The #1 Reason Your Job Sucks (and How to Fix it)

[JohnPlace]

A lot of people are working in miscast careers.

The members of this forum are a wise bunch -- we encourage people to follow their dreams. But the rest of the world is different -- they love to tell us that following dreams is not practical, that following a proven market path is the only way to make a living.

But I believe that following our dreams is the only way to achieve true job satisfaction, and I just finished writing an article on my blog to prove the point: The #1 Reason Your Job Sucks (and How to Fix it)

I also thought you guys might like to talk about your theories regarding the common misconception that all work sucks and why so many people are working in unfulfilling jobs.

I look forward to your opinions.

[PMcDonald]

John,

I liked the article. It certainly is important to do something you are passionate about and that is fulfiling as well.

However, I find it interesting that you use the language "common misconception that all work sucks" in your post. The truth is that we see the world as we are, not as it is - so what you are telling me with that statement is that I am wrong or misinformed for thinking that work sucks and that couldn't be further from the truth.

Here is MY reality - all jobs suck.

Why?

Because I believe that I should be the only one who decides how much I am worth.

Because I believe that I should be the only one who decides when I can
spend time with my family.

Because I believe that I should be the only one who decides how many vacations I can take, what car I can drive, and where I can live.

Because I believe that I should be the only one in control of my life.

You could have validated your article a bit further by creating a clear distinction between "work" and a "job"- for me the article was a bit too linear.

I work, and I enjoy it immensely - but I work for myself. I do not have a job.

Again, you are on the right track and I think you are definitely correct in saying that we should follow our dreams and not conform to what we have been told to do, however nowhere in my dreams am I working a job.

Following your dreams means doing WHATEVER it is that you are passionate about - a job, a business, a volunteer, a missionary - whatever. It doesn't have to mean finding your dream job.

[JohnPlace]

Originally Posted by PMcDonald

so what you are telling me with that statement is that I am wrong or misinformed for thinking that work sucks and that couldn't be further from the truth.

Here is MY reality - all jobs suck.

People who say that all jobs suck generally do so because the work experiences they've had have led them to believe it. I, on the other hand, believe that there is meaningful, fulfilling work waiting for every human being who wants it.

Originally Posted by PMcDonald

Because I believe that I should be the only one who decides how much I am worth.

Because I believe that I should be the only one who decides when I can
spend time with my family.

Because I believe that I should be the only one who decides how many vacations I can take, what car I can drive, and where I can live.

Because I believe that I should be the only one in control of my life.

And you are. There are financial vehicles in this world that enable a person to live whatever lifestyle he chooses -- the key is hard work, perseverance, determination, and wise choices.

Following your dreams means doing WHATEVER it is that you are passionate about - a job, a business, a volunteer, a missionary - whatever. It doesn't have to mean finding your dream job.

In my vernacular, all of the things that you mention above ARE dream jobs (for the person who wants them to be). So I think we agree on this point. In fact, it is the "narrow" definition of work that has gotten so many people into trouble in the first place.

Both Karl Marx and Abraham Maslow believed that man's true purpose is revealed in his work, not in his social life or any other aspect of his being. I realize this subject is ripe for debate (and that's fine), but I agree with them.

I no longer believe that it's desirable to separate the work from the worker. But here, I want to be very clear when I say "work," I am not talking about a 9 to 5 job per se. If we exclude the people with *truly* passive income, I am talking about the primary medium of exchange between an individual and society -- the exchange of skills, services, goods, etc.

Because most of us spend more of our waking life working than we spend on anything else, work is our primary means of contribution to the world (and to ourselves), but a less-than-optimal exchange (and experience) for many. It is the nature of this experience that has led so many to believe that all work sucks.

It is possible to set up a financial vehicle (consisting of passive income) that enables you to do your life's work completely outside of the framework of financial exchange. People in this category can spend their lives volunteering if they like -- and therefore, volunteering will become their life's work.

But for most of us, exchange is part of the bargain (because we choose for it to be -- consciously or otherwise), therefore, finding suitable work for sustenance (whether it's a 9 to 5 job, running a missionary, or whatever) remains important.

And I believe it's important to find meaningful work (work that is satisfying at the top of Maslow's pyramid) even if you are wealthy enough to not rely upon that work for Maslow's lower needs.

[1000feet]

Paul, your site looks interesting but I looked over it and I can't figure out what you actually do... maybe a brief mention in your profile would help get more people interest.

[PMcDonald]

1000feet - the website is actually designed in such a way so that the people who actually fill out the form are the serious people whom I spend my time with.

What I do is actually very simple, I teach people how to earn a minimum of six figures from home using a very simple sales and marketing business system that has been in place and is proven to work for over 6 years.

If you want to learn exactly what it is - check out the following website - Liberty League International - Official Website

[gc3833]

Isn't the determination of whether work sucks or not, based on each individual's perception, wants and needs?

I think personality type plays a big factor. For instance, my wife loves the routine. The routine drives me insane.

She couldn't do what I do all day and I couldn't do what she does all day. I asked her the other day, if we were millionaires, would she continue to work. Her answer, yes.

So it comes down to the idividual.

[Peter S C]

Originally Posted by gc3833

Isn't the determination of whether work sucks or not, based on each individual's perception, wants and needs?

I think personality type plays a big factor. For instance, my wife loves the routine. The routine drives me insane.

She couldn't do what I do all day and I couldn't do what she does all day. I asked her the other day, if we were millionaires, would she continue to work. Her answer, yes.

So it comes down to the idividual.

Very true.

One thing that I have noticed, though, is that many people who have a job that sucks lie to themselves with self-talk such as "it's not so bad" (and yes I am guilty of this). It is painful to actually be honest with yourself and say "no, this job is no good I deserve better". Believe me I am going through this at the moment.... (gc3833 I am not saying this is the case with your wife).

Peter

[JohnPlace]

Originally Posted by gc3833

Isn't the determination of whether work sucks or not, based on each individual's perception, wants and needs?

I think personality type plays a big factor. For instance, my wife loves the routine. The routine drives me insane.

She couldn't do what I do all day and I couldn't do what she does all day. I asked her the other day, if we were millionaires, would she continue to work. Her answer, yes.

So it comes down to the idividual.

But once again, I think the problem here is the narrow definition of work. Work does not have to require the routine of which you speak -- it's just that prescribed career paths often do, which is one reason (of many possible reasons) why a person might believe all work ill-fitting.

While I acknowledge that a certain percentage of people may prefer doing nothing to doing something meaningful, I honestly believe that most people would gladly work their tails off if they were able to make a real connection between their work, their sense of purpose, and their preferred environment -- and would be happy doing so.

And as I mentioned before, I believe synergistic work is available for any person willing to find and claim it.


--John

[ConcentratedMind]

I think there's a "I'm better than a person who has a job" when it comes to entrepreneurs. People have to realize that some people actually LIKE jobs - they like the stability, the co-workers, environment, etc.

To each his/her own I say.

[Andrew Brunelle]

Do what you love and the money will come. When you do what you love, even when there is work, which there will undoubtedly be, the work will be pleasureable and not a detriment to your life, but an enhancement. I find that working on your dreams and doing what you totally feel passionate about is the key to life and happiness. All these complaints about how bad your job is will not get you out of the situation. Find your passion. Find your purpose. Otherwise, what is the purpose of your life? To work for some company you hate for the rest of your life just to make ends meet? Once you invite abundance into your life, you will see how rewarding it can be. And it all starts by having a dream. It may not be as big as Martin Luther King's dream, but nonetheless, it is a dream and you should do whatever it takes to get there.

As for entrepreneurs, some people like to be in complete control of their circumstances and that is great. As for the other people who work rudimentary jobs, if they like that, so be it. Go where you will get closest to joy. It's not complicated.

[JohnPlace]

Originally Posted by ConcentratedMind

To each his/her own I say.

Yes, that's precisely the point. It's not about pleasing the masses; it's about finding the personal connection between work and the individual.

[esn]

I am not currently self-employed with my dream job - I would like to be (even have the plans prepared...) , but have grown comfortable with my employment status (and have become somewhat institutionalized by 35 years of working).

The comments in this thread cause me to reflect on Steve's article: http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/200...ver-get-a-job/

These ideas resonate with truth, promises of growth and self-actualization. They tempt me.

At the same time I wonder if being employed and achieving self actualization are mutually exclusive - or isn't the bigger question 'what limitations can we eliminate from our lives - either at work or in our businesses' ?

Best Wishes,
Eric

[JohnPlace]

Originally Posted by esn

At the same time I wonder if being employed and achieving self actualization are mutually exclusive

These two concepts are definitely not mutually exclusive, or else you'd never be able to find anyone who felt fulfilled by their work. I have met many people (teachers, doctors, etc.) who honestly feel they are performing their life's work at the office.

And Steve is another great example. While not employed in the traditional sense, he certainly is employed in a money making endeavor that fulfills him.

- or isn't the bigger question 'what limitations can we eliminate from our lives - either at work or in our businesses' ?

I honestly believe, as Marx did, that most people carry with them an innate desire to contribute, and that this contribution is most efficiently made through work, since the working life (for most people) is the predominant way of life. Therefore, the reconciliation of the person you are with the work you do is an essential part of self actualization.

[SeriousKidding.com]

When you've got a career job, you're almost certainly working for someone else. That's problem number 1. And, if you are fortunate enough to have a pension/retirement plan, after you contribute for 10 or 15 years you're almost paralyzed into keeping on pleasing someone else for a helluva lot longer. You convince yourself that you'd be an idiot to walk away now. Believe me, I am the master of that sentiment. I've lived it. And, I've paid the price.