What's more important - Earning potential or happiness?

[ross-co]

Easty-5 said:

Snip...

Thanks for the advice so far. Serious question; Does anybody on here actually look forward to going to work? I mean, do you wake up in the morning and not actually mind going to work? I'm guessing how I feel isn't really the norm, or am I just having a 'moment'? My job can be okay sometimes. For example last February I spent 2 weeks in Dubai on a 5 star spa resort - everything paid for and only working 6-7 hour days. This would appear to be a one off though as I never get the "good" jobs.

Fortunately for me Jamie I am still able to get up and I am happy to go into work, i do enjoy my job and the challenges i face at it, that for me makes up for the fact my wages are not as good as the could be doing something else.

I feel its about getting a good balance, i would agree though get your CV out to the companies and follow it up with a phone call where you can, will mark you out from the others who just punt out a CV to every company they can find.

Hopefully Aberdeen college get the distance learning course sorted out sooner rather than later.

[Easty-5]

ross-co said:

Fortunately for me Jamie I am still able to get up and I am happy to go into work, i do enjoy my job and the challenges i face at it, that for me makes up for the fact my wages are not as good as the could be doing something else.

I feel its about getting a good balance, i would agree though get your CV out to the companies and follow it up with a phone call where you can, will mark you out from the others who just punt out a CV to every company they can find.

Hopefully Aberdeen college get the distance learning course sorted out sooner rather than later.

Alrighty Ross? Didn't see your reply on the other page. You're right, Bankhead huh! I blame Dawson and Mrs. Carroll Hahaha!!

It would seem that I am a minority then as everyone seems happier to go to work than I do. At times I'd rather go to the dentist than come to work - that's saying something! I'm the exact opposite it would seem. I make easy money, very easy money infact. And providing I am working away then it's good money, but it has reached that dead end stage. I can't see where I can progress, nor increase my earnings. So in reality my salary will be getting smaller each year. So while it may be decent just now, it will be pretty crap in 2-3 years if inflation keeps going the way it's going. Is it not the weekend yet!?

[Benjurs]

Easty-5 said:

I don't want to get to the stage where I have a house and financial commitments and stuck in a job I hate but can't leave because of the former. On the other hand I have become accustomed to the money I am making and having a large (for me) disposable income. So to have less money, and be in the same job I can only see me being even less happy - which almost puts me off paying my way through qualifications & courses.

This! As you said if you paint yourself into a corner and you're feeling bad about your job now, then I garentee (sp?) that you'll feel much worse then...

I've seen and worked with people who've got themselves into that situation...they've either gone off with stress/depression or they have that look of a 'broken' man..

So for me, happiness over earnings

Ben (38) but was in a similar situation to you at your age..I tried the former path..

[jimslops]

Easty-5 said:

It would seem that I am a minority then as everyone seems happier to go to work than I do. At times I'd rather go to the dentist than come to work - that's saying something!

I enjoy my work as do many others. I have worked in other companies where I like it a lot less; I believe it is just down to the way you ‘feel’ like you are being treated. Even though you don’t like the idea of having less luxuries, you can, and if you want to move on enough, you will do it. That is assuming you can’t start as a trainee with another service company. That would depend if there is anything specific you are interested in that you would be able to do in the oil industry?

[Easty-5]

Benjurs said:

Ben (38) but was in a similar situation to you at your age..I tried the former path..

How has it worked out, if you don't mind me asking?

[Jimmy No Hands]

I'm in a similar situation, I'm 23 and work in the steel industry. I work a steady 40 hour week and earn roughly £25k. A lot of my income is disposable and I don't really have any financial worries. However I don't enjoy work, and have little interest in what I actually do. There's no progression and even if there were, I have no passion, or drive. I decided I wasn't happy and the money doesn't change things. I still get a dire feeling in my stomachs on Sunday evenings knowing work is looming.

So I did a bit of research, did some sums and I put a deposit down on a full time course at a near by college for September this year, to do something I really want to do. I'm selling as much as I possibly can, downgrading the car and giving up full time work. I'm also buggering off to Australia for a month a few weeks before I start college to sweeten the deal. I'll be working part time to fund college, and I'm putting a good 40-50% of my weekly take into savings currently.

I know myself well enough to know that if I don't at least try then I'll regret it forever. But for me personally, at 23, I'd much rather enjoy work and be happy than have X amount of free income a week.

[ross-co]

Easty-5 said:

ross-co said:

Fortunately for me Jamie I am still able to get up and I am happy to go into work, i do enjoy my job and the challenges i face at it, that for me makes up for the fact my wages are not as good as the could be doing something else.

I feel its about getting a good balance, i would agree though get your CV out to the companies and follow it up with a phone call where you can, will mark you out from the others who just punt out a CV to every company they can find.

Hopefully Aberdeen college get the distance learning course sorted out sooner rather than later.

Alrighty Ross? Didn't see your reply on the other page. You're right, Bankhead huh! I blame Dawson and Mrs. Carroll Hahaha!!

It would seem that I am a minority then as everyone seems happier to go to work than I do. At times I'd rather go to the dentist than come to work - that's saying something! I'm the exact opposite it would seem. I make easy money, very easy money infact. And providing I am working away then it's good money, but it has reached that dead end stage. I can't see where I can progress, nor increase my earnings. So in reality my salary will be getting smaller each year. So while it may be decent just now, it will be pretty crap in 2-3 years if inflation keeps going the way it's going. Is it not the weekend yet!?

Funny that i blame the same people. Haha

That's the thing because I enjoy my work I don't grudge coming in for 25~K an year working a 35 hour week.

I was at the stage about a month ago where I was starting to think am I really enjoying this, however i was lucky and an internal move came up and I am just waiting on that to go through now and start going offshore.

I think the main thing is we are here for a good time not a long time, and if you are not happy you need to "get the wheels in motion" and get things changing for the better. There is no point being miserable at work as in the grand scheme of things you spend quite a bit of time there and i really think you need to enjoy it.

[Benjurs]

Easty-5 said:

Benjurs said:

Ben (38) but was in a similar situation to you at your age..I tried the former path..

How has it worked out, if you don't mind me asking?

No problem!

Well it all went tits up around 35...the end result was I lost the lot...House - which was too big and only got it because I thought I needed it, it was manageable on my industry specific salary only..impossible on 'normal' salary..

Wife..was seen as a failure for not MTFU and continuing my miserable career..possibly not
all career fault

Health..was never sleeping, drinking too much (job requirement) and generally feeling like st about life, work and love..work dominated every waking hour..and hated Sunday nights..

After a three year upheaval of my life (which I wouldn't wish upon anyone) I'm enrolled back at Uni studying a career that I love and working with some of the best people on the planet..

Gotta run now for a shift..if you have any questions I'll be back in 9hrs..

[Robb F]

Easty-5 said:

Serious question; Does anybody on here actually look forward to going to work?

I don't look forward to it more than I do a day off, but yeah, I really like my job.

anonymous said:

[redacted]

^ You work for Kahn automotive AICMFP

[Xtype]

I like my job and although its frustrating at times I do enjoy it and do not think FFS I have to go to work today/tomorrow, I worked for ££ once and I was not as happy as I am now and in doing so I took a big pay cut ( I worked offshore and did travel around the world and saw some great things but at the same time I saw some pretty crap stuff)

As someone once told me " Its not what you earn, its what you do with the money you do earn...It took me a long time to relise that"

However, I do plan to start my own business up because I know I will be successful at it and at the same time I should be able to earn pretty well, I very much look forward to the challenges it will bring.


For me, my life really started to come together when I joint the Army as it gave me the building blocks for me to become the person I am today, and then after I left my doors really opened up as to what I could choose to do, I guess it was more luck than anything, But I do tend to gather as much information as I possibly can before I make a decision...then a pair of balls to go for it.

Edited by Xtype on Tuesday 31st January 20:55

[SystemParanoia]

if you stop chasing money.. whats the point. the quicker you can get it, and the more you can get the better really.