How do you see your work?

A Mission that Matters

A group’s culture can be studied in three ways: by looking at the artifacts, such as physical space and behaviors; by surveying the beliefs and values espoused by group members; or by digging deeper into the underlying assumptions behind those values. People interpret strong cultures based on the artifacts, because they’re the most visible, but the values and assumptions underneath matter much more.

Google’s Mission: To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.

IBM’s Mission: We strive to lead in the invention, development and manufacture of the industry’s most advanced information technologies, including computer systems, software, storage systems and microelectronics. We translate these advanced technologies into value for our customers through our professional solutions, services and consulting businesses worldwide.

Google’s mission is distinctive both in its simplicity and in what it doesn’t talk about. There’s no mention of profit or market. No mention of customers, shareholders, or users. No mention of why this is their mission or to what end they pursue these goals. This kind of mission gives individual’s work meaning, because it is a moral rather than a business goal.

Crucially, they can never achieve this mission, as there will always be more information to organize and more ways to make it useful. This creates motivation to constantly innovate and push into new areas. A mission that is about being “the market leader,” once accomplished, offers little more inspiration. The broad scope of this mission allows Google to move forward by steering with a compass rather than a speedometer. A broader mission provided the space for Googlers and others to create wonderful things like Google Street View.

Power of purpose can improve not just happiness, but also productivity.

How do you see your work?

As just a job? A necessity that’s not a major positive in your life?
A career? Something to “win” or “advance”?
Or a calling? A source of enjoyment and fulfilment where you’re doing socially useful work?

It’s easier to consider some occupations a calling than others. But it’s all in how you think about it.