I quit a job making the most money I have ever made in my life because my boss was always changing the end product of our research and there was never an "official" end result from our research. It never felt like I finished a project. I am a little OCD about these things, so I finally got stressed out enough to develop an ulcer as I am an end-result driven personality. I like to see finished products.
Some days I regret the decision to leave, and other days I remember how I would be driving home and would just think "what if I drove off the edge of this overpass, would it kill me quickly?". Yeppers, time for a career change. I went into the environmental industry and LOVED it but wrecked a company truck, broke my neck, shoulder and ribs and was fired. So is it all because I couldn't take comfort in a job well done, or am I just NUTS? LOL I think it's a little of both, especially since I am on disability now.
Totally awesome article, love your style of writing and sharing, laughed out loud about the girls jumping rock to rock passing you, awesome of you to share that, reminds me that we have to keep a sense of humor about all of this stuff!
Great article. Just wish my manager would read it and realize having a purpose is necessary for a more productive and satisfied worker. Mine says "just do it because I said so" after telling me "we won't be using the information for anything". My time could be much better utilized.
This was a great article. Even in drudgery, we can find something special about what we are doing. I recently returned to my hometown to care for my mother and haven't set my mind to finding all the positives in this new life. I think this piece has given me a push in the right direction. Prior to the move, I had been underemployed and while the pay stunk, I really was able to feel good about the hard work I was doing. Now I just need to transfer that attitude to the hard work it is taking to care for mom.
REFERENCEGIRL73
4/4/2013 8:12:15 AM
Reminds me of the first time I went backpacking. The whole time I hated it and was cursing myself. I even had to let someone else take my pack for awhile. But at the end of the trail, all I wanted was to do it again. Thank you for the reminder!
What an inspiring way of looking at life! Thank you for writing this, I will look at my daily activities in a whole different way. Just love your articles Coach Dean!
What a great article! For a long time I was stuck in a mind-numbing, boring job which I hated. I tried some of your suggestions which did help improve my experience even though the situation remained unchanged. Unfortunately the management did not appreciate any show of creativity or initiative so to preserve my sanity I had to leave.
I long to have satisfaction in my work, but I find I'm never challenged enough. I'm never kept busy. And I've moved from job to job in my field and always found the same thing. Case in point, I've been back at work from holidays for a month and have hardly had anything to do. I find it really hard to want to come to work when I know 8 hours is going to drag on with me twiddling my thumbs trying to find something to do. I want to work! Nobody wants to make use of me.
