I’ve been wandering through Emilia-Romagna, Italy, these last few days with a client, and what caught my attention was not the famous sites or the food (while amazing!), but the tiny, ordinary moments of people doing the work that keeps a place humming.

A factory worker dunking cheese. A woman sweeping a stretch of sidewalk with a rhythm that says he’s done it a thousand times. A mother and son running their 4th generation family hotel. A guide translating the story of Ferrari in two languages.

Just everyday people, doing everyday jobs. And watching them, something stirred in me.

There’s a story we never tell at work. A story that crosses borders, cultures, industries, and generations.

We don’t tell the story of the quiet pride people take in doing something well.

We don’t tell the story of how meaningful it feels to contribute — whether that’s crafting a croissant, balancing a spreadsheet, repairing a machine, leading a team, or helping a customer who just really needs help that day.

We don’t talk enough about the dignity of showing up.

Instead, the loudest messages about work right now are cautionary ones: “Don’t work too hard.” “Protect yourself.” “Stay in balance.” “Keep your boundaries tight.” “Don’t let work define you.”

And while there’s truth in protecting our wellbeing (burnout is real, exploitation happens) I worry that in pushing back against unhealthy work cultures, we’ve started telling only one side of the story.

Because the truth, the one I can’t shake, is this:

Work matters. Not just for the paycheck. Not just for the title. Not just for the company.

Work matters because we matter.

We are wired to make things, to contribute to something beyond ourselves, to use our skills in ways that feel meaningful and connected.

Work, at its best, is one of the most human things we do.

It shapes us. It connects us. It invites us to grow. It lets us offer something back to the world.

Watching these small moments of work in Italy didn’t make me think, “I should work less.” It made me think, “This is what it looks like when work has pride and presence. When work is simply part of a life.”

Maybe the invitation isn’t to work harder or less, but to work more humanly:

With intention. With craft. With connection. With dignity. With room to rest and room to care. With pride in the ordinary.

That’s the story worth retelling — the one we all know somewhere deep down, but sometimes forget in the noise.

Thanks for being in this conversation with me.

With heart, Moe

P.S.

If you’re a leader who feels the pull toward creating a workplace where people feel proud of what they do, where they can contribute with dignity, clarity, and connection, I’d love to talk.

Let’s explore what’s possible together.

👉 Book an intro conversation with me:https://clientportal.moementum.com/public/explore/1-Schedule_an_intro_call​

Sometimes one honest conversation is all it takes to help a team rediscover the meaning and value of their work.

I’m here when you’re ready.

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