Book recommendation: “Meaningful Work” by Wes Adams and Tamara Myles

I had the pleasure of meeting Wes a few years ago, thanks to the introduction by Martijn Boomsma—and have since had the joy of inviting Wes to guest speak with my students. His authenticity, clarity, and deep care for people and purpose left a lasting impression on all of us. So when I first heard whispers of this book in the making, I was immediately intrigued. And when Meaningful Work finally arrived, I couldn’t wait to dive in.

Adams and Myles don’t just offer a book; they offer a lens. A deeply researched yet beautifully human framework for what it means to create workplace cultures that are sustainable, engaging, and yes, soulful. Drawing on years of data, storytelling, and leadership practice, they root their argument in the “Three Cs”: Contribution, Community, and Challenge. These aren’t corporate buzzwords. These are invitations. Each “C” acts like a compass point, helping both leaders and workers orient themselves toward wholeness.

What spoke to me most? Their gentle but powerful insistence that humanity, not output, is at the core of the future of work. As someone who has spent decades designing educational and transformational spaces, I could feel the resonance deep in my bones. Their call for servant leadership—small moments of presence, acknowledgement, encouragement—is a reminder that we don’t need massive budgets or grand programs to shape meaningful ecosystems. We need care. Intention. Space to grow.

And I adored their metaphor of the goldfish—yes, the much-maligned symbol of short attention spans. But in this book, the goldfish is redeemed. If given enough room, it can grow to the size of a golden retriever. Can you imagine that? The same goes for people. When leaders make space, when they believe in possibility, transformation follows.

This book is a must for anyone navigating the changing landscape of work, especially in an era of AI, burnout, and organisational fragility. Whether you’re in HR, a founder, a team lead, or an educator like me who works across boundaries of disciplines and identities, you’ll find something here to spark new ways of thinking, leading, and relating.

More than a paycheck. More than a position. It’s about being part of something that matters.
I’ll be revisiting this one often—and gifting it to the people in my world who are creating futures where meaning, not metrics, is the real bottom line.

Guest speaker Wes, 2023 September, CREA Amsterdam

Class selfie with Wes, 2023 September, CREA Amsterdam