Most people are tired at the end of their day.

But being exhausted does not automatically mean you did something meaningful. And just because work was exhausting does not mean that it is a bad thing either.

Someone said this recently, and I have been carrying it with me:

See, the reality is not that all exhaustion is the same. Some of it drains you, and some of it directs you. But just because that is true, it does not mean you enjoy every part of the work. And it definitely does not mean you immediately feel excitement when you are doing what you are meant to do.

In fact, it is usually the opposite.

You often have to try things and stick with them long enough to see if you can get good at them before you can even decide whether they matter to you.

My first real job as an account executive selling sales performance improvement solutions to VPs of Sales could not have started much worse. I used to stare at the clock and out the window, counting down the minutes until the workday ended. I was not excited, but looking back, that had less to do with the work itself and more to do with the fact that I was not good at it yet.

But over time, that experience developed skills, successes, and failures I would carry forward. It was not always fun, but it was formative.

The point is this: you have to find what you care enough about to stay with long enough to grow into it. Life becomes more rewarding and more exciting when your fatigue is the byproduct of doing something that matters to you.

P.S. The Optimistic Outlook is a Podcast! Leaving a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts would mean a lot.