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What It Really Means to Love Your Job

Love is tricky enough to describe in the traditional context that Valentine’s Day evokes. When it comes to loving our work, it’s even tougher to talk about. To love something means feeling fulfilled, discovering purpose, or recognizing its inherent value. However, when it comes to our careers, sometimes we push “love” aside. We tend to prioritize securing the highest salary or striving for promotions, but amid these goals, do we stop and reflect on what it truly means to love our job? Loving your job isn’t just about reaching the top or earning a paycheck—it’s about finding joy, satisfaction, and meaning in the work you do and the people you do it with. It’s about connecting with your purpose, feeling inspired, and engaging in work that resonates with you on a deeper level. When we focus solely on external rewards, we may miss out on the true essence of what makes work truly fulfilling. Here is what we at Careerstone love about our jobs:

Mary Abbajay, President of Careerstone Group, expressed that her love for Careerstone came down to three reasons:

“I love Careerstone for three reasons: an amazing team, wonderful clients, and incredible experiences. The Careerstone team is simply the best. They are smart, funny, talented, and dedicated. Without them, I would be nothing. I can honestly say, they are the best team in the biz.

I also love our clients. It is such a joy to work with people who truly believe in creating positive and productive workplaces for their people, teams, and organizations. I love that we work across all sectors in the private and public space. Being able to learn from people in so many different fields is truly remarkable. One day I may be with a government health agency and the next day with a company like Microsoft. It’s super cool!

And finally, I love how working at Careerstone affords me so many incredible experiences—whether it is presenting on a stage for 1000 people, recording courses for LinkedIn Learning, or flying to Brussels to deliver a workshop for NATO—it’s never a dull day at Careerstone!”

Breaking down where your enjoyment of your job comes from can help remind you why you stay with your company and find fulfillment in your work. However, sometimes the love for your job isn’t just about the work itself; it’s about the people around you. The relationships you build with colleagues, mentors, or your team can greatly impact how fulfilling your job feels. A positive, supportive work environment creates a sense of belonging and makes even the most challenging days feel worthwhile.

Kristen Shattuck, Director of Facilitation and Training, found that she loved the different qualities of her co-workers:

“It was very easy to fall in love with the incredible Careerstone Group team! Mary is a powerhouse of support and energy, somehow managing to lead with both dynamism and a generosity of spirit. Everyone adores Mary because, despite her inner introvert, she always puts others’ needs front and center, making the work seem effortless.

Robin is the kind of colleague who blends sharp intellect with a practical approach, always asking the right questions that get to the heart of the matter. Not only does she care deeply about the work, but she also genuinely invests in the people doing it, making sure everyone feels supported and heard. I could do this work without her, but I sure wouldn’t want to try!

Kristen Wilhelm has the energy and drive of someone fresh out of college (because she is!). I love that Kristen W is the kind of colleague who steps into any project, no matter how unfamiliar, and nails it with a mix of sharp insight and flawless organization. She consistently delivers results that make everyone wonder how she makes it look so easy.”

Sometimes, it’s not just about one thing or person but the overall energy and culture of the workplace that makes it special. The atmosphere, the values, the sense of teamwork—all these elements can contribute to a deep sense of fulfillment and connection. When the right environment aligns with your values, the reasons you love your job become even more clear and meaningful.

Robin Goodstein, Senior Consultant, describes her love for Careerstone Group in three words:

“Why I love working at Careerstone comes down to three words: variety, autonomy, and levity.

Variety: Because Careerstone offers consulting, training, and facilitation, every day is different. From designing retreat activities for a team, working through a thorny organizational problem with a leader, or training a globally distributed team—sometimes that’s a Wednesday—the work is never boring.

Autonomy: As a small but mighty team of three consultants and a project manager, we each serve clients independently, seeing every project through from the exploratory call to the day of facilitation and every design choice, agenda revision, and client call in between.  And, not to put too fine a point on it, but I work for a boss who literally wrote the book on bad bosses. So, she never micromanages. But she and my colleagues are always generous thought-partners and cheerleaders when I need them.

Levity:  Every member of this team takes the work, not herself, very seriously. We laugh a lot, swear a lot, and share personal stories that are just shy of oversharing. Okay, they’re probably oversharing. But that works for Careerstone, which is a top reason why working for Careerstone works for me.”

Finally, maybe all the reasons you love your job boil down to the type of environment it creates. Feeling surrounded by people who build a positive, supportive community can powerfully influence your love for what you do. If you’re lucky enough to love your job because it’s a perfect environment for you, I’m with you.

Kristen Wilhelm, Marketing and Project Manager, shares why she thinks Careerstone Group is like a family to her:

“I love working at Careerstone Group because it truly feels like a big, happy family. There’s something incredibly reassuring about knowing that the people around me not only trust and value the work I do but also appreciate me as a person. Being surrounded by such supportive, kind individuals make me feel that my time and effort are always respected and never wasted. We’ve built a tight-knit community where we uplift and encourage one another, and that sense of camaraderie is what motivates me to wake up every morning excited to get to work. It’s more than just a job; it’s a place where I feel valued and driven to give my best. I know that I will always have a strong support system with this company, and that is something I love and cherish immensely.”

While we hope that everyone loves their job, we understand that’s not always the case. If you’re feeling disengaged or seeking to reconnect with your team, we’re here to help. Let us support you in rediscovering that spark.