Working hard is hard work; not only in the work itself, but also in the ethic required to sustain the effort. From dictionary.com, an ethic is “an intricate or complicated association or assemblage of related moral precepts held or rules of conduct followed by an individual.” More simply put…

…No, it cannot be more simply put. By its nature and by its definition a work ethic is complex. To put it more simply would characterize the lack of a work ethic.

Yet it is Human nature to simplify. I am going to fight that urge and spend the next however many words it takes, (or more likely until I run headlong into my deadline), to contemplate the complexities of a work ethic. I want to consider how / when / where / why work becomes valuable. I want to better understand the relationship between quantity of work and quality of work and if quantity alone can be valuable. I want to figure out a way, (perhaps a formula?), to objectively quantify work. I want to account for differences in capabilities so I am reminded that those with a little more talent or intelligence should not be given undue credit for hard work, and those who are in over their heads should not be given undue blame for slacking; (I believe every one of us belong to both groups in varying circumstance). I want to compare physical and mental labor. I want to better understand how a work ethic translates to play. I want to contrast the role of emotion and the role of reason in work.

I have defined ethic. Also from dictionary.com, the most basic definition for work is “exertion or effort directed to produce or accomplish something.” According to this definition, even an effort to avoid work, is work. And busy work is work. In these instances we are accomplishing and/or producing something. What we have accomplished or produced may be of no value in terms of results, but then again this “no value” relatively speaking, may be of greater value than the potentially flawed results of a sincere effort. So does this mean that to measure value we must account for an infinite array of alternative possibilities? And then when considering the actual results, how do we account for varying subjective judgements? And then how do we account for the potential or actuality of extended or ultimate results? This accounting is difficult knowing that one individual's scientific breakthrough with sincere and good intentions, may ultimately be another individual's atomic bomb. Perhaps some individuals, (perhaps many individuals), are more suited for busy work. Which appears to mean that quantity has value. And we are perhaps better to use the basic definition of work and consider only the character-building value therein; regardless of perceived quality? I don't know. Results seem important and there are some efforts and ethics that are of obvious quality. Sincere effort also seems important; but Hitler's effort was sincere. So do results mitigate sincerity?

Based on this thought so far, the value of work is measured by

1. Quantity, (regardless of sincerity);
2. Sincerity of effort, (and its structured complexity);
3. Quality of Work; (judged subjectively);
4. Quality of Results, (relative to alternative possibilities and also judged subjectively);
5. Quality of Results, (both immediate and ultimate).

But, I think the value, (or perhaps more accurately, the strength) of one's work ethic is measured only by

1. Quantity, (regardless of sincerity); and
2. Sincerity of effort, (and its structured complexity).

So to review, a work ethic then would be “an intricate or complicated association or assemblage of related moral precepts held or rules of conduct followed by an individual [in order to drive] exertion or effort [that is in turn] directed to produce or accomplish something.” Additionally, to clarify, based on this thought, Quantity and Sincerity can conceivably be mutually exclusive; (i.e. a hard worker who doesn’t care enough to think things through or a lazy person who is nonetheless sincere). Together Quantity and Sincerity establish the complexity of levels or layers required for the initial premise above that working hard is hard work. I believe one must first consider, establish, nurture and strengthen their work ethic as it will impact all effort, and if one stays true to that ethic then subjective judgements will naturally occur and adjustments can be made. I have also found that once a work ethic has been established, the nurturing may require some quantity of busy work.

So I think I better understand how work can become valuable, (1 thru 5 above), and I understand that its value is subject to subjectivity. I also believe that a work ethic can be strengthened and work can have value regardless of the where, but work can and will be directed, thus influenced, according to circumstance and surroundings. And at first the question of why work becomes valuable appears to be answered in much the same way as how work becomes valuable; and this is true, but I also believe the why pulls in the individual and their feelings and emotions. Without a feeling of satisfaction, many individuals will quit; and many do. So I believe why goes beyond the how in that it must be considered from the perspective of the producing individual, which I also believe is consistent with studies on workplace motivation.

This leaves the question of when work becomes valuable. I suppose the Quality of Work can be judged (subjectively) almost immediately, but as pointed out above it is much more difficult to measure the value of results until all ripples have disappeared. And I don’t know about you, but I am working to leave ripples long after my Wake. Because posthumous greatness is a thing, who is to say what is and what is not busy work? Additionally, measuring Quality of Work is made more difficult by individual capability. Of two individuals asked for the same or similar specific output, the one who produces what is judged as higher quality is not always the more sincere, and/or harder-working individual. Any measurement of quality can be and may very well be independent of one's work ethic.

So if I were going to apply a formula to measure value, for work I believe that would be:

(Quantity of Work) X (Sincerity of Effort) + or – (Quality of Work) + or – (Quality of Immediate Results) – (Missed Opportunities) + or – (Quality of Future Results).

And because Quality will always be a subjective measurement, and because the number of potential missed opportunities is potentially infinite, the actual value of work is impossible to quantify. The formula however, for the value or (more accurately) the strength of one's work ethic, I believe is more straightforward but can only be objectively quantified by the individual producer, because to defend one's product automatically cheapens and/or weakens it. This formula for work ethic would be:

((Quantity of Work) X (Sincerity of Effort)) to the power of (Sincerity of Effort).

I have just run headlong into my deadline without addressing physical vs. mental labor, the impact of one's work ethic on play, or the role of emotion and the role of reason in work. I will consider if these factors warrant more effort to carry forward into next week, or if that effort is more likely to result in inconsequential busy work.

Hmm…