Memo 005: What Is Work?

Unpstd – A weekly memo for men tired of the feed brought to you by OTW

SUBJECT: If I’m working, why doesn’t it feel like I am?

What is work?
Is it wearing a badge and commuting to a building?
Is it hammering nails?
Writing code?
Sending Slack messages about Q2 goals you don’t actually care about?

We treat work like it's a location. Or a spreadsheet. Or a thing you pretend to do until the clock hits 5.

But that’s not what work is. That’s theater.

Work Isn’t What You Think

Work isn't a job title.
It’s not a status symbol.
It’s not LinkedIn humblebrags.
It’s value.

Work is adding value to society.
That’s it.

Raising a kid? Work.
Fixing your neighbor’s truck for free? Work.
Writing something that makes someone think? Work.
Building a shed. Coaching a team. Growing food.
All work.

Work is not just the thing that gets direct deposit.

You Can Work Without “Having a Job”

And you can “have a job” while doing nothing.
Half of corporate America exists to forward emails and schedule meetings about meetings.

It’s a full-time LARP.
But with better coffee.

Here’s the Shift:

1. Stop letting someone else define your output.
   If it creates value—mental, emotional, physical—it counts.

2. Detach from titles.
   Job titles are costumes.
   So are LinkedIn bios.

3. Start measuring your day in impact, not time.
   Eight hours of looking busy isn't better than two hours of real contribution.

Work Is a Construct—So Rebuild It

Work has been turned into a performance.
A way to justify your existence to people who want your time more than your talent.

You’re not lazy for questioning it.
You’re awake.

If you’re building, helping, healing, fixing, or creating…
You’re working.

Don’t let the suits tell you otherwise.

You're not a cog. You're a contributor.
Now go do something that matters. Add some VALUE.