Motivation, or lack of? Waste of a career?

Motivation, or lack of? Waste of a career?

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Discussion

TheAngryDog

Original Poster:

12,394 posts

208 months

Tuesday 18th November 2014
quotequote all
Sorry if wrong section.

Before anyone else says it, I know that I only have myself to blame.

Does anyone else suffer, or has suffered, with a distinct lack of motivation? It is a problem that I have had all of my working life, and as such I am now pretty much playing catch up. I started working with in "IT" in 1997, and by now I should be doing something more than monitoring servers on a shift basis.

Even now, while I want to further my career, improve my skills, get certified and increase my earning power, I cannot seem to find the effort or the motivation to do so. I have 6 to 12 hours most days to bury my head in things, yet always choose not to. It doesn't help that I am not sure where to start, but that in itself is no excuse. I feel like I am stuck in a 17 year rut.

I know that motivation is a personal thing, what motivates you may not motivate me, and I have my motivation right there above this paragraph, yet I still do not do anything about it. Maybe I am too late with it, there are 5 year old's passing MS exams, knowing more than me, and that I should accept that I will always just be someone who does a job, when they could've had a career?

If anyone has been through this in their career, how did you get out of it?

Thanks.

crofty1984

15,830 posts

203 months

Tuesday 18th November 2014
quotequote all
Can't help, but you're not on your own. I'd be interested to see the answers too.

GlenMH

5,204 posts

242 months

Tuesday 18th November 2014
quotequote all
Well done on taking the first step: recognising that you have got a problem and starting to think about making changes.

It is likely that the key reason that you don't do anything about it is that you don't plan to do anything about it. And yet more shifts drift by with no progress!

If you want to do it yourself, there are lots of resources on t'interweb on how to identify the way forward.

Alternatively, paying for advice and help focuses the mind on making progress to keep the cost down. Both rog007 and I are active in this field.

If you have more detailed questions, then happy to help!


rog007

5,748 posts

223 months

Tuesday 18th November 2014
quotequote all
Your experiences are not unique, so take some heart from that. What you do next to change things is where many differ. Your motivation to write this post could be recognised as a positive step. Another small gesture, such as getting yourself booked in for a haircut/new suit/anything else of that nature could also help. Then mapping out where you'd really like to be in 5 years and how you may get there could also be a good step. Seeking advice from a professional may also add value if you need an external stimulus. Good luck!

Stuart70

3,910 posts

182 months

Tuesday 18th November 2014
quotequote all
Mtfu Jfdi

Meant in jest, but really like all goals they succeed only because
A) you really want them
B) you work out how to get there (in realistic terms)
C) take one step at a time to get there

Always useful to find a mentor / someone to talk to who is at or above where you want to be.
People tend to like the compliment inherent in the request.
That person will not tell you how to get there, but for the price of a coffee/beer, they might help you think through the challenges on the path and help keep you motivated?

A couple of thoughts anyway...

Cheers

Stuart

CharlieCrocodile

1,186 posts

152 months

Tuesday 18th November 2014
quotequote all
I've lost all motivation for running my IT consultancy, I've lost 2 clients this year due to acquisitions and will be losing another next year. Sick of paying corp tax when the big boys (Facebook, Google, Starbucks - I'm looking at you) simply dodge it.

I'm going back to paid employment next year, so need to get my CV done for the first time in 10 years.

jonah35

3,940 posts

156 months

Tuesday 18th November 2014
quotequote all
Most people are like you, that's why most earn average wages. Some people are motivated that's why they tend to earn more.

You are normal so don't worry.

Foliage

3,861 posts

121 months

Tuesday 18th November 2014
quotequote all
Some people, like you are just meant to do the mundane jobs so others can earn the big money and move up the ladder. Just do your hours, sit back and know that you are good at your job because you have been doing it for years, you are dependable and when the guys who are 10 years younger than you want an answer you'll be the guy to ask, to put in their presentation and give you no credit.




Or maybe? maybe? I don't know maybe your not that guy?


TheAngryDog

Original Poster:

12,394 posts

208 months

Tuesday 18th November 2014
quotequote all
GlenMH said:
Well done on taking the first step: recognising that you have got a problem and starting to think about making changes.

It is likely that the key reason that you don't do anything about it is that you don't plan to do anything about it. And yet more shifts drift by with no progress!

If you want to do it yourself, there are lots of resources on t'interweb on how to identify the way forward.

Alternatively, paying for advice and help focuses the mind on making progress to keep the cost down. Both rog007 and I are active in this field.

If you have more detailed questions, then happy to help!
Thank you. I think I've always known I'v had this issue, but have never wanted to accept it and just thought that I'll eventually do something about it.

I go home on Thursday morning after 6 night shifts. Its a 140 mile drive and I feel that I will be a little tired when I get home, and will have a lot of house work to catch up on. My plan is to start building some servers up on Friday in the 6 hours I will have. I have made an agreement with a colleague at work that whoever hasn't done the required work by Tuesday, they're buying the pizza! hehe Small things, but small steps are the way forward at first.

This is the other thing, I do not know what questions to ask of someone like yourself or rog007, and that has always been an issue for me as well I think. I like to think I am pretty intelligent, everyone I work with etc says I am, so they cannot all be wrong? hehe

rog007 said:
Your experiences are not unique, so take some heart from that. What you do next to change things is where many differ. Your motivation to write this post could be recognised as a positive step. Another small gesture, such as getting yourself booked in for a haircut/new suit/anything else of that nature could also help. Then mapping out where you'd really like to be in 5 years and how you may get there could also be a good step. Seeking advice from a professional may also add value if you need an external stimulus. Good luck!
It is good to know that I am not on my own. I hope that this is the first step, and I can use it as my starting point. Hahahaha, the hair cut option would be difficult, perhaps I can have some hair drawn on my head hehe
I actually do not know where I want to be in 5 years, I thought I did but the realisation of it is that I do not. I do like management and have done it before, but it is a difficult role to get into when your experience of it is years ago. I know that I do not want to do support for the rest of my life!

Stuart70 said:
Mtfu Jfdi

Meant in jest, but really like all goals they succeed only because
A) you really want them
B) you work out how to get there (in realistic terms)
C) take one step at a time to get there

Always useful to find a mentor / someone to talk to who is at or above where you want to be.
People tend to like the compliment inherent in the request.
That person will not tell you how to get there, but for the price of a coffee/beer, they might help you think through the challenges on the path and help keep you motivated?

A couple of thoughts anyway...

Cheers

Stuart
smile You're 100% correct though, MTFU and taking responsibility for my career, as no one else will. I do not know many people in my industry on a personal level, and the people I work with are all mainly at the main level I am. The people who are more skilled than I am have little time to spare.

jonah35 said:
Most people are like you, that's why most earn average wages. Some people are motivated that's why they tend to earn more.

You are normal so don't worry.
I completely agree.

Foliage said:
Some people, like you are just meant to do the mundane jobs so others can earn the big money and move up the ladder. Just do your hours, sit back and know that you are good at your job because you have been doing it for years, you are dependable and when the guys who are 10 years younger than you want an answer you'll be the guy to ask, to put in their presentation and give you no credit.




Or maybe? maybe? I don't know maybe your not that guy?
That has hit a nerve (in a good way). I don't like that summation and it annoys me that I will be that guy. I don't want to be that guy.

hajaba123

1,302 posts

174 months

Tuesday 18th November 2014
quotequote all
I'm finally starting to make small steps to get this sort of thing fixed in my life.

What I'm finding really useful is having goals, not necessarily massive, long term life changing ones. Just 2 or 3 things a day, writing them down the night before and then doing them the next day. This has helped to get me into the habit of achieving and moving forward. For the last 2 months I've also written a daily journal each evening, just a couple of paragraphs saying how I feel and what I've achieved (ie my goals for the day) I've based them on things that I wan't to achieve longer term, fitness, family, career. I found long term specific goal setting really difficult so started off with the small steps just to get moving.
As a result of these small steps (and some professional cv/career advice from one of the chaps mentioned) I've managed to bust a big career related goal of mine that I hadn't really focussed on before, starting the new job on 1 December having floated around for the best part of 5 years.

edit: love this site and their daily emails to help with focus
http://www.lifehack.org/

oldbanger

4,316 posts

237 months

Tuesday 18th November 2014
quotequote all
hajaba123 said:
As a result of these small steps (and some professional cv/career advice from one of the chaps mentioned) I've managed to bust a big career related goal of mine that I hadn't really focussed on before, starting the new job on 1 December having floated around for the best part of 5 years.
Excellent news! smile

oldbanger

4,316 posts

237 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
TheAngryDog said:
Sorry if wrong section.

Before anyone else says it, I know that I only have myself to blame.

Does anyone else suffer, or has suffered, with a distinct lack of motivation? It is a problem that I have had all of my working life, and as such I am now pretty much playing catch up. I started working with in "IT" in 1997, and by now I should be doing something more than monitoring servers on a shift basis.

Even now, while I want to further my career, improve my skills, get certified and increase my earning power, I cannot seem to find the effort or the motivation to do so. I have 6 to 12 hours most days to bury my head in things, yet always choose not to. It doesn't help that I am not sure where to start, but that in itself is no excuse. I feel like I am stuck in a 17 year rut.

I know that motivation is a personal thing, what motivates you may not motivate me, and I have my motivation right there above this paragraph, yet I still do not do anything about it. Maybe I am too late with it, there are 5 year old's passing MS exams, knowing more than me, and that I should accept that I will always just be someone who does a job, when they could've had a career?

If anyone has been through this in their career, how did you get out of it?

Thanks.
Beating yourself up over a list of shoulds is IMHO a waste of energy and will sap your motivation. It's never too late to make changes. My experience is that is however easier to aim to reach positive outcomes than to aim to avoid negative ones. So deciding what you do want, even if a it's a small or basic goal, will help. And don't be afraid of going for a few quick wins to get you moving. So what if everyone has a MS cert these days? I got an MTA certification a few months ago, a beginners cert, but it got me back into the swing of things all the same.

Also don't underestimate how physically and mentally draining long term night work can be. You may need to consider things like daylight lamps or supplements if you're on nights for extended periods. You may have 6 hours a day outside work which "ought" to be used productively, but managing/recovering from jet lag from shift work is going to eat into that time.



TheAngryDog

Original Poster:

12,394 posts

208 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
oldbanger said:
TheAngryDog said:
Sorry if wrong section.

Before anyone else says it, I know that I only have myself to blame.

Does anyone else suffer, or has suffered, with a distinct lack of motivation? It is a problem that I have had all of my working life, and as such I am now pretty much playing catch up. I started working with in "IT" in 1997, and by now I should be doing something more than monitoring servers on a shift basis.

Even now, while I want to further my career, improve my skills, get certified and increase my earning power, I cannot seem to find the effort or the motivation to do so. I have 6 to 12 hours most days to bury my head in things, yet always choose not to. It doesn't help that I am not sure where to start, but that in itself is no excuse. I feel like I am stuck in a 17 year rut.

I know that motivation is a personal thing, what motivates you may not motivate me, and I have my motivation right there above this paragraph, yet I still do not do anything about it. Maybe I am too late with it, there are 5 year old's passing MS exams, knowing more than me, and that I should accept that I will always just be someone who does a job, when they could've had a career?

If anyone has been through this in their career, how did you get out of it?

Thanks.
Beating yourself up over a list of shoulds is IMHO a waste of energy and will sap your motivation. It's never too late to make changes. My experience is that is however easier to aim to reach positive outcomes than to aim to avoid negative ones. So deciding what you do want, even if a it's a small or basic goal, will help. And don't be afraid of going for a few quick wins to get you moving. So what if everyone has a MS cert these days? I got an MTA certification a few months ago, a beginners cert, but it got me back into the swing of things all the same.

Also don't underestimate how physically and mentally draining long term night work can be. You may need to consider things like daylight lamps or supplements if you're on nights for extended periods. You may have 6 hours a day outside work which "ought" to be used productively, but managing/recovering from jet lag from shift work is going to eat into that time.
It is one of my failings that I am quite hard on myself.

I have re-started watching some CBT Nuggets tonight, though I do not think I am taking much in right now, but I plan to re-watch them and then make notes (which I am really bad at, as I never what I should make notes of!).

Since August the 13th, I've done 15 day shifts, and 29 night shifts. I have 1 more tomorrow, then 4 more night shifts next week, before I do 2 and a half day shifts with a 2 week break. I plan to use my 2 weeks productively.

I need some direction I think on where to start. I think someone who has done what I am doing successfully advising me of what to do revision etc wise would suit me, as then I could use that as a start and then make my own way from there. I guess for me it is the initial first part. Does that make sense?

Foliage

3,861 posts

121 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
TheAngryDog said:
That has hit a nerve (in a good way). I don't like that summation and it annoys me that I will be that guy. I don't want to be that guy.
Good, glad it was taken as intended. Now let that nerve/annoyance motivate you to do something.

andy-xr

13,204 posts

203 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
I think there's an expectation that people should be the best they can be at work. Rise to the top. Make more money. Work every hour possible for that raise/promotion.

It's mostly bks, no-one is ever going to sit there in their later days thinking 'I wish I'd just filed that one last report and had a meeting action plan'

I'm mid way through my working life in an unskilled career. There are no exams that would help me be better, it's down to my experience, thought patterns and gob to do what I want to do. I quite like it - there's downsides to it, same as anything.

I've learned not to take on roles where the boss likes to have people pleasers working for him. Those that will do anything and everything above and beyond. I wont work for people like that.

I've learned that working every hour possible doesnt really give you better promotion prospects, or the chance of better jobs. It just makes you sad, takes that time away from other people or things who you could spend it with, and takes it out of you mentally.

I've learned that doing st jobs for good money isnt worth the hassle. It drains you and you become bitter and cynical. Not fun to be around.

I think I'd rather do something I enjoy. I dont like every part of my job, there's some st bits to it, but I work with good people who let me get on and do my thing without wanting to know whether I farted or not last Tuesday. I get to spend time with my friends and family. I take holidays, or actually - I take time away from work, sometimes I go on holiday.

If you're finding you're not mtivated it might be that you're in a soul destroying environment, and it's kind of up to you to recognise it, figure out whether you can change anything about it, and if you want to, to go and do that.

It could be small changes at your existing job. Might be a new employer. Could be a complete lifestyle change and you'd like to become a lollypop man from now on. Doesnt matter, some people think that there's a shame in doing XYZ, and that other people will look down on them. They might, so what - they're doing the looking down to make themselves feel better about the stter of a desk that they're flying.

Foliage

3,861 posts

121 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
Well said andy, I think a lot of people are lead into a miss conception by more senior people in a company, you don't in reality get anywhere by doing more hours.

Life for me is about progression, learning new skills & feeling good about ones self. How that's done is has a vast scope and approaches vary greatly, but you need a good quality of life.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
andy-xr said:
I think there's an expectation that people should be the best they can be at work. Rise to the top. Make more money. Work every hour possible for that raise/promotion.

It's mostly bks, no-one is ever going to sit there in their later days thinking 'I wish I'd just filed that one last report and had a meeting action plan'
Well said.

Whether it's family or work or sport or hobbies, (most) people need some kind of stimulus and felling like they're achieving something though.

Despite everyone on here having awesome careers, I expect most people would pack their job in if they could be paid to do nothing. I would happily replace my work time with family time and sport/fitness stuff.

If I meet someone who is great at running or really good at painting, I admire it much more than someone who is earning lots in IT or financial services.

We all have our own sets of priorities and motivation. I do think it's important that you have something that motivates you, whether it's your job or hobby or sport, whatever.

Edited by el stovey on Wednesday 19th November 11:32

The Beaver King

6,095 posts

194 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
Two things that have always kept me motivated:

1. Success breeds success

My dad told me that when I was 15/16 years old and I've always paid attention to it. Basically if you complete a task, something difficult, use the energy/buzz you get from succeeding to drive another task.

Doing something easy has very little reward; but if you do something hard, something that requires a lot of energy, the feeling you get from completing it and doing it well is massive confidence/motivation boost.

2. More risk, more reward

A double edged sword this one. Take responsibility/volunteer for the high risk tasks/projects that others actively avoid. The payoff is massive and tends to get you noticed; failure carries the same risk.

I have a tendency to take on all sorts of doomed/troubled aspects within my business and it has paid dividends. I work with others who will avoid anything that looks like it could fail, purely to protect themselves and their career.

Obviously you need to feel reasonably confident that you can deliver on the tasks, otherwise you'll end up causing more problems than you solve.


On your current job; I've done shift work before and I personally found it a bit soul destroying. The lack of routine can tire you out and you slip into autopilot. Perhaps a job change is in order?

GlenMH

5,204 posts

242 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
Lots of good stuff in here.

As others have said, it is all about the small steps towards a bigger aim. How do you eat an elephant? 1 bite at a time.

The hardest bit is working out what your aim is going to be. Good luck with that as once you have sorted it, the process becomes a lot easier.

The key things is that you have woken up to the fact that the only person that is going to take your job/career in the direction YOU want is YOU.

davidc1

1,544 posts

161 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
quotequote all
I dusted off the CV last week after 13 years , so never too late.
I too have not been as motivated , but have now recognised I need to make a change.
I work in financial services and have had enough of bods with sharp elbows who know jack st getting jobs which I should have applied for.
I think hunger comes into it as well.
I am mortgage free , whereas colleagues are 15 years younger, but renting a room in a house with 3 others....
Good luck op.