The “What”, “How”, and “Why” Jobs That Define Us
Today, your work is to make magic.
15 years.
That’s how long I’ve been in this game.
From solo ventures to the behemoths of the corporate world, I’ve seen it all. And here’s the deal: all jobs boil down to three types.
Let’s break it down.
The “What” Jobs
These are your nuts-and-bolts gigs. Think technical, think input-output. You put in X, you get out Y. It’s the job most people picture when they think ‘work.’ Clear-cut, process-driven. Think assembly line, but in an office. It’s got its perks: stability, predictability. But let’s be real — it’s a bit like painting by numbers. Essential? Absolutely. Exciting? Not so much.
The “How” Jobs
Now we’re getting into the nitty-gritty. These jobs are about governance, the puppeteers of the ‘what’ jobs. It’s all about management — resources, deadlines, and, oh boy, the stakeholders. You’re the glue holding it all together. High stakes, high accountability. You’re in the trenches, making sure the ‘what’ folks are ticking along, trading time for money. It’s deeper than the ‘what’ but still skims the surface.
The “Why” Jobs
Here’s where the magic happens. No manual, no rule-book. It’s the wild west of jobs. Transforming a spark, an idea, an emotion…into cold, hard cash. This is the stuff of passion and big-picture thinking. It’s risky and failure’s the norm. But when it hits, it hits big. It’s about making the impossible possible, about turning chaos into art.
So, where do you fit in?
Each job, every role, slots into one of these categories. Always has, always will.
But thanks to AI and suchlike, the balance is shifting. Some roles are getting a boost, others… not so much. And in this era of machine learning and smart automatons, it’s never been more profitable, practical, pragmatic and poetic to be human. To chase your WHY. To make magic.
Because at the end of the day, isn’t that what we’re all after?
