No Substitute for Work

By Deborah Johnson

November 22, 2025

benefits of work, fulfillment of work, mission driven work, no substitute for work, podcast, power of after, purpose driven life, purpose driven work, working hard, working smart

Share0

Tweet0

Share0

For years, I watched my grandmother whip egg whites by hand with nothing more than a fork, transforming them into a perfectly stiff meringue to crown her famous chocolate pie. I never once saw her use an electric mixer. The twelve to fifteen minutes she spent whipping were simply part of her rhythm — steady, patient, and purposeful.

When I make meringue today, I reach for my mixer, and in just a few minutes, I have the same beautiful result. But I’m reminded of something deeper: my grandmother, Mimi, never shied away from work. I can also still picture her outside with a rake in hand, clearing the endless leaves from a giant shade tree — no power blower, just the quiet, freeing satisfaction of honest effort.

Her example taught me something I’ll never forget: there’s no substitute for work. The best kind of work — whether whisking a meringue or tidying a yard — brings purpose, fulfillment, and a sense of peace. It’s the kind of work that nourishes both the soul and the world around us.

We live in a time when the pace of progress is breathtaking. Technology gives us shortcuts for nearly everything — recipes, communication, and even creativity. Yet, the truth remains that meaningful work still requires time, focus, and heart. Mimi’s meringue wasn’t just about dessert; it was a reflection of purposeful work — work that refines us as much as it produces results.

Definition of Purposeful Work

Purposeful work goes beyond a paycheck or a to-do list. It’s the kind of work that connects your effort with a sense of meaning. It’s what happens when your talents, values, and passions intersect — where doing the work itself becomes a source of fulfillment.

Work without purpose feels draining. You can complete tasks, meet deadlines, and still feel empty. Purposeful work, on the other hand, fuels you. It gives you a reason to get up early or stay late because the “why” behind what you do is clear.

My grandmother Mimi’s work had purpose. She wasn’t just baking pies; she was creating joy, connection, and tradition. It became a habit and every whip of her fork was an act of love — purposeful, intentional, and deeply personal. In the same way, our work becomes purposeful when we connect it to something greater than mere productivity: serving others, creating beauty, solving problems, or leaving a legacy.

When your “why” is strong, the “how” becomes much easier. Purpose turns effort into artistry. Defining that “why” at mid-career or halftime of life is key to creating a next chapter filled with purposeful work, whether it’s expanding a career, giving time to an organization or fulfilling family obligations.

A Brief History of the Work Ethic

The concept of work as something noble didn’t always exist. In ancient cultures, manual labor was often viewed as punishment or something for the lower classes. The Greek word ponos — from which “pain” originates — was used to describe labor.

The shift came through the Judeo-Christian tradition, where work became part of divine purpose rather than a curse. Adam was tasked to “work and keep” the Garden before the fall, showing that work was designed for fulfillment, not frustration. (Genesis 1:28-29) Later, the Protestant Reformation reshaped how Western culture viewed work. Martin Luther and John Calvin taught that all honest work — whether farming, teaching, or trading — was a sacred calling.

This idea evolved into what sociologists later called the Protestant Work Ethic: diligence, integrity, and responsibility were seen as signs of both moral character and faith. In America, that ethic fueled progress — from the pioneers breaking new ground to entrepreneurs building businesses from kitchen tables and garages.

Yet, in recent decades, the pendulum has swung. Our tools got faster, our schedules busier, and our definition of “work” often blurred into constant busyness. Somewhere along the way, working hard became confused with working endlessly. The wisdom of steady, meaningful effort — like Mimi’s slow and deliberate whipping — has been replaced by the hum of shortcuts and hurry. With the growth of AI tools, there are even more shortcuts available, though used productively are very powerful.

The Benefits of Work

Work, done well, has benefits that go far beyond income. It shapes character, builds resilience, and provides structure to our days and meaning to our lives. Here are five benefits of work. You can add your own to the list.

ONE: Work Builds Confidence. Accomplishment, even in small things, fuels self-esteem. When you create, repair, teach, or serve, you see tangible results from your effort. Each finished task strengthens your belief that you can handle the next challenge. I have experienced this many times with music album projects. It’s a wonderful feeling when I hear responses from those who listen to some of the music I’ve produced and written. It’s extremely satisfying and rewarding.

TWO: Work Strengthens Community. Every role — from the teacher to the technician, from the parent to the performer — contributes to the health of a community. Purposeful work connects us, reminding us that we’re all part of something larger. We can see vivid examples of this in community work days, soup kitchens, and classrooms of every level. And every time we have a storm with heavy winds in our area, the teams that do a lot of the cleanup, especially of large trees that lose branches, are greatly appreciated.

THREE: Work Enhances Mental and Emotional Health. Psychologists note that meaningful work lowers anxiety and boosts a sense of well-being. When you engage fully in what you do, your mind focuses and your heart steadies. It’s why many people find gardening, baking, or even raking leaves therapeutic. I definitely find that working in our yard is a wonderful diversion. The satisfaction of trimming dead branches and seeing growth from purposeful pruning is extremely rewarding, even though it’s totally different than my other work. It serves as therapy and a time for creative thinking.

FOUR: Work Reflects Our Creator. In Scripture, God worked — He created. And when He finished, He rested. Read the first chapters of Genesis for this account. Our work, when done well, mirrors that divine rhythm. We were made to build, design, innovate, and bring order to chaos. In doing so, we reflect God’s image and plan. The hardest part about this plan for some is to rest.

FIVE: Work Leads to Fulfillment. True satisfaction doesn’t come from avoiding work, but from completing it. We find joy not in leisure alone, but in contribution — in knowing that our efforts matter. When someone brings a homemade dessert or dish to a party, most people who have also created a dish will understand the effort it took. And even though it takes more time to create something from scratch it is very fulfilling when it’s completed, and even more fulfilling if it turns out well!

How Much Work is Too Much Work?

Do you ever find yourself thinking about nothing and reading the same lines over and over again? I found myself doing just that more than a few times. At that point, it’s important for me to take a break and do something entirely different, at least for a short time. Our culture often glorifies overwork as a badge of honor — the late-night hustle, the endless emails, the “I’ll rest when I’m dead” mentality. So, while there’s no substitute for work, there is such a thing as too much of it.

Historically, longer hours were necessary as today’s conveniences were not available. For example, in the 1880s many workers labored about 10 hours/day, 6 days/week. When my father was growing up, he and his brothers got up during the night to milk the cows. Nothing was automated. The women who did the laundry were thrilled with a wringer washer, where clothes were fed between two rollers operated by a hand crank. Everything took a lot longer. But with the progress of automation and other conveniences, by the mid-20th century the typical schedule had shifted toward the 8 hour/day, 5 day/week rhythm.

Some in my family held working more as a badge of honor, but overwork can be just as unproductive as laziness. It drains creativity, damages relationships, and leads to exhaustion and burnout. Healthy work honors both the process and the breaks. It means giving your best effort, then trusting that what’s unfinished today can wait until tomorrow. Productivity is powerful, but peace and rest is priceless and also very valuable for our health.

Steps to Define Your Ideal Work-Lifestyle

Finding balance doesn’t mean doing less — it means doing the right things with the right mindset. It also means defining your ideal life-work schedule and purpose of work. Here are five steps to help you define your ideal work-lifestyle:

Step One: Identify Your Core Purpose: Ask yourself why you work. Is it to create, to serve, to provide, to grow? I review my purpose consistently to clarify my messaging. Clarifying your “why” helps align your daily efforts with your larger vision. Write it down. Keep it visible. Let it guide your decisions, whether it’s in your type of work, marketing or professional development.

Step Two: Recognize What Energizes You: Not all work is draining. Some tasks actually energize you because they fit your strengths and passions. Notice what makes time fly — that’s a clue to where your best work lives.

Step Three: Create Rhythms of Work and Rest: Evaluate your daily rhythmic energy and focus. For example, I do rote work very early in the morning but I do my main writing and creating after exercising, breakfast and at least one cappuccino! As a solopreneur, I write down my schedule and task list for the week and review the days schedule the night before. This reduces the emotional brainpower I need to be my most productive self. It also saves a lot of time. You will have your own rhythm. Intense focus followed by intentional rest is sustainable and extremely rewarding. Take the time to define your rhythm.

Step Four: Plan with Purpose: Set long-range goals that align with your values, and short-term actions that make them achievable. The book Tiny Habits by B.J. Fogg,PhD is a great resource with documented studies on the value of taking very small steps to achieve larger goals. A good and healthy goal that is measurable and obtainable is extremely satisfying. It doesn’t have to be huge, but it should be clear. It can also shift slightly if needed. Break any big goal into daily habits with small steps and celebrate steady progress. We have free goal worksheets and make sure you take advantage of those downloads.

Step Five: Redefine Success: Success isn’t measured by busyness, status, or income — it’s measured by alignment. Are you living a life that matches your purpose? Are you giving your best where it truly matters? Sometimes success looks like saying “no” to more projects and events so you can say “yes” to meaningful activities and those that bring true fulfillment. “No” is one of the hardest words in our vocabulary to incorporate, at least for most people. Sometimes I think I just have to start my day practicing saying the word, “No!”

Power of After GPT Consulting-Deborah Johnson

Bringing it All Together

When I think back to Mimi’s kitchen, I can still hear the quiet rhythm of her fork tapping the side of the bowl. I don’t think she was thinking about living large with purpose and huge goals. She was focused on doing one job at a time well and completely. Her pies, candy and even raking accomplished what she set out to do. I never heard her complain. She simply did the work, knowing that the end result was worth the effort.

That’s the heart of the principle: there’s no substitute for work. The tools may change, but the truth doesn’t. Whether you’re building a business, writing a book, or raising a family, or taking care of others, the most meaningful results still come from showing up, staying steady, and giving your best.

Work, when done with purpose, refines us. It teaches patience, builds resilience, and reveals character. Like a perfectly whipped meringue, it takes time, consistency, and care — but the result is something beautiful, lasting, and deeply satisfying. There will always be faster tools and easier paths, but the deepest fulfillment still comes from effort aligned with purpose. Do the work that matters. Find joy in the process. And when life feels heavy, remember Mimi’s quiet strength — the truth that’s as timeless as her chocolate pie:
there’s no substitute for work.

Application

Ask yourself:

Is my work serving my life, or is my life serving my work?
Do I feel energized or depleted by my daily routine?
Have I built space for rest, reflection, and renewal?

Sources and Resources

OECD “Hours worked” indicator : https://www.oecd.org/en/data/indicators/hours-worked.html

World Economic Forum The Future of Jobs Report 2025 https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025

Highlights workers’ priorities such as flexibility, meaning, and balance — not just salary — and reveals what many are looking forward to. https://newpossible.io/resources/what-workers-want-2025-findings

Presents global insights into how the employee-employer dynamic is changing and what workers expect in terms of work-life, value, and agency. https://www.kornferry.com/insights/featured-topics/workforce-management/workforce-planning-insights

Stop Circling: Steps to Escape Endless Roundabouts by Deborah Johnson

Women at Halftime: Principles for Producing Your Successful Second Half by Deborah Johnson

Hero Mountain Summit: Power of After 5-Step Framework: A 5-month entrepreneurial mentorship designed to help mid-life professionals break free from stagnation and rise toward purposeful success.

FREE Downloads: Goal Setting Worksheets

FREE Resources and links: https://GoalsForYourLife.com/DJWorks

YouTube Podcast Playlist: Women at Halftime/Power of After

Work shapes character, builds resilience, and provides structure to our days and meaning to our lives.

deborah johnson

Thought Leader, Keynote Speaker, Author

If you are interested in growing and learning, check out our online courses here: Online Learning

2,113 words

Share0

Tweet0

Share0

Deborah Johnson

Share0

Tweet0

Share0

About the author

Deborah Johnson, M.A. has not only written multiple books and albums, but hundreds of songs, three full-length musicals and is the producer of the popular podcast, Women at Halftime. She was past president of the National Speakers Association, Los Angeles and has written & produced multiple online courses. She enjoys being outside and traveling with her husband and also loves spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Up for multiple GRAMMY Awards and spending over 20 years in the entertainment industry, she's built multiple self-driven businesses and is an expert on how to constantly reinvent yourself in a gig-economy. Deborah speaks and performs for both live and virtual events.