Capacious

Art House Co-op is interviewing contributing artists on The Sketchbook Project Tour.  Short live-action video clips, they are pieces of art in themselves in the way they are shot with a hand camera in one cut without editing, to give us a taste of what these creatives are thinking when they put their books together.  When an artist in Portland, OR was asked if sketching is a regular part of his life, his response was “It’s not what I do for a living, but it’s what I enjoy.”

While this comment is by no means uncommon, it begs two questions:  How can we put more of what we enjoy into making a living, and why do we restrict our definition of “a living” only to activities that bring us monetary rewards?

The phrase “making a living” has traditionally referred to what we do to earn money.  But women, for generations, have been relegated to defining our living by activities that reap no compensation, leaving us with a feeling that we are somehow less important.  Along the continuum of time it’s a relatively new development to have women in the workforce, earning a paycheck.  Assimilation into the business world has never been at the expense of the “volunteer” work that we’ve filled our days with since the Stone Age; it’s always been in addition to.  Weren’t we the ones once described in an 80’s advertisement for Enjoli perfume as “bringing home the bacon, frying it up in a pan, and never letting you forget you’re a man?”

While this concept of doing it all undoubtedly puts a tremendous amount of pressure on women, I would argue that it makes us more interesting, well-rounded people. We need to stop apologizing for having responsibilities and interests outside of work that we value as much as our jobs and therefore invest time in to maintain.  If we can get away from the need to be a rock star in every aspect of our lives, I bet we would uncover, and even successfully market, rich rewards that come with the wide net we cast over “making a living”.

The idea of incorporating broader experiences into resumes was recently presented in an HBR business blog, with the suggestion that jobseekers out of the workforce for an extended period of time tout volunteer experience as part of the package they have to offer prospective employers.  Of course, this obviously referred to charitable organizations somehow sanctioned as business-worthy, not raising a family or connecting with your spouse to sustain your marriage. But who says it can’t flow into a bigger pool?

We are so much more than our work; however, it’s easy to become consumed with it.  It’s competitive out there.  The drive to be the best, earn the highest wage, is contingent on delivering tangible results, usually requiring a fair amount of hard work.  This can eat into personal time, leaving little energy to invest in what we truly enjoy.

I’m finding unexpected power in setting boundaries in my work life.  By working reasonable hours, I’ve created space to pursue what interests me, and by really investing myself in these activities, I’ve found ways to bring them into my work life. It’s a virtuous circle that’s actually helping me turn earning a paycheck into something I truly enjoy.

There is benefit to my employer as well.  Volunteering as a panelist for women’s forums has allowed me to hone my speaking and presentation skills, which has helped in marketing the new product I have responsibility for launching.  I am the face of my product, and if I can’t communicate its importance in a compelling manner it sits on the shelf.  The confidence required for public speaking comes in part from the physical strength I found in myself running distance.  Writing regularly for personal enjoyment absolutely improved the quality of the operations guide I recently authored and a proposal response I penned.

And a word on “never letting you forget you’re a man”. Marriages are in peril today because we aren’t investing enough time in them.  Like anything else, they require a continuous outlay of energy to keep them strong, and not just satisfying, but rewarding.  If we wear a path to this well without pouring anything back into it, it will go dry.  Going home to a husband after an honest day’s work should be eagerly anticipated and applauded, not dreaded and disdained.  Relationships are at the heart of what our living is all about.  

I think women are right on when it comes to doing it all.  What happens outside the workplace matters.  Prioritizing time and finding balance makes for fulfilling, happy lives.  There is more to life than work and work becomes more when we put some life into it.

What advice would the Portland, OR artist give to others about approaching a sketchbook?  “Do what you like to do and make it different and as lively as possible, as alive as possible.” 

I say that’s a good way to make a living.