That Sunday Night Dread Isn't Normal
More than half of workers worldwide say they are struggling. If you're one of them, this is for you.
What follows is the introduction of my new book, More Than a Paycheck. I'm sharing it here because its message matters far beyond the page.
Have you ever stared at the ceiling on a Sunday night, wishing the weekend could last forever?
Have you ever dragged yourself out of bed on a Monday morning, dreading another week of meetings, deadlines, and a job that feels like it has nothing to do with who you really are?
Have you looked at your parents' work and want to do something different believing there is a better option for you?
Have you found yourself laid off knowing you never want to go back to that daily meaningless grind again?
If so, you're not alone. Most people spend decades waiting for Fridays, chasing an elusive retirement, or numbing themselves just to get through another day. But deep down, you know this cannot be the reason we're here. Life is too short, too precious, to trade away for a paycheck and a role that never truly fits.
Each of us is unique—like fingerprints. We are born with gifts, passions, and curiosities that make us different from everyone else. I don't believe we are given these only to bury them at a job that doesn't let us use them. I believe they are here to be expressed, to be shared, to make our lives—and the world—better. We should be able to use our gifts at work.
This belief is what set me on this journey. Starting with my first job at IBM, I couldn't stop asking these questions:
Why do so many people hate Mondays?
Why do we say "family comes first," but reward endless hours at the office?
Why do we hide emotions at work when they are what make us human?
And the deepest questions for me, sitting at my desk one day were: Why am I here? What is my purpose? Is this what life is about?
Those questions—and the bold decisions they led me to—changed everything. I left a well-paying job that looked good on paper, moved across the world, worked in small and medium-sized companies, and eventually started my own.
What I discovered is this: when we align our work with who we are—our gifts, our values, our passions—work no longer feels heavy. It becomes part of life, not separate from it. Work can become joy. I no longer feel like I have a work life and another life where I am different. I love what I do and it is always with me. I do not need to behave differently in different settings. What I do is also who I am.
I wrote this book because I believe we all deserve that. Not perfect days every day, but the kind of work that lets you wake up feeling alive, proud, and part of something bigger than yourself. For three decades, I've been researching, coaching, and consulting to answer one question: what makes people happy at work? The answers are clear: meaning, growth, belonging, contribution, impact, and alignment.
And yet, the numbers show how far we still must go. According to the latest Gallup study, 56% of people worldwide say they are struggling, 9% say they are outright suffering, and about half are ready to leave their jobs. I do not even want to mention engagement rates. That did not change or got better for a very long time. These are not pretty statistics. But they remind us of something crucial: we have the power to demand change, to create better work, and to challenge the status quo. Most people feel unsettled, unsure what their next step should be.
These numbers are more than statistics; they are a wake-up call. This book is not about quick fixes or "feel good" slogans. It's about what we demand as human beings in the workplace: dignity, purpose, and the chance to do work that matters. It's also about a movement because things must shift. We are coming to a breaking point, and the numbers on fulfillment and well-being at work are not improving. Change won't come from the top down alone; it begins with the inner journey each of us must take, and together, it becomes unstoppable. We have to reinvent work together. Work and making a living should work for everyone.
Here's the truth: the workplace as we know is broken. But here's the good news: change doesn't start with "them." It starts with us. One person at a time. One choice at a time.
This book is not theory—it is a path. It's a DIY guide to help you discover who you are, what you want, and how to create work that reflects it. I poured into these pages everything I learned from decades of study, my own journey, and the stories of countless clients who dared to ask, "Is there more to life than this?" when work did not work anymore.
The answer is yes. Absolutely yes.
We are not here to suffer through meaningless jobs just to barely make it to retirement. We are here to live fully, to shine, and to do work that matters. My hope is that as you read, you'll not only find clarity about yourself, but also the courage to step into work that feels like you.
Everything starts with your questions, your choices, your willingness to take the inner journey most people skip. I can tell you from experience: it is worth it.
So, let's begin.
Purposefully and gratefully, Brooke Ozlem Erol
If this resonated, find out more about it and listen to some podcasts here: More Than a Paycheck goes deeper.
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