Make Your Job a Calling: How the Psychology of Vocation Can Change Your Life at Work

by Bryan J. Dik, Ryan D. Duffy

Do you ever feel sick of your job? Do you ever envy those people who seem to positively love what they do? While those people head off to work with a sense of joy and purpose, for the rest of us trudging back to the office on Monday morning or to the factory for the graveyard shift or to the job site on a hundred-degree day can be an exercise in soul crushing desperation. ""If only "we could change jobs," we tell ourselves, ""that "would make it better." But we don't have the right education . . . or we don't have enough experience . . . or the economy isn't right . . . or we can't afford the risk right now. So we keep going back to the same old unsatisfying jobs.The wonderful truth, though, is that almost any kind of occupation can offer any one of us a sense of calling. Regardless of where we are in our careers, we can all find joy and meaning in the work we do, from the construction zone flagger who keeps his crew safe to the corporate executive who believes that her company's products will change the world. In "Make Your Job a Calling "authors Bryan J. Dik and Ryan D. Duffy explore this powerful idea and help the reader navigate the many challenges--both internal and external--that may arise along the pathway to a sense of calling at work.Over the course of four sections, the authors define the idea of calling, review cutting-edge research on the subject, provide practical guidelines for discerning a calling at all stages of work and life, and explore what calling will look like as workplace norms continue to evolve. They also take pains to present a realistic view of the subject by unpacking the perils and challenges of pursuing one's higher purpose, especially in an uncertain economy.The lessons presented will resound with anyone in any line of work and will show how the power of calling can beneficially shape individuals, organizations, and society as a whole.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business

292 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Joe DeGraaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great discussion on the nature of calling and how it applies to an individual’s search for vocation. Through great examples and simple description, this book offers a great resource for anyone looking to find fulfillment in their work and life.

[Kenny Kidd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh I forgot to log this!

This was assigned for my Industrial/Organizational Psychology class, and so I was expecting it be quite dull, frankly. Just not a field I have very much interest in at all :-/

For what it’s going for I think it’s totally sufficient though! I was really skeptical going into it, expecting its message to be something akin to “Finding a satisfying career is probably going to be near-impossible, so here are ways that you can find contentment in a job that really is just soul-sucking,” but it’s not really! The authors adequately address the difficulties in finding comfort and contentment in any one career, and offer sound advice for how to make an unpleasant job meaningful (or at least bearable), as well as how to find the right tract to maximize your talents and satisfy you, personally. A lot of this advice feels pretty elementary (focus on what service you’re providing/how you make the world a better place as a pizza delivery guy, etc.), but still helpful for someone who may need it. The level of research that went into writing this book is admirable as well.

Anyways, yeah! Read if you need advice on how to find meaning and satisfaction in work, or if it’s assigned for I/O Psych; otherwise, I don’t know why exactly you would!

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

No wonder I am such a practitioner and proponent of finding meaning and purpose in work. Turns out that it's psychologically satisfying for us to think of our job as a calling -- that is, a transcendent summons to apply our talents and skills in service of the greater good.

[Ankur Aggarwal · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first encountered this book, recommended by an MBA professor, I was skeptical, expecting a generic spiritual approach. However, as I delved into it, I discovered a scientifically grounded perspective that resonated deeply with me. The author skillfully explores the dimensions of a calling, not just in terms of what one wants to pursue, but also how to leverage current roles effectively.

One standout piece of advice that particularly struck a chord with me is: "If you find yourself in a work environment that wouldn’t have been your first choice, or that ends up seeming less perfect than you assumed it would be—as is inevitably the case in a marriage—you can choose to stick with it and be miserable, to give up on it and leave in the hope that the next job will be the right one, or to work hard at improving the fit, adapting to it, making it work. Job crafting helps you carry out this last option."

This quote encapsulates the essence of the book's practical wisdom, urging readers to proactively shape their work environments to better align with their passions and strengths. It's a refreshing approach that combines introspection with actionable strategies, making it a valuable read for anyone navigating career transitions or seeking deeper fulfillment in their current job.

[John Willis · Rating 2 out of 5]

My job asked employees to read this book. It was slow to read and was hard to keep pushing through the book. Good info but not the best presentation, in my opinion, maybe because I felt it was required.

[Samuel Geleynse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book



This book was excellent. While I wished it was perhaps a little more engaging, it was very clear, to the point, and contained lots of important and valuable insights.

[Keri Bass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book for both people who explore their callings through a religious lens and for those who don't. It offers concrete examples and psychological research to support their assertions.

[Tracy Brower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent! Well-researched, clear, theoretically and theologically-based while also offering pragmatism. The authors also do a good job of taking a realistic approach and not simply idealizing calling, purpose, and meaning.

[Aaron Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great academic look at a traditionally religious concept.