I roughly categorise people’s approach to work into two different categories: Trying to get and Trying to build. Most people will fall into the trying-to-get category. I classify them as hoarders. They are in an endless game of trying to accumulate stuff. Hoarders are always scared that they might not get enough and so they end up doing dubious things to get more. This trying-to-get approach to life and work is very limited and restricts one to only consider the narrow avenue of one’s own gains.
The trying-to-build approach is different. Builders usually make things better for many people around them, not just themselves. They recognise that there is a ripple effect in what they do. Builders understand that there are consequences to disloyalty, lies, short-cuts, corruption, sloppiness, and whatever else tends to be the standard for work these days.
Builders don’t just aim for a bottom line of profit. They aim for long-term stability, beauty, and collaboration. Their foundation is inspiration. Not fear. Builders understand that the best thing for them is the best thing for all.
Many entrepreneurs fall into the category of trying to build—but it’s not a given. Certain doctors might fall into the category of trying to build—but again, it’s not a guarantee. Those that just write prescriptions do not fall into this category. Those that try to find root causes do. To be a builder doctor takes courage because you would have to step outside of the broken system to truly be effective. Nurses, writers, teachers, engineers, all professions can have a mixture of builders and hoarders.
Many people might fluctuate between trying-to-get mode (being a hoarder) and trying-to-build mode (being a builder). It is often fear that separates these two modes. When we are in fear, we are in trying-to-get mode. We tend to contract and hoard. Some people steal and lie. Others act violently. Covid was an extreme example of this. Emotional work is the antidote to this. Recognise fear. Bring awareness to fear. As soon as you can integrate fear, you are no longer controlled by it.