You will define the concept of work (as in: career) for yourself.  It will sit at different places on the work-to-live or live-to-work priority spectrum throughout life.

It is important to define it because society will do the same.  But as with most things what society comes up with will apply to the lowest common denominator—the mainstream masses.  And who this benefits is for you to determine.

At time of writing this post the quote I grew up with "the world is full of educated failures" is less a dig at any institution and more a reflection on the fact that traditional career pathways and rewards established in the mid-to-late 20th century no longer exist.  I am using this period as a reference only because I can relate to it through my own life experience.  In reality a series of industrial revolutions has done the same several times over and is likely to do so again in ways and for reasons I can't yet imagine.

What is different with each of these cycles is the speed at which the impact is realised and the gap that emerges between those who lead it or at least see it coming, and those who ride the wave.  The reason for this increased acceleration is technology making information more available by better connecting people-to-people, people-to-things, and things-to-things.

That said when thinking about the concept of work, what it means, and how you approach it; it can be helpful to disregard 95% of technology completely—by now it's a utility; heavily commercialised, gamified, and democratised.  The remaining 5% is likely the bleeding-edge-emerging-capability that a small portion of the population are aware of and even fewer understand.  If you're not in that category—and even if you are—it is worth having levers to pull of your own.

What I have found is the most effective levers are the oldest because they are smaller, require regular maintenance, don't always work immediately; so are overlooked by most.  This makes them a differentiator.  Just like you will define what work means for yourself you will have your own set own levers.  The following points are my refections on getting in the mindset to create effective ones.

1. Very few people will be successful because of their own actions.  Success is mostly created for us by others.
2. There is no guaranteed path to success, it comes down to luck.  If you want to succeed increase your luck by clearly communicating your value to as many people as possible.  Google "luck surface area" and "Gaddie pitch".
3. What got you where you are now won't get you where you want to go next.  Earn it again.
4. Yes sure this is cliché coming from a marketer but build brands for your ideas.  Define everything you do as a "thing".  More mass, more gravity.  It’s easier for others to get on board.
5. Pursuing "best imaginable" leads to remarkable. Good enough leads to ordinary.  The Cynefin model is useful to determine what matters most. 
6. Liking, agreeing with, or respecting something or someone are separate things.  If in doubt be respectful.