You have 80,000 hours in your career

Choose how you spend that time well

“You have 80,000 hours in your career. Choose how you spend that time well.”

A powerful motto of 80000hours.org, a brilliant website that can match your skills with a career of impact. It will help you find a job which will allow you to do the most good in the world.

I've always tried to ensure that my working hours are spent wisely, doing something that matters, even if in a small way. Telling good stories when I was in public relations; teaching English when I was in Spain; writing for Triple Pundit; launching Start with Something (unfortunately, I couldn't sustain this project); and currently at the Dubai Chamber, trying my best to play a role in supporting small businesses.

However, what also matters - perhaps more than anything else - is that whatever you are spending 8-10 hours (or more!) a day doing, fulfills you too. That rewards your contribution. That pays you what you deserve. That respects your personal situation, and trusts that you will deliver whether you are working while at your daughter's swimming class or while waiting for dinner to cook in the oven. 

As working mums, we are truly superwomen who can multitask, and we need to remind ourselves of that whenever we feel under appreciated, or are in an environment that doesn't propel our growth.

Julie Nguyen, founder of Crunchmoms wrote a great piece recently on how workplaces need to recognize why they are failing to recruit and retain female talent, and how they are at risk of losing great employees purely because of their lack of flexibility. What’s more, as she is says, is that this shortsightedness from corporations is inadvertently leading these women to thrive in the gig economy or become entrepreneurs. 

Websites like Fiverr and Upwork are examples of platforms helping people thrive in the gig economy doing work they are experts at, on their terms, and charging a fee that suits them. 

Recognizing the value of hiring mums is an incredible company called The Mom Project, a US based digital talent marketplace and community with a goal to connect mums with US$1 billion in economic opportunity in the next two years. “When moms succeed, so do their families, so do our communities, so do businesses, and so does the economy.” 100% true.

They just raised US$80 million in series C funding. Yes, US$80 million. Before that, they raised US$36 million. I literally clapped with joy when I saw this news! Started by a mum who saw the gaps in the marketplace for working mums, and determined to narrow it, The Mom Project is an example of a company that is driving change for working mums and is clearly being recognized for it.

So, if you are a working mum not content with your working situation, don't feel disheartened. Amazing opportunities are around the corner and will only increase as the world opens more to flexible / remote working situations. The world has realized that people do not need to be warming seats at an office to do good work, and work flexibility has become the fastest rising job priority post pandemic.

I was thrilled to see on Linkedin this company advertise positions for candidates anywhere in the world as they are 100% remotely operated.

80,000 hours also has an actively updated job board with jobs that not only impact the world positively, but a good portion of them are remote. Should you want specific advice, they even have a free decision tool and career guide that can help you narrow down options best for you.  

There are options.

Life is short. Our time is precious. Let's not be doing anything we are not comfortable with. You have 80,000 hours in your career. Choose how you spend that time well.