The topic turned to work, and we were discussing how many people are out of work right now, how people are getting by, etc. Eventually the conversation turned to a mutual friend who will potentially be downsized out of an existing position and what we would do in such a situation. I said it would be a good opportunity to look at all the plusses and minuses of the current position, and that I knew that quite often, this person wasn't happy in that current position, so maybe this was a sign to look for something somewhere else. The other person in this conversation immediately responded "So what if they're not happy? Work isn't about having fun, it's about collecting a paycheck".
Wow.
Since that talk, I've been thinking about it off and on. Why? Well, I'm one of those people that truly believes that if you have the chance, do something you love when it comes to "work"; you spend way too many hours in your lifetime working to be miserable at your job. I don't know if I'd go so far as to say that work should be fun, but I think it's certainly a good idea to try to pick a job where work can be fun.
I know, it's "work" - not "leisure" (or "play" or whatever else you want to call it). But should it really just be all about collecting a paycheck, about being able to pay your bills? Am I missing something by looking at it the way I do? No, I don't always have fun at my job - I'll be the first to admit it. But I do enjoy my work the majority of the time that I'm doing it, and I think that's important. Now, having said all this, let me be clear about something else: I believe that any job is what you make of it. What I mean by that is that if you're determined to find things about your job to like, you're going to do just fine. If all you can do is concentrate on all the things you hate about your job, well..... yeah, you're going to be the person that I don't want to work with!
It's definitely been food for thought, this idea of what work is. So now I pass the question along to you. Is work really just about the money? Or is it something more? What is it to you personally, and what do you think others think?
1 comment:
I am in complete agreement, Sissy. While work isn't always fun, it helps if it is a place where you can have fun and if it is something you enjoy doing. I bitch about my job sometimes but usually it is some of the people or the massive amount I'm expected to get done - I love the actual job, just not always the shit that goes along with it. The paycheck is great but if this place sucked ass I would find another job.
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