What’s work to you?

My coach asked me this question, and what came to mind was "meaning".

Part of me thought, “Oh, how lovely.”

And the other part thought, “Oh, that means it’s far too important to me.”

Because work has always mattered to me. Deeply.

Work has been a massive part of my life. Probably one of the most important parts.

I’ve always worked really, really hard. I took it seriously. I was competitive. I wanted to do well, get promoted, be excellent. If my male colleagues wore suits, I wore suits.

I trained as an economist, but I chose public sector work over investment banking. Later, I moved into the travel industry. I’ve never worked in particularly high-paying sectors. Money mattered, but it wasn’t the point.

The point was identity. Purpose. Doing good work. Being respected. Being liked. Feeling useful.

And I worried about all of that a lot, too.

But despite the intensity, I never had an unhealthy relationship with work the way people assume. I worked hard, but I also took all my holidays and switched off.

Then, six years ago, I started my own coaching business...

Interestingly, the pressure didn’t go up the way you’d think. In some ways, it softened.

I still think about work a lot. Probably more than ever.

Ideas for clients and blogs. How could I communicate something better? What I want to create next.

And I think that’s okay.

Recently, a colleague said, “If you love it, it doesn’t feel like work.”

And I had a strong reaction. That’s not right…

Because hidden inside that sentence is an assumption that work is supposed to feel bad. That work and enjoyment are opposites. That if something feels meaningful or alive, it stops counting as work.

What if that’s not true?

I love coaching leaders. I would do it for free. I get so much from it. Watching people see something new, watching pressure dissolve, watching them think bigger, reconnect with themselves and move forward with more ease.

And yes, I also want the business to grow. I want to earn more. I want to do better work. I want to reach more people.

Sometimes I put too much pressure on myself around that. Sometimes I get a scrunchy face about it. I can feel the tension, the overthinking, and the internal pushing.

But I’m getting quicker at noticing when that happens now.

For years, I thought thinking about work a lot meant something was wrong with me. That I cared too much. That work was too important.

But maybe that was just borrowed thinking.

Maybe thinking about work a lot isn’t the problem.

Maybe the problem is thinking it’s a problem.

Work is "meaning" in the lovely way and also in the not-so-helpful way. And maybe both of those are just part of how I’m made.

I don’t want to say coaching doesn’t feel like work, because I don’t see work as a bad word.

I think about work quite a lot.

And that’s alright, I think.

If you’re someone who gets too much meaning from work and you’re not sure whether that’s wonderful or worrying, let’s talk. Book a call.

Mehalah Beckett is an executive, team and business coach, and the founder of Lead Powerful Impact, a certified B-Corp.

She works with purpose-driven leaders and sustainable businesses who want to move beyond performance, lead with clarity and self-trust, and create impact without burning out.

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