Finding Meaning in a Job You Don’t Love

Finding Purpose in the Mundane: How One Manager’s Words Changed Everything

The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as Jack wiped down the same counter for what felt like the hundredth time that week.

At nineteen, he was deep into his sophomore year at Portland State University, working evenings at Murphy’s Quick Bite, a fast-food place in downtown Portland. To him, it was just a paycheck.

“Do you want fries with that?” had become the soundtrack of his life, and every time he said it, a part of him cringed. This wasn’t where he pictured himself, and he didn’t hide it.

The Breaking Point

One Tuesday evening after the dinner rush, Jack leaned against the fryer station, venting to his coworker Avery.

“I can’t believe I’m stuck here,” he muttered, tossing a rag onto the counter. “Three more years of college, and I’m spending them asking people if they want to super-size their combo. This is such a waste of time.”

Avery nodded, letting him vent. Jack had given this same speech before. What he didn’t realize was that Mike, the manager, was restocking napkins just around the corner.

Twenty minutes later, Jack heard his name called over the kitchen noise.

“Jack, can I see you in my office?”

Mike didn’t sound angry—just serious. Jack followed him, uneasy. He expected a warning or maybe worse.

A Conversation That Shifted Everything

Mike sat down and looked at him. “I overheard what you said. And if you’re unhappy, you’re free to walk away. No one’s keeping you here.”

Jack braced himself.

“But before you do that,” Mike said, “tell me—what do you think your job is here?”

Jack was confused. “You know what I do. I take orders, clean up. Basic stuff.”

Mike shook his head. “That’s not what you do.”

A New Way to See It

Jack looked at him, puzzled.

“You provide people with food that’s fresh, fast, and safe. You might be handing dinner to a construction worker who’s been on his feet since 6 a.m., or a single mom who didn’t have time to cook. Your work can make someone’s day easier—or not. That’s up to you.”

Jack had never thought about it that way. To him, customers were just order numbers.

“And after hours,” Mike continued, “you help keep this place clean and safe. You are part of making sure people don’t get sick. That matters.”

Jack sat quietly, taking it all in.

“You do more than you think,” Mike said. “And when you work with pride—when you understand your impact—you build habits that shape your future. This job is helping you get through school. It’s not forever, but it can still help shape who you become.”

A Shift in Mindset

Jack blinked, caught off guard. “I’ve never looked at it like that. Honestly, thank you. I needed to hear that. I’ve been acting like this place is beneath me, and I’m sorry.”

Mike smiled. “No need to apologize. I’m just glad you heard me.”

That night, Jack couldn’t shake the conversation. At first, he tried to brush it off—but the message stuck.

In the days that followed, something changed. He started greeting customers with a real smile. He focused on getting every order right. He even found himself enjoying the little moments—like making someone laugh or brightening someone’s day.

Finding Value in the Routine

Cleaning the restaurant no longer felt like mindless work. Jack now understood that his attention to detail mattered. It protected customers. It kept people healthy. That gave him pride.

He began showing up early and staying a little late to make sure everything was done right. His reviews improved. Mike gave him more responsibility—and a small raise.

More importantly, the shift at work bled into other parts of his life. His grades went up. His relationships deepened. He started looking for ways to contribute, not just get by.

“You’re like a whole new person,” Avery said one evening. “Whatever Mike said to you—I want that talk too.”

The Long-Term Impact

Jack stayed at Murphy’s through college, eventually becoming an assistant manager. When he graduated with his business degree, he carried that lesson into his first real job.

He rose through the ranks at a marketing firm in Seattle and, years later, managed his own team. When his employees got discouraged, he remembered Mike’s words—and passed them on.

What once felt like a dead-end job had given him one of the most important lessons of his life:

Purpose doesn’t come from the job. It comes from how you choose to see it.

The Core Lesson

Purpose isn’t handed to you—it’s something you bring to your work.

Jack’s story is a reminder that fulfillment doesn’t come from job titles or status. It comes from perspective. When he started seeing his role as a service, not a struggle, everything shifted.

Too often, we see certain jobs as placeholders—something to get through. But every role, no matter how simple, can be a training ground. Every task is a chance to show character, care, and effort.

You don’t need a new job to find purpose. You might just need a new lens.

How You Can Apply This

Ask yourself:

• Who benefits from my work? Someone is counting on what you do—whether that’s a client, a customer, or your coworkers.
• What values can I practice right here? Punctuality, kindness, pride in your work—these are habits you’ll take with you wherever you go.
• How is this job helping build my future? Maybe it funds your goals or teaches you consistency. That’s not nothing.
• Am I seeing this as a holding pattern or a growth path? The answer shapes your attitude—and your results.

Try this: For one week, show up with purpose. Do the small things well. Look for the people behind the tasks. You might be surprised how fast your outlook changes—not because your job changed, but because you did.

Mindset Traps to Watch For

Even when you’re trying, it’s easy to slip into unhelpful thinking. Watch out for these:

1. “This job is beneath me.” That mindset closes doors. Every role can teach you something valuable. Pride starts with humility.
2. “I’ll care when I get a better job.” If you don’t build good habits now, you won’t magically develop them later. Start now.
3. “What I do doesn’t matter.” It does. Someone is affected by your work—even if you don’t always see it.
4. “I’m just here for the paycheck.” Earning money is important. But you can grow too. Why not let the job serve more than one purpose?
5. “No one notices what I do.” Quiet excellence still matters. It builds trust, self-respect, and often opens doors later.

Self-Reflection

Take a few moments and ask yourself:

• How do I see my job right now?
• Am I showing up with intention—or just getting through the day?
• Who benefits from my work, even if they never say it?
• What habits am I building with how I approach my work?
• What would change if I treated my role as training for something greater?
• Am I waiting for meaning—or choosing to bring it?

Final Thought: Meaning Is a Choice

Jack didn’t get a promotion or a raise before his outlook changed. What he got was perspective.

He saw that the purpose he was waiting for was already there—he just hadn’t looked for it.

The same is true for all of us. When we stop asking, “What am I getting from this job?” and start asking, “What can I give to it?”—we unlock pride, growth, and purpose.

The job may be temporary. But who you become because of it? That can last a lifetime.