I know aren't the ones who've mastered the art of surviving their work. They're the ones who've learnt to create work that actually fuels them.

I would love to get your insights

I'm conducting a research study on work wellbeing for my upcoming book MOAR! Making Work Magic Inside & Out. This isn't another study about what's wrong with workplaces, it's about understanding what it actually takes to thrive.

Join the Work Wellbeing Research Study

Your experience matters, whether you're:

• ✓ Thriving and want to share what's working
• ✓ Struggling and ready for something different
• ✓ Somewhere in between and curious about what's possible

TAKE THE SURVEY HERE - 15 minutes that could change everything

Your responses are strictly confidential and will never be linked to your identity. You can choose to remain completely anonymous OR provide your email to receive your complimentary electronic copy of MOAR! Making Work Magic Inside & Out when it launches in Nov/Dec 2025.

What if work could be different?

What if …

• Monday morning could feel like possibility instead of dread? 
• Your career could energise rather than exhaust you? 
• The work you do could enhance every other area of your life instead of competing with it?

These aren't naive questions, they're the foundation of a revolution in how we think about work and wellbeing.

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE - CLICK HERE

Your story matters. Your insights could be the key that unlocks transformation for millions of others who are ready to stop surviving and start thriving.

As Steve Jobs said: "Stay hungry. Stay foolish."

Stay hungry for work that energises you. Stay hungry for the MORE that's already yours.