Question for fellow professional CF members, pretty simple. Do you love what you do? I've been working for myself for a while now (5 years) and have hit somewhat of a crossroads or ceiling if you will. I think the actual work is great and I love being creative but I do feel like the last few years of trying to grow and push through the ceiling if you will have started to take a bit of a toll. I've gotten to see a lot more politics, legalities and ethical quanderies than I would've imagined but I'm sure that these are the breaks. It has gotten to a point though where I'm not feeling the love for the career that I used to. Would love to hear others thoughts whether you work for yourself or a company.
No, I don't enjoy going to work. Truth be told there aren't many jobs I could see myself being "happy" going to. What few jobs I might enjoy, I will never be qualified for. But I'm certainly not miserable, or even unhappy. I have no problem getting up and going to work, and I'm financially secure so I can do things I do enjoy when I'm not working.
My job is alright. I don't love it but it ain't bad. Great benefits and good enough pay. I'll take it. In general though I don't look to get some sort of emotional fulfillment from a job. It's just a means to an end (my life & my real job). I have some coworkers who complain about not getting enough recognition / kind words, and instead just getting spot bonuses. To me, that's absolute insanity. I'm there for the money; I'm not there for a confidence boost. Keep your "Thanks Haymitch, you're great!" email unsent and just recommend me for a little spot bonus instead, plsnthnx.
I like what I do. The people I work with are generally good people and the job is rewarding. I work 10 hour days that are very busy at times. I don't get paid enough (who does) compared to my peers across the country, and there's the politics of things. On top of that, being in the medical field, I know that I'm basically stuck at the same general salary (with $.50/hour raises every year) for my whole career. Also, I have and will never, EVER get any sort of bonus. If I could change those things then I would absolutely love my job.
I enjoy what I do and I'm well compensated for doing it, however there are a few things that I would change in a heartbeat (politics at work/location/long hours etc.) I only work four days a week doe!!! I could make a lot more money if I wanted to work more, but I love having a three day weekend every week! To me having the time off far outweighs the negatives that I have to put up with! Do I love what I do? NO!....but what I do allows me to do the things I really love, spend time with my family and friends and do volunteer work on occasions. Spoiler: He's right you know.... ....... ....... .......
After 20+ years at the same job there are times I still love it and others when I'm thinking what the hell am I still doing here? The answer to the what the hell am I still doing here is my boss is AWESOME. My co workers all agree that we get treated better than we should. To be honest I think we're spoiled. The pay is just ok, but I know how to live within my means.
I couldn't get any entry-level professional positions in my major, so I shifted towards a specific role in hopes of advancing into another one that would have been more relevant to my studies. I came to accept the role itself pretty early on, I've only changed firms a few times due to some direct issues with specific, individual teammates, but managers know I don't take vacation (other than interviews) or refuse to work holidays or evenings for family stuff, and a lot of the older staff is still MS Office-illiterate and under-educated.
I hated my last job, essentially burned out and got anxiety disorder. But I was making top-end of what my degree/experience is worth. Right now, the opposite. Super happy, awesome amenities, no pay or benefits. Need to try and strike that balance.
I've worked in enterprise IT for nearly two decades, and finally bit the bullet and quit my six-figure job to work for myself. I'm currently in the process of getting my "IT as a service" business off the ground - where I'll be offering "one stop shop" IT for medium and small businesses utilizing Office 365 and Microsoft Azure. So, businesses who couldn't usually afford experts, can get them when they need them without having them on salary all the time. I just hate working for other people - as I am not a kiss ass, nor do I "fall in line" when **** isn't right. I also absolutely hated being in enterprise middle management for global firms... it is like banging your head against he wall for eight hours a day as you listen to no-talent-ass-clowns talking out of their asses and screwing **** up. People also refuse to make decisions in fears of ruffling feathers which just makes problems exponentially worse. So, about two months ago I decided to strike it out on my own... which isn't easy, but at least I have no one but myself to blame if **** doesn't work.
Do I love my job? No, but I am very grateful and fortunate to have it. I am treated very well and only work when I want to. It isn't uncommon for me to only work 3-4 days in a week. I am paid nearly 10X what most folks make. I have a natural aptitude at my profession and am able to run a business with minimal actual work time. I hire smart, hardworking people to do the day to day work (and pay them very well) and I get clients or will go and handle jury trials that are big ticket cases or overly complicated.
I work with patients under palliative care guidelines ,hate it, I should had opend a cemetery service business instead
I teach, so when I'm in the moment and it's going well, I truly do love it. Most of the rest of the time, it's just a job--prep time, paperwork, student advising, bureaucratic stuff, all of that is just the crap anyone has to put up with in any job. I also don't make a whole lot of money (I'm not poor, but I'll never be rich), but I'm not sure anyone goes into teaching for the money. What I do have in my job and the one thing I value above all else is flexibility with my time and no real boss looking over my shoulder at any time. And when I say flexibility with my time, I'm talking only a couple of hours of have-to-be-there-in-the-classroom hours per week. If I decide after class I want to go to lunch and have a beer, I can do it. If I feel like sitting in my office and scheduling student appointments (or whatever) until 4 pm, I can do it. That's probably the best part of what I do. But the teaching in the classroom, again when it's going well, is still a thrill for me some 25+ years down the line.
Accountant here....don't love it, but don't hate it. Ultimately would like to have my own business (maybe a small tax practice), but with two young kids and a wife, it isn't in the cards yet. But my current company treats me well, and I find some value in what I'm doing. Pay is great too. I can see myself being here awhile though, provided I can rotate or do different positions every 3 or 4 years.
As recently as a year ago, I didn't like my job at all but recently it's gotten exponentially better. 1. New reporting structure that actually benefits me for a change. I only work in an area that I enjoy now and no longer work on projects for an area that I hate (everyone else hates it too). 2. New Manager that I enjoy working for. He's a no-nonsense guy like me and doesn't have time for the typical corporate BS. He also leaves me the hell alone, which is my favorite trait for a manager. 3. I got approved to work from home on Mondays and Wednesdays. This is a game-changer for me. 3-day weekends every weekend. I feel like my weeks don't start until Thursday and by then...it's almost over. I only have to drive from Kingwood to downtown 3 times a week and Fridays don't really count because there's no traffic. Work/home balance is the most important part of any job for me. I could probably make more money if I was more ambitious and got another position in the company that would require more of my time and be more stressful....but I'm at a place in my life where I'm pretty content with where I am and don't really have the desire to move up. At least not now. I'd much rather spend the extra time with my family.
So much this. Too many fickle-needy people in the working environment or in this world for that matter. I cant stand them. If youre doing what youre supposed to do as part of your job criteria, why the hell do you need somebody to tell you "good job"? Its what youre supposed to frucking do! Its your damn job! Me, personally, I hate compliments and I hate to give them. Just give me the next assignment to tackle and lets get it done with. And I completely agree with the bonus incentives. That should be reward enough cause you hit goals and targets. Save your damn praises.
