Alison Garwood Jones

Take this job and shove it  •  Take this job and love it

My friend Scott Schieman has written a book! Here we are on Wednesday night at his sold-out book launch at the University of Toronto – Rotman School of Management.

This attention-grabbing opener gets to the crux of what he argues in I Want M.O.R.E. – Why Your Job Still Matters  (University of Toronto Press).

If the pandemic unleashed quiet quitting and public conversations about bad boss behaviours and unhealthy office cultures, the Age of AI has inspired us to think beyond a paycheck (still important), and line up all the intangible assets work gives us: purpose, mastery, recognition, creativity & connection. The threat of disempowerment will do that.

This book is not a screaming match about passion, grit, and winning. It’s about showing up every day and what that gives us.

Scott’s a sociologist and he surveyed thousands of Canadians, Americans and South Koreans about work, then he let their stories and voices lead.

I’ve said to him more than once, “You may be an academic, but you write like a magazine feature writer” (that’s a compliment). Translation: he cares about lively, good ol’ fashioned storytelling based on actual people, real events, and genuine emotions.

Here’s what Scott found: The headlines say we hate our jobs, but that’s not what the data says. Whether a stock clerk or a graphic designer, people love contributing, they’re looking to evolve, and they’re actively thinking about their value over time.

For leaders, Scott’s “M.O.R.E framework” is your post-pandemic playbook for creating a fair, fulfilling and equitable workplace.

I’ve put the link to the book in the comments.

Scott, thanks for shining a light on us and this moment.

P.S. Great job moderating, Mandi Gosling.