When interviewing people who were both very productive, and enjoyed work immensely, they turned out to be remarkably similar in terms of the emotional content of how they related to tasks. Here are the 5 emotions that can make work productive and enoyable:
1. Unqualified Desire
Definition: Wanting the outcome of your task without reservation. Wanting to do the task without reservation.
Questions:
What's bad about this outcome or task?
How can I remove the bad aspects?
Definition: Wanting the outcome of your task without reservation. Wanting to do the task without reservation.
Questions:
What's bad about this outcome or task?
How can I remove the bad aspects?
2. Resolve
Definition: A sense that "I will do this task".
Questions:
How do I feel currently about the project or task?
How will I feel once the project or task is done?
How can I make that difference real to myself?
Definition: A sense that "I will do this task".
Questions:
How do I feel currently about the project or task?
How will I feel once the project or task is done?
How can I make that difference real to myself?
3. Playfulness
Definition: A sense of intrinsic enjoyment for your task.
Questions:
What is the nearest state to my current one, that includes a sense of enjoyment?
What does a task need for it to be enjoyable to me?
Which can I add to to quickly get the Nearest Playful State?
Definition: A sense of intrinsic enjoyment for your task.
Questions:
What is the nearest state to my current one, that includes a sense of enjoyment?
What does a task need for it to be enjoyable to me?
Which can I add to to quickly get the Nearest Playful State?
4. Meaning
Definition: A sense that you're connected to your deepest values when doing a task.
Questions:
What is the nearest state to my current one, that includes a sense of Meaning?
What are my values?
Which of those values can I connect to get the Nearest Meaningful State?
Definition: A sense that you're connected to your deepest values when doing a task.
Questions:
What is the nearest state to my current one, that includes a sense of Meaning?
What are my values?
Which of those values can I connect to get the Nearest Meaningful State?
5. Intentionality
Definition: A state where you feel as if you choosing what you want to do, when you want to do it.
Questions:
What is the nearest state to my current one that includes Intentionality?
How can I move myself into that state?
Is that something I'll do?
Definition: A state where you feel as if you choosing what you want to do, when you want to do it.
Questions:
What is the nearest state to my current one that includes Intentionality?
How can I move myself into that state?
Is that something I'll do?
