Work-life balance, what a heinous phrase. Like work is something which is not a part of your life - you're waiting for work to be over so you can get on with your real life. Unless you're lucky enough to be minted, most of us spend too much time at work not to like it or get something from it.
Jobs, I've had a few... the one I loved and got the boot from.
The one working with the old folk which made me want to never get old.
The one where I was surrounded by books and not allowed to read. (Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink...)
The one where I got to talk to a million different people from all walks of life - Cuban economics professors now working as taxi drivers, Mexican surgeons,Colombian cleaners, Chilean waiters, Catalan fashion designers, stagehands, actors, diving teachers, go-go dancers, airline pilots...
The one working with the refugees where everyone was so endearingly technically clueless that by default I became the IT technician. (ha!)
The one I have now...won't be doing this forever. If I could teach the kids one thing though, it would be to use school to find out whatever it is you are good at, whatever you love, and pursue it til you get there.
Do you like your job? Do you do it just for the money? How did you get into it? How did you know it was what you wanted? If you could change it, what would you do? Spill the beans...
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1 day ago
13 comments:
I hate my job. They pay me well. I don't have the guts to go looking for a new job. I want to do something webby but I don't know what really.
I'm quite happy in my job. But only after a sudden realisation that if you have a roof over your head and something to eat then you don't really need any more than that and should do something you enjoy.
That sounds glib. But it isn't. It was a huge, huge release.
The one working with the old folk which made me want to never get old.
Seriously, that gave me chills. Can't someone for once say how awesome being old is?
I agree with Johnny B. People who 'like' their job are too lucky. It pays the bills, see? To answer your questions:
Sometimes; yes; agency; didn't care; journalist.
I do my job because it is convenient for my life outside work. I've hit the glass ceiling so there is a plan afoot to live by the sea working to make ends meet rather than the pursuit of riches you never have time to spend or enjoy.
Oh, Adrian. Oh no. It's too miserable hating your job. (Though I've never been paid well, I can see how it would have a hold on you.) Can't you be a designer, and work for yourself, you've clearly got the talent?
JonnyB, it's so true. But not as easy as it sounds...
Dan, that was just that particular job. Getting old does not look like fun when you're blind, incontinent and have Alzheimers. It's not always that way - read GG's wicked post about Old Uncle (http://sapodilla.blogspot.com/2005_10_01_sapodilla_archive.html) to cheer you up.
You boys sure are succinct with your answers...
Greavsie, I'm glad you have a plan, always important. I like the sound of your plan too...
My design skills aren't that good comapred to real designers out there. I'd have to probably halve my Salary.
Ahh, thanks for reminding me about Old Uncle :-) Lovely old feller.
I now design / sew for a living, and I must say it's tedious. I used to write for a living in another country. I loved it. I want to write for a living again, waaah.
The phrase "work-life balance", I must confess, is beginning to have strange effects on me. Everytime I hear it, it almost makes me fall out of my chair with laughter. It's hilarious. It's one of those phrases that tends to get given with one hand - with great aplomb and meaningful phrase - and then, once the big launch is over, gets forgotten or even denied with the other.
And, er, I think that answers the questions you ask, which I would answer if I didn't live in mortal fear of incriminating myself. :)
In order:
Yes but like everything there are the bad bits.
You must be joking (although the pension is good)
Recruiting offices can be very persuasive (and they tell loads of fibs)
I didn't.
More time at home between being on operations.
No
Not at first. But now, yes
Through not knowing what I really wanted to do, applying for the kind of things I thought I should apply for and finally getting offered a job
I didn't and it wasn't (as I found out later)
I would be doing something I enjoy. Like JonnyB. I just haven't had the confidence to get out of the corporate jungle yet... working on it
Adrian, less money, more job satisfaction - vs more money, better holidays from work - it's tricky...
GG, I would like to wave a magic wand and say "so you shall", your light should not be hidden under a bushel. Though designing sounds quite fun and creative. What kind of writing were you doing?
Yay for Vaughan and Universal Soldier! I love new visitors!
Universal Soldier, you are brave, very brave, and I take my hat off to you. Do they really lie in the recruitment offices? That's shocking.
Vaughan - come back! I feel like I have the kiss of death because since I started this many of my favourite bloggers seem to be shutting up shop.
Anxious - in my experience it takes a long time to change things. In my favourite Douglas Adams' metaphor, it's like watching oil tankers doing three point turns in the North Sea.
Not so much lie as tell the odd whopper. I've never been windsurfing in the Caribbean for example. Apart from that it's been bloody good fun.
First, I wrote for tv, and produced too. Then I wrote for advertising.
Mm, yes, it's true, designing is fun. And the sewing's not so bad if I have a pair of WILLING ears to listen to me yap while I sew.
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