We all have parts of our jobs that aren't fun. But even an unpleasant task can have meaning if you search for it. Try this exercise. Think about an activity that you don't always enjoy doing — delivering performance reviews, for example. Now ask yourself why you do it, but ask four times. The first time you ask "Why do I do this?" you might answer, "Because I have to" or "I want to let my people know where they stand." Then ask a second time: "Why do I want to let my people know where they stand?" The answer here might not be inspiring: "Because it's part of my job." But the answer might also start to sound more meaningful: "So that people can know how they can reach their career goals." Then ask a third time: "Why do I care if people know how to reach their career goals?" Continue for one more iteration. By the fourth round, you're likely to uncover a meaningful reason behind the activity — and a motivation for doing it well.
Adapted from "The Most Powerful Lesson My Cancer Taught Me About Life and Work," by Dan Cable
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