🧠 Not Just a Tag. A Responsibility. "Open to Work"

Jeetendra khatri
Jun 18
3 min read

There’s a curious free-floating tag in digital streets at the moment — a tag. "Open to Work." But is it really about work?

Open to Work

Some wear it as an ambition signal. Some wear it for style. Some, candidly, don’t even know what it really means. Open to Work

Let’s talk about a story. Not about someone, but about something that’s common place now.

A creator had a thought — a collaborative piece. Two minds. Not for money, but for meaning. For the collaborative fun. For the process of learning and doing. A message to the world. A moment of collaboration.

But in that moment of collaboration, at some point, time became irrelevant. "Last editing next week. I’ll let you know when I have time."

That phrase. That sentence.

Time — the only fungible currency we have in common, that we all spend differently.

🕰 The Illusion of 'Having Time'

A lot say, “I have time.” But not many say, “I spend time.”

Time is not a gap for you to fill in between tasks – time is the tool for shaping your future.

Sitting in a chair, drinking coffee, scrolling posts, waiting for a stipend, stuck on some idea of leisure - that's not work. That's leisure for pretenders.

Work is when your skill sweats. When your mind gets stretched. When your effort gets to breathe - even when you don't get a guarantee.

🔍 The Problem Isn’t Lack of Work. It’s the Lack of Will.

Today, many people are hunting for jobs. But some aren't hunting for a contribution — just for consumption.

The real talent is not waiting for an office job. It was out there, working quietly.

Using time. Writing. Creating. Getting better. Falling flat and then picking itself up.

No nice chair, no salary guarantee — just burning desire.

So the question isn't who's hiring.

The question is: Are you ready to work? Or just waiting to be managed?

💡 What Should We Really Be Doing?

Begin valuing unpaid work like a workout for your brain.
Collaborate, not only for income — but for an outcome.
Find respect in all opportunities to create.
Don't chase followers. Chase impact.
Don’t wait for the right conditions to make something happen. Create the right conditions.

Stop asking, "What's in it for me?" Start asking, "What’s possible by pulling me in?"

📌 Those Who Work — Learn. Those Who Wait — Watch.

The world is owned by the doers not the debators.

There are people working day and night — without applause.

There are people building — without budgets.

And they are the ones that will lead. Because they chose work over excuses.

Instead of influencers we should be inspired by workers.

🧭 A Note to Our Generation

“Open to Work” is not a vibe. It’s a commitment.

It’s a silent vow to yourself that:

“I’m not simply waiting. I’m becoming.”

You don’t need a desk to start.

You need discipline.

You don’t need a team.

You need intent.

🛑 The Real Message

Have you ever turned away an opportunity because it didn’t present a monetary component? Consider this: what if that opportunity was a test before the treasure? Comfort is not the end goal. Creation is. Status is not success. Contribution is. And remember: not all work pays out in currency. Some pays our meaning.