Is it wrong to enjoy your job??
Discussion
Got home Friday night, sat down having a beer and talking to my wife, I realised I could barely remember all the stuff I had been working on just on Friday let alone the whole week.
Reflecting back its been an absolutely manic week, I was way way out of my comfort zone for large parts of it, working on projects where the risks of failure was really unknown, but the team (and I) got through team, not just on target but way above it.
I always knew I enjoyed my job, but this week has felt like real 'fun', it really hasn't felt like work at all and am absolutely itching to get back into it on Monday.
Looking at all the posts on here about people hating their jobs, trying to find the quickest way to retire, am wondering surely I cannot be the only who actually enjoy what they do for a living??
Am I just weird and need to see a psychologist??
Maybe am I nuts, because after planning some last minute meetings for Monday my wife reminded me I actually officially booked on Annual leave for Monday....but forget leave am going in anyways - half day so not all lost
.
Reflecting back its been an absolutely manic week, I was way way out of my comfort zone for large parts of it, working on projects where the risks of failure was really unknown, but the team (and I) got through team, not just on target but way above it.
I always knew I enjoyed my job, but this week has felt like real 'fun', it really hasn't felt like work at all and am absolutely itching to get back into it on Monday.
Looking at all the posts on here about people hating their jobs, trying to find the quickest way to retire, am wondering surely I cannot be the only who actually enjoy what they do for a living??
Am I just weird and need to see a psychologist??
Maybe am I nuts, because after planning some last minute meetings for Monday my wife reminded me I actually officially booked on Annual leave for Monday....but forget leave am going in anyways - half day so not all lost
.Edited by gangzoom on Saturday 10th July 06:55
Good for you! Work absolutely should be enjoyable. It’s a lot of anyone’s life, so I almost think it’s everyone’s duty to search until you find the thing you’re brilliant at and love doing.
Quick story: I sat next to a guy at a Black Tie years ago who was so sad I’ve never forgotten him. He was a successful accountant, had spent his whole career at the family firm, and was now leading it. He told me he had hated it his whole life and was counting down the years to retirement. Probably late when we spoke and he was a bit drunk, but I left with the impression of having met someone who had been incarcerated for their whole life. It was tragic, and I vowed that would never happen to me.
Of course, not every hour at work can be fun. I think a good aim is to find a job where 75% of it is so enjoyable you’d do it for free. Then the 25% that isn’t fun is effectively paid at 4x your normal hourly rate, and everyone’s happy.
Quick story: I sat next to a guy at a Black Tie years ago who was so sad I’ve never forgotten him. He was a successful accountant, had spent his whole career at the family firm, and was now leading it. He told me he had hated it his whole life and was counting down the years to retirement. Probably late when we spoke and he was a bit drunk, but I left with the impression of having met someone who had been incarcerated for their whole life. It was tragic, and I vowed that would never happen to me.
Of course, not every hour at work can be fun. I think a good aim is to find a job where 75% of it is so enjoyable you’d do it for free. Then the 25% that isn’t fun is effectively paid at 4x your normal hourly rate, and everyone’s happy.
I enjoy my current job, and have enjoyed all my previous jobs bar the first one.
I've had a mix of shifts, times, days and what I'm actually doing.
I think there's definitely a mindset that a person needs to enjoy what they do for work, you have to be a positive person in the first place.
But I've had 6 jobs and I've been at those jobs for the following periods of time. I have always said I'd never stay in a job if I'm unhappy. - 4 months, 2.5 years, 3 months, 6 months, 5 years, 3.25 years, 1.5 years (current job).
The 4 months was the one I disliked. The 3 months was training to be a bus driver which I failed the driving tests. The 6 months was a stop gap till I found a better job (but still enjoyed the stop gap).
I don't think, and wouldn't care if its weird to enjoy work. You do an awful lot of it in your life, you have to have a reason to want to get up in the morning, and work is a good one.
I've had a mix of shifts, times, days and what I'm actually doing.
I think there's definitely a mindset that a person needs to enjoy what they do for work, you have to be a positive person in the first place.
But I've had 6 jobs and I've been at those jobs for the following periods of time. I have always said I'd never stay in a job if I'm unhappy. - 4 months, 2.5 years, 3 months, 6 months, 5 years, 3.25 years, 1.5 years (current job).
The 4 months was the one I disliked. The 3 months was training to be a bus driver which I failed the driving tests. The 6 months was a stop gap till I found a better job (but still enjoyed the stop gap).
I don't think, and wouldn't care if its weird to enjoy work. You do an awful lot of it in your life, you have to have a reason to want to get up in the morning, and work is a good one.
I was one of those who hated their job.
Looking back after 3 years retirement (I retired at 56), I can see there were some fun times, but mostly because of who I was with, or because I was on something I was interested in (McLaren F1 for example).
Generally though it was just frustration and angst at the politics or inability of others to do their jobs properly.
Don't miss it one little bit.
If you enjoy your job that's great, and I know one of my old school friends couldn't understand not enjoying it, but for me it was definitely work to live and not live to work
Looking back after 3 years retirement (I retired at 56), I can see there were some fun times, but mostly because of who I was with, or because I was on something I was interested in (McLaren F1 for example).
Generally though it was just frustration and angst at the politics or inability of others to do their jobs properly.
Don't miss it one little bit.
If you enjoy your job that's great, and I know one of my old school friends couldn't understand not enjoying it, but for me it was definitely work to live and not live to work
gangzoom said:
Got home Friday night, sat down having a beer and talking to my wife, I realised I could barely remember all the stuff I had been working on just on Friday let alone the whole week.
Reflecting back its been an absolutely manic week, I was way way out of my comfort zone for large parts of it, working on projects where the risks of failure was really unknown, but the team (and I) got through team, not just on target but way above it.
I always knew I enjoyed my job, but this week has felt like real 'fun', it really hasn't felt like work at all and am absolutely itching to get back into it on Monday.
Looking at all the posts on here about people hating their jobs, trying to find the quickest way to retire, am wondering surely I cannot be the only who actually enjoy what they do for a living??
Am I just weird and need to see a psychologist??
Maybe am I nuts, because after planning some last minute meetings for Monday my wife reminded me I actually officially booked on Annual leave for Monday....but forget leave am going in anyways - half day so not all lost.
Not wierd, you're just luck to like your job. I've had that a couple of times in my life and it's great. Every day is fun, not just the weekends.Reflecting back its been an absolutely manic week, I was way way out of my comfort zone for large parts of it, working on projects where the risks of failure was really unknown, but the team (and I) got through team, not just on target but way above it.
I always knew I enjoyed my job, but this week has felt like real 'fun', it really hasn't felt like work at all and am absolutely itching to get back into it on Monday.
Looking at all the posts on here about people hating their jobs, trying to find the quickest way to retire, am wondering surely I cannot be the only who actually enjoy what they do for a living??
Am I just weird and need to see a psychologist??
Maybe am I nuts, because after planning some last minute meetings for Monday my wife reminded me I actually officially booked on Annual leave for Monday....but forget leave am going in anyways - half day so not all lost
.Edited by gangzoom on Saturday 10th July 06:55
For most people it's a chore though. My last few working years were hell. Lots of stress and frustration and I have zero regrets retiring early.
The only thing I would pick out is that you said you were out of your comfort zone but you enjoyed it. You also mentioned a high risk of failure but you (presumably) weren't worried.
So honestly I would say that is probably specific to you. Almost by definition most people don't enjoy being outside their comfort zone. And having a job where you regularly think you might fail is also not something most people would enjoy. I hope you are not a pilot or a surgeon
Hence I don't think it's a job thing but a person thing. You clearly aren't a worrier, or of a nervous disposition. A very good mindset/personality to have!
So honestly I would say that is probably specific to you. Almost by definition most people don't enjoy being outside their comfort zone. And having a job where you regularly think you might fail is also not something most people would enjoy. I hope you are not a pilot or a surgeon
Hence I don't think it's a job thing but a person thing. You clearly aren't a worrier, or of a nervous disposition. A very good mindset/personality to have!
"Work to live or live to work".
Another here who enjoys (sometimes "love") their work. Couple of decades as an employee, which I really enjoyed but then went contracting.
Happen to be a Portfolio (Projects!) Manager. Pressure can be immense but the successes bring massive "highs".
Honestly think that when/if I stop working that will die relatively soon afterwards (seen it happen far too many times).
I totally understand that some people will find my view(s) strange but some of us are just "wired" differently and understand we need to work thus find something we enjoy whereby it feels almost hobby like.
Another here who enjoys (sometimes "love") their work. Couple of decades as an employee, which I really enjoyed but then went contracting.
Happen to be a Portfolio (Projects!) Manager. Pressure can be immense but the successes bring massive "highs".
Honestly think that when/if I stop working that will die relatively soon afterwards (seen it happen far too many times).
I totally understand that some people will find my view(s) strange but some of us are just "wired" differently and understand we need to work thus find something we enjoy whereby it feels almost hobby like.
It goes in seasons for me, I tend to really enjoy jobs early on, when there is lots of learning and experimentation. And tend to go all in. But after a while I get bored and much prefer doing personal stuff. Then I get bored of the personal stuff, find a new work challenge.... and so it goes on.
gangzoom said:
Looking at all the posts on here about people hating their jobs, trying to find the quickest way to retire, am wondering surely I cannot be the only who actually enjoy what they do for a living??....
....Am I just weird and need to see a psychologist??
You are unusual, but very fortunate.....Am I just weird and need to see a psychologist??
People head into a job/career, not knowing whether or not they will enjoy it. Many of us keep ploughing on for too long wen we realise that we don't enjoy what we have chosen/fallen into and then....Once we have responsibilities, accustomed to a level of expenditure and maybe a peer group, it becomes difficult to change direction and to start again.
72 and worked since 11. Loved almost every career I have had and currently interim CEO of a company while we recruit a new one. Spent a lot of my time in technology as CIO of some big companies and got very involved in launching brand new technologies and seeing the huge changes they brought. Then started to do Board positions., bringing difficult companies back to health.
Love this stuff and have missed absolutely nothing. Lived in six countries , still track cars when I have time, have a few fairly nice ones and work because I enjoy the buzz,dealing with change, never bored.
Am a complete TV illiterate, have never been in a cruise or to a resort or on a tour and still have lots of fun. Will not do the nonsense of wishing I had spent less time in the office when I look back, though I only look forward.
Retirement as such is not for me. Not going to potter in a garden or sit in some summer villa or the like-the boredom would kill me. I have a winter place in Arizona where OH decamps to so as to avoid the winter. I go for a few weeks a year and go off-roaring and the like but I get bored and want to get back
Covid was a bit of a game stopper but I got involved is selling some companies and so on . Zoom is no substitute but I threw myself into work. This year will be the financial year ever for me but that’s no reason for me to work. Avoiding boredom and feeling useless is the main reason.
Love this stuff and have missed absolutely nothing. Lived in six countries , still track cars when I have time, have a few fairly nice ones and work because I enjoy the buzz,dealing with change, never bored.
Am a complete TV illiterate, have never been in a cruise or to a resort or on a tour and still have lots of fun. Will not do the nonsense of wishing I had spent less time in the office when I look back, though I only look forward.
Retirement as such is not for me. Not going to potter in a garden or sit in some summer villa or the like-the boredom would kill me. I have a winter place in Arizona where OH decamps to so as to avoid the winter. I go for a few weeks a year and go off-roaring and the like but I get bored and want to get back
Covid was a bit of a game stopper but I got involved is selling some companies and so on . Zoom is no substitute but I threw myself into work. This year will be the financial year ever for me but that’s no reason for me to work. Avoiding boredom and feeling useless is the main reason.
I love my job! Fortunate in that it’s rotation based so do roughly two weeks on, two weeks off. It actually feels like I lead two separate lives; a work life and a home and family life. The two never meet and I can’t take my work home with me.
I still much prefer being at home but I can’t imagine how miserable it must be if you hate your job.
I still much prefer being at home but I can’t imagine how miserable it must be if you hate your job.
Crumpet said:
I love my job! Fortunate in that it’s rotation based so do roughly two weeks on, two weeks off. It actually feels like I lead two separate lives; a work life and a home and family life. The two never meet and I can’t take my work home with me.
I still much prefer being at home but I can’t imagine how miserable it must be if you hate your job.
When i started work on the post we used to unload the mail trains , some of the blokes working on them really did have 2 lives with 2 sets of family !I still much prefer being at home but I can’t imagine how miserable it must be if you hate your job.
I loved my job for 30 odd years, then it just became no fun what so ever. The job didn't really change, but I had just had enough. The role I had was made redundant and I had to then choose whether to carry on and find a similar role, or quit completely. Luckily with a few adjustments to my lifestyle I could afford to not work anymore. So at 55 I retired. Don't miss it at all.
gangzoom said:
...
Reflecting back its been an absolutely manic week, I was way way out of my comfort zone for large parts of it, working on projects where the risks of failure was really unknown, but the team (and I) got through team, not just on target but way above it.
I always knew I enjoyed my job, but this week has felt like real 'fun', it really hasn't felt like work at all and am absolutely itching to get back into it on Monday.
...
You were faced with a challenge and rose to meet it. So you are patting yourself on the back.Reflecting back its been an absolutely manic week, I was way way out of my comfort zone for large parts of it, working on projects where the risks of failure was really unknown, but the team (and I) got through team, not just on target but way above it.
I always knew I enjoyed my job, but this week has felt like real 'fun', it really hasn't felt like work at all and am absolutely itching to get back into it on Monday.
...
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