Regardless of your job title, or organization, your role can make a difference.

As a culture, we tend to admire those with strong missions to bring greater justice or quality of life into the world. For instance, some jobs just scream “saving the world!”

In a recent article, more people are seeking fulfillment, specifically millennials.

Except, not all jobs/organizations are deliberately making an obvious impact on the world, then that of others. That most jobs don’t feel largely important in the day-to-day routine.

I want you to know that what you’re doing is still impactful and making a difference.

How?

Why?

Because, your job most likely has you contributing to a mission.

When workers are aware that their work makes a difference – job satisfaction rises and so does their productivity.

If it is not obvious to you, ask your manager to clarify how you can contribute to the goals of the company.

When you think that what you’re doing is a waste of time, and that no one really cares, think about how what you’re doing is helping even just one person.

An example of this is in retail. Someone might think that selling clothes really isn’t serving a larger purpose. It’s just that the positive effects of boosting someone’s confidence can’t be seen yet.

If you can understand how people are being helped by what you do, how you make a difference to them, you will be motivated to care about what you’re doing.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you should stick around if your environment is unethical or toxic. No, what I’m trying to share is what you’re doing has meaning.

Making a difference doesn’t need to be directly related to your job description. Making a difference might mean taking additional steps in the right direction. For instance, leading by example. Maybe that entails organizing a day for coworkers to volunteer or initiating the office to recycle.

One of the greatest ways to make a difference is to inspire one person first.

To make a difference doesn’t mean you have to do “incredible things,” sometimes it’s the smallest acts, the ordinary acts that make all the difference.

Like Barry the bee says in the Bee Movie, small jobs [all jobs] make a big difference.