Article summary
I don’t like carrying heavy grocery bags, but I enjoy working out. Why? Both activities require effort. Both can be uncomfortable. Sometimes, I even catch myself thinking the exact same thoughts — this hurts. Can I be done? The difference is intention.
When I’m working out, I’ve chosen the discomfort. I know it’s making me stronger, healthier. There’s usually a spark of excitement about the process, or at least anticipation of the outcome. Carrying groceries, on the other hand? It’s an obstacle standing between me and whatever I actually want to be doing. I’m definitely not excited.
This important difference in mindset between obligation and intention can be ignited by genuine interest in your work. When you intentionally choose tasks that resonate, you unlock a certain magic. The work becomes engaging and satisfying and consistently yields better results.
Generating Interest
The reality is, not all work naturally sparks interest. The trick is to do more of what genuinely excites you and less of what doesn’t. Sometimes that means skipping or delegating uninteresting tasks if you can. Other times, it involves reframing the work or emphasizing aspects that spark your curiosity.
A practical strategy I often use is gamification. If I’m not looking forward to a task, I’ll set mini-challenges or race the clock — how quickly can I complete this well? Even tiny shifts in perspective can drastically increase engagement. Generating interest, whether it’s organic or artificially induced, boosts energy. And higher energy tends to produce better, more creative outcomes.
Unraveling the Hidden Value
Here’s what I’ve consistently observed: when I’m genuinely interested in a problem, I naturally dig deeper. I’m driven by curiosity — I want to understand it, solve it, master it. This is no longer about ticking off checkboxes; it’s exploration. As a result, decisions become clearer, mistakes become fewer, and sometimes breakthroughs occur that simply wouldn’t have been possible without genuine interest.
I’ve noticed this same pattern in others, too. When someone truly cares about their task, they ask sharper questions, spot subtle issues others overlook, and show an elevated level of care. That’s the hidden value — interest doesn’t just elevate the immediate quality of work; it deepens understanding over time. It compounds. This approach aligns with the idea that optimizing our time for client value involves not only delivering immediate results but also fostering processes and culture that ensure long-term success.
Moreover, interesting work sticks. Lessons learned while genuinely engaged are retained longer, bolstering confidence and competence for future challenges. This cumulative growth adds substantial long-term value.
Choosing What Matters
Interesting work isn’t simply nicer to do; it leads somewhere better. It sharpens your thinking, sparks your curiosity, and motivates you to care deeply about quality. These benefits ripple outward—improving individual satisfaction, strengthening teams, and ultimately benefiting the entire organization.
Of course, you won’t always get to choose every task, but you can actively notice what excites you. Lean into those aspects. Create deliberate time and opportunities for tasks that engage you. That’s where hidden value lives.