During ancient times, people worked jobs they were good at because it helped their neighbors or community. If you were a skilled craftsman, you made that your livelihood. If your family worked as farmers for generations, it was important to continue that tradition because it supplied food for miles around. People found satisfaction in what they did because it was rewarding and fulfilling.
In today's society, I feel that too many people find jobs because they are trying to support families or because they need to provide for themselves--not because they enjoy work. I have met dozens of people who have law degrees, criminal justice degrees, music degrees, and so on, working as managers and area directors at Chilis. Granted, running a restaurant can be a fulfilling career, and some of those people are very happy in the corporate casual dining world, however, it is a trap for others. It was becoming a trap for me as well. I worked with Chilis for 11 years and had been promised positions within the company that pay upwards of $100,000/year plus potential for an additional $30,000 in bonuses. I quit without giving notice. I burned that bridge when school started to focus on being a student. Why? The money isn't worth it. I was a miserable person to be around and felt like such a looser every time I got dressed for work. It's a great company and there isn't anything majorly wrong with the job except that it didn't make me happy.
Our lives are too short to feel stuck in careers that do not fulfill us. The average person sleeping 8 hours a night, will be awake for 112 hours a week... 40 to 50 of those hours are spent working full time at a job. If you are going to commit nearly half of your time to something, shouldn't you be enjoying it?
So, my question to the world would be, are you walking in or out of the butt at this point?
This is such a good wake up call to people who aren't enjoying what they are doing. I know that the reason I chose my major is because I'm going to love being around it for my whole life and it won't get old fast like most jobs do.
ReplyDeleteI agree not only do most people hate their job but they are in that field because of the money. As a society we put too much emphasis on how much money you will make and how successful you will be. I have a friend who is a journalism major here at UNT and she doesnt even want to be here. We were talking the other night and she said that she rather be a waitress her whole life then be in college. People stress getting a good job too much, we should stress getting a job you will enjoy.
ReplyDelete