RE: How Important is it to Find "Meaning" in Your Work?
"Wasted time" has always been an issue for me, and one of the reasons I often earned the "impatient" label in corporate job situations I had. I don't want to spend endless hours talking about what needs to be done, I want to do what needs to be done.
"Well, then you're just not a very good team player!"
The problem with many "teams" (at least in work situations) often seems to be that progress moves at the speed of the least competent member of the team.
In some ways, I would be OK with having a somewhat dull job, as long as it was consistent and reliable and didn't put me in "harms" way of the typical "Oh you're good at this! You should be IN CHARGE!" I don't freakin' want to be in charge... just give me my daily paycheck, and let me get on with a more interesting life elsewhere.
And so, I chose the path of independence... where at least I mostly enjoy what I do.
I so hate the “you’re not a team player” aspect I swear certain types of manager use that on purpose to downplay the important of an outstanding member of the team. That usually for me means letting others take credit for things they never did but I ended up doing just to get things done. They then wonder why things never gone done when you are never around. Which than leads into the trap of never being promoted out of that position because you are now “so needed” or put into a management position that you never wanted.