Productive Weekend

This weekend, we had friends visiting from out of town. While waiting to see what my next job opportunity might be, I reflected on the “productivity” of this time. We talked, laughed, ate, and enjoyed each other’s company. Their daughters loved spending time with ours. But I couldn’t help but wonder: Was this a productive use of my time? Should it be? How does it compare to “work”?

Let’s start with the obvious: spending time with friends doesn’t pay the bills (though they generously shared meals with us). Providing for my family is my responsibility, and this weekend didn’t fulfill that directly. Yet, few of us measure the value of a job purely by money. Instead, we aim for work we enjoy, where we can make a meaningful contribution.

So, how do we bring value to the world? Through our talents—unique gifts we use to improve the lives of others. In our jobs, we amplify these talents by collaborating with people who bring their own strengths to the table. Together, we create products or services that help others achieve their goals.

This weekend, we dined out a few times and were struck by how the care and effort of the cooks and servers enhanced our experience. Their work brought joy to our time together. Similarly, while my friends and I didn’t earn money during our time together, we enriched each other’s lives through connection and love, without a team, meetings, or specific career skills.

As I look for my next role, I hope to mirror this: improving the lives of those around me by contributing my talents through a meaningful product or service. In a way, my weekend was “productive”—not in the traditional sense, but in the same spirit as a fulfilling workweek.