A Near-Death Moment Can Redefine What Work Means
One morning in March 2020, Randy Schiefer opened his eyes in a hospital bed, unsure how much time had passed. He remembered a quiet walk through what looked like a golden city, as one can imagine. There were arched windows, glowing streets, and a light that didn’t look like anything he’d ever seen. A man told him he didn’t belong there, and then everything stopped. When he woke up again, his daughter was next to him, and the machines were gone.
Although strange, this was still explainable. What happened after that was harder to explain. Friends noticed he talked more openly, listened longer, and seemed oddly calm. He didn’t dive back into his routines the way most people do after being sick. Things that used to bother him didn’t. His job was the same on paper, but it didn’t feel like the same job anymore.
A Strange Return to the Office
Image via Unsplash/EFFYDESK
Researchers at the University of Guelph studied people like Randy. Fourteen adults who had near-death experiences were interviewed after surviving major medical events. Their returns were messy and full of hesitation. Many said they didn’t recognize themselves in their old roles. Some quit their job or at least changed how they worked.
One woman said she felt like the version of herself who used to take meetings in heels and pitch decks no longer existed. She couldn’t sit through conference calls without feeling out of place. So she walked away from a high-income job and started a business based on something more personal. Another participant stepped down from a fast-track executive role to work fewer hours and spend more time with clients directly.
No More Chasing
Money, recognition, and advancement had all carried weight before. But after what these people went through, that weight disappeared. They said they no longer felt driven by the old scorecards. Instead, they wanted to spend time on things that lined up with their values. It seemed like a dramatic flip in personality, but it was more like turning down the volume on external noise.
For workplaces that thrive on targets and metrics, this can look like disengagement. But the reality was different. The participants were still working hard, but for different reasons. One man described this change as “a knowing” that he needed to show up with intention and purpose.
Coworkers Stop Being Names in a System
Relationships at work were another part of the story. Before their near-death experiences, most participants saw colleagues through a task-based lens. It was all about deliverables, timelines, and expectations. Afterward, those same people began to notice who they were working with instead of what they were working on.
A former sales manager explained how his calls used to revolve around numbers. After his hospitalization, those conversations slowed down. He paid attention to people’s tone, remembered birthdays, and spent more time helping new hires adjust. These habits were formed as a direct result of being aware that life could have ended.
What This Means for Everyone Else
It’s easy to read these stories and think they apply only to people who’ve been through a medical crisis. But the truth is, their takeaways line up with trends already happening across the workforce. More people want jobs that do more than pay bills. They want to know that the hours they give away each week are going toward something worthwhile.
Organizations have started to recognize this. Companies are building cultures that support autonomy, meaning, and human connection. Studies show that employees who find purpose in their work are more committed and less likely to burn out.
A Change in Perspective
Image via Unsplash/Benjamin Wedemeyer
People have been asking what makes a good job for decades. But when someone wakes up after nearly dying and tells you they’re changing how they work, it’s hard to ignore. No trend report will say that out loud. But if you ask the people who’ve been close to the end, it becomes obvious. Work changes when you realize how temporary things are.