Is your work worth It? Rethinking career fulfilment and meaningful decisions

In Is Your Work Worth It?: How to Think About Meaningful Work, Christopher Wong Michaelson and Jennifer Tosti-Kharas offer a refreshingly honest framework for navigating the messy terrain of career fulfilment. Rather than chasing idealised notions of passion or prestige, they invite readers to reflect on what “worth it” truly means - personally, practically, and systemically.

Calling: Inspiration or Trap?

The book begins by unpacking the concept of “calling” often seen as the gold standard of meaningful work. But instead of glorifying it, the authors ask us to interrogate it. Is your calling self-authored or socially imposed? Does it energize you, or quietly exhaust you? They suggest journaling about what you’d do if money weren’t a factor. What themes emerge? This gentle exercise can reveal latent desires without the pressure to label them as destiny.

Values: Your Inner Compass

Values are the backbone of meaningful decision-making. The authors encourage readers to identify and rank their top five values—such as autonomy, creativity, service, or stability—and then assess how well their current work honours them. Misalignment doesn’t always require a dramatic exit; sometimes it calls for subtle recalibration. Try this: write down your values, then highlight one small change you could make this week to bring your work closer to them.

Career Audits: Taking Stock Without Panic

Rather than waiting for burnout or a promotion to reflect, the book introduces the idea of a “career audit.” This is a structured check-in: What energizes you? What drains you? What feels meaningful? It’s not about titles or pay checks—it’s about alignment. Set aside 30 minutes to map out your answers. You might discover that a side project is your true source of fulfilments, or that a long-standing role no longer fits.

Feedback: Mirror, Not Verdict

Feedback is reframed as a tool for self-awareness—not judgment. The authors suggest asking trusted colleagues what they see as your unique contribution. Then, filter their responses with discernment. What resonates? What feels off? Use feedback to illuminate blind spots and affirm strengths, but don’t let it override your own sense of direction. This practice can be especially powerful during transitions or moments of doubt.

Making the Most of Your Current Role

Not everyone can pivot immediately. The book offers pragmatic strategies for finding meaning within constraints. Job crafting—reshaping your tasks to better suit your strengths—is one approach. Others include mentoring, reframing routine work, or connecting your efforts to a broader impact. Ask yourself: What’s one thing I could do this week to make my job feel more like mine?

Trade-offs: Choosing What’s Worth It

Perhaps the book’s most liberating insight is its treatment of trade-offs. Meaningful work often involves sacrifice—of time, money, prestige, or security. But instead of framing these as losses, the authors invite us to see them as intentional choices. What are you choosing for when you say no to something else? Try listing three trade-offs you’ve made in your career, and then reflect on what each one allowed you to gain.

Imagining a World Without Work

In a bold final chapter, the authors ask: What if work didn’t exist? What would give life meaning then? This thought experiment decouples identity from occupation and opens space for broader definitions of contribution and worth. It’s a reminder that while work can be meaningful, it isn’t the only source of meaning—and that fulfilment often begins with how we choose to engage, not just what we do.

If you’re sitting with questions about career, clarity, or what’s next, I offer coaching that welcomes uncertainty and helps you move forward with intention. Feel free to message me if you’d like to explore together.