Becoming disenchanted with my career

[tstesen]

After almost four long years working in the graphic design and web development industry I'm becoming very disenchanted with my career. I think the stress is beginning to take its toll on me. I'm finding it harder and harder to drag myself in to the office day after day when all I want to do is run. I'm finding dealing with clients is becoming increasingly more difficult.

Recently I was diagnosed with migraines and put on medication which I take daily. While they couldn't pinpoint the exact cause of my migraines I have a sneaking suspicion that they're related to the stress I feel from my job.

I made the decision to close the office this week in an effort to sort myself out and hopefully refocus my passion for graphic design so I can love my job again. I know this is a common problem and I'm sure many of you feel or have felt this way in your careers.

I would appreciate any advice on how you overcame these feelings and found a renewed passion for what you do. My significant other isn't much help as he worked in the graphic design industry for 10 years and then got out. When I bring up my feelings about the job he often says "why do you think I got out of it?" which isn't very helpful.

[sidsavara]

I think a lot of people hit a wall like the one you're talking about at some point in their career - many of my friends actually started getting disenchanted with their careers even earlier, just 3-5 years in. The way they got over the hump was to remember what they used to enjoy about the job and focus on that - failing that, switching careers or taking a "sabbatical" to try a different career is also an option.

[tstesen]

Originally Posted by sidsavara

I think a lot of people hit a wall like the one you're talking about at some point in their career - many of my friends actually started getting disenchanted with their careers even earlier, just 3-5 years in. The way they got over the hump was to remember what they used to enjoy about the job and focus on that - failing that, switching careers or taking a "sabbatical" to try a different career is also an option.

Thanks for your input. I know from personal experience that at one time or another people are confronted with this situation whether they love their job or not. Maybe a longer term sabbatical would be a good option for me.

Since I've put so much effort and time into building this business from the ground up I'm finding it very difficult to picture giving it all up. I'm expecting a large pay day in the next week or so from a big project I'm wrapping up now so maybe I'll take that money and use it to take a break from doing design work. I know my clients will be disappointed but I need to move past this point or its only going to get worse I imagine.

I just feel "burnt out" for lack of a better phrase. Like I've been trying so hard for so long I'm just exhausted.

[coLLege kid07]

Originally Posted by tstesen

Thanks for your input. I know from personal experience that at one time or another people are confronted with this situation whether they love their job or not. Maybe a longer term sabbatical would be a good option for me.

Since I've put so much effort and time into building this business from the ground up I'm finding it very difficult to picture giving it all up. I'm expecting a large pay day in the next week or so from a big project I'm wrapping up now so maybe I'll take that money and use it to take a break from doing design work. I know my clients will be disappointed but I need to move past this point or its only going to get worse I imagine.

I just feel "burnt out" for lack of a better phrase. Like I've been trying so hard for so long I'm just exhausted.

What I'm feeling is you should branch off and try different things. (Don't put all your focus on one thing). This is what I have been thinking about for a good amount of time. I know I love music and I love sports..but if I just go in one direction and not the other I'll feel I'll burn out and lose my passion for the other. I think this is where branching off comes in and that'll help keep your energy and motivation high. I think steve wrote an article about this::: pursing many passions or something like that.

Here it is: What If You Have Many Different Interests and Cannot Commit to Any of Them?

[Lauxa]

Maybe you could be less extreme by simply not accepting new clients or letting go of some of your more difficult clients. Maybe having a lighter workload would give you some space to enjoy it more.

[Ilya]

Tstsen, actually you are at a great situation if you manage it right. You are clearly tired. Your own body is telling you something. As I understand you have your own business and you have too much to do. It is great! It means that you have more clients than you can cope with.
Demand is greater than supply. And what economists say about it? The price should go up!

It may need some planning (and a sabbatical before that), but it should decrease the level of stress. Increase your rates. Some of the clients will leave, but if the new price is chosen correctly, you will be getting at least the same money for the smaller amount of work. Or, you can think about hiring someone (or more people, if you already have staff).

I think it's the point of a big decision. Your business is outgrowing your abilities. You can either scale back, or you can go ahead and help it grow even more. It is likely that you will eventually stop being a designer, but turn into a manager. I guess it is the price to pay for having a successful business.

Of course, take my analysis with a grain (with a pile actually) of salt, since I don't have my own business yet. Still, I've seen this problem in different settings. The common sense tells us that there is a limit to our productivity and at some point we need a system that will help us do more.

[tstesen]

Originally Posted by Ilya

I think it's the point of a big decision. Your business is outgrowing your abilities. You can either scale back, or you can go ahead and help it grow even more. It is likely that you will eventually stop being a designer, but turn into a manager. I guess it is the price to pay for having a successful business.

Thanks for your feedback Ilya. I know I have a problem most entrepreneurs would gladly have but it does get overwhelming at times. A big part of my issues stem from taking on a partner last year only for that partner to decide that wasn't really what he wanted.

I made the decision to hire a new staff member yesterday. I think maybe if she takes some of the pressure off of me I'll be able to relax a little more. I've also booked a trip the first week of October so that I can get away from the office and just be for a few days which will hopefully give me something to look forward to.

[RichesWithin]

You're right that most people struggle with burn out at one time or another. I can make a few suggestions that have worked for my coaching clients in the past.

While you're doing taking your sebatical ask yourself some tough questions about what you REALLY want in life. What is your life purpose? Is your business in line with your purpose? When you are at your best what are you doing?

Find a personal development program that interests you and be committed to doing all of the excercises. Another thing that might help you sort it all out is journaling. Those are just a few things I hope it helps.

[mncz]

Dear tstesen
I am in the same industry for last 10 years and I feel precisely the same as you do now. I still do not have a proper solution for this problem. But what I have been working on since I realised that I am properly stuck in disliking my current job is to create time and space to stop working altogether, give lots of time to myself and figure out what I really want in life. If you can't afford stopping work completely, perhaps you want to drop those clients that give you the most trouble (that is a good step to take regardless) and raise prices somewhat for others. These two steps will leave you with good clients who actually value your work. That alone can be a good step towards feeling better about your job already and give you spare time to do things that inspire you.

I also know that if I don't have a vacation to some nice place at least once every half year, my creative resources get depleted and I can't really make any fresh work. So if you haven't had any vacations, perhaps it is a good time to make one.

In general what I know about people who work in this industry and what also applies to myself is that we have 2 problems in common:
1. we tend to leave too little "white space" for ourselves and
2. we do so much work for others that at some point we get stuck with the question of what use our input is to the world or to the larger picture (sorry, I can't find a better way to say this).

The white space part is solved by planning and eliminating stuff that gives too little return, so it is quite simple. But I still have not found an answer for the second question.. will keep working on that

[hkalchemy]

I think we all feel like that sometimes. My advice is:

1. Take a long holiday if you can. It always does me a lot of good and I come back feeling a lot more positive about things.
2. Take things as they come - passion takes energy and sometimes you just need a period of sailing along, going with the flow.
3. If you really keep on feeling bad, you gotta get out - really.