The Impact Of Your Work

Everyone hopes that when they put in effort, there will be a corresponding result that validates their hard work, no matter what that work might be. This could mean the competition you were working all year toward, your career, the work you do at home, or even recognition for all the thought you put into an outstanding birthday gift. There may be people who say they aren’t looking for anything in return for their actions, but everyone does what they do for a reason, no matter if it’s subconsciously or actively. In the end, everyone seeks validation for their work, and sometimes it can be hard to see if you don’t look hard enough for it.

Since I’m a writer, let’s first take the example of writing you put out for the world to read (kind of like these blogs!) The very fact that you are reading these words right now is validation enough for me, even if I didn’t know you had done so! Thankfully, I have had a couple of people reach out to me through various channels indicating they enjoyed reading my articles. But suppose that didn’t happen and I simply produced these articles with no feedback at all. Why would I continue to make them?

For one thing, I know that while they might not be read now, they might be sometime in the future. Nothing says that someone can’t discover one of my pieces while searching for guidance or opinions and happen to chance upon it. Knowing that my blog material is out for anyone to use and hopefully learn something from at any time makes me feel good in the knowledge that they might help someone much later than the day they were posted. Additionally, writing as a craft is a simple joy for me, to be able to put my thoughts down on paper or a screen and know that they are available for others to read. I take pride in my work, and it helps me relax after a long day at my job, or to unwind in my spare time. Even if nobody reads my articles, the stress relief and break I get through writing pays dividends in itself. Impact doesn’t necessarily have to be on other people: it can just as much be a benefit for yourself as well, and that’s just the point, isn’t it?

Sometimes, all it would take is getting your work in the right places to be recognized. If you aren’t getting the recognition you feel you deserve from one forum, try another. If you feel you are being put down and underutilized in your current job, find one that puts your talents to use. If you feel as though the forum you have chosen is the correct one and you just aren’t getting the kind of traction you were expecting, be open-minded. Talk to a few people around you and get some feedback. See what you can do to improve and discover new ways to create newer and better things.

Finally, just remember: just because your work isn’t reaching a massive audience doesn’t mean you aren’t making an impact. If you change the life of one person for the better, your work has mattered. The likelihood that your work does not reach at least one person if you are actively trying to put yourself out there is very slim, and you can rest easy knowing that somebody somewhere will take something from what you do.

If you love what you do, don’t stop. The rewards will come in time.