December 18, 2012
-
Career and Change
Problem:
I once read this book, called One Minute Manager. In the book, it delineates three simple things a good manager should do.
1) One Minute Goals- There is a simplicity when your manager puts your goals clearly in front of you or when you put your goals in front of yourself. The simplicity that you can read and understand your goal makes it that much more clear. I have no clear goals here.
2) One Minute Reprimand- My boss does not speak to me about anything and if he does, he puts complete blame on me although there was no clear direction or oversight on his part on anything that is done. I realize more can always be done on my part and trust me when I say I am doing more.
3) One Minute Praise- Also, there is no effing appreciation at this job. None whatsoever. For all the work and hours you put in, no one will tell you you are doing a great job or that your work contributes to anything. No one gets it.
Solution:
Once a problem is understood, you have to look at it from two ways. Can I bear it or do I want this to change?
1) Bearing it - One of my favorite stories ever can be found here Farmer John and the Dog. And the question I ask myself is does it hurt enough. And to be truthful, no it does not. The situation I am in does not hurt enough, but it is annoying me greatly. I do not like to be a person that bitches and I do not like to be a person that goes around being unhappy around others. My stress is high and my appreciation for my work is low.
2) Change - Okay, I lied. Damn it is hard. But I know I will have to. I have about 13 days off in 4 days where I will have time to clean up my resume and apply to the market. My current plans are.
- Find job as program manager at sales company
- Find job as sales dev or lead
- Find job as consultant
- Find job as waiter and middle school tutor
Option 4 for me sounds the best and that is because I want to run away. I truly want to rest and breathe and do something so easy and natural to me. My friend calls me a little bitch and copping out finding something the world deems as altruistic, but they are only in it because they couldn't find a real job in the industry they wish. Point taken. Option 3 is the scariest and I hear no one likes their job as a consultant, but I feel that would be good experience for me. Jobs 1 and 2 are basically the same shit I am doing now, but hopefully for a company I enjoy or an industry I am looking to further my career in.
Reflection:
Fuck you. Yes you the person that thinks their life is figured out. Life is hard. Damn mother-effing hard. Life never goes straight from A to B and very few of us know what we are doing. For those of you that actually are in the pursuit of your hopes and dreams, thank you. Thank you for risking it and showing the rest of us 9 to 5'ers that life can be pursued. Others of us, me included, are delusional and are hoping for that muse to speak or that next step to appear so we may move forward.
I am not one about waiting for things to come. If you have followed me for at least a year, you would realize that I am all about hustling and working towards the top. I definitely very much still believe in this. I am, however, realizing that we can not always gauge life by our progress, but rather by our process. We are constantly being taught to count awards, laurels, and accolades, but real grown up life is not about the next step.
So often we want to be in a relationship and get married just so we feel that that is our next step to feel accomplished. But I am going to tell you something, some relationships fucking suck. Some marriages suck. We stay in them because we are scared of change or we don't feel like we can do better or we hope that things will get better. I have been there. But I have realized, it is not about what stage you are in life, but how you are performing at each stage. The trajectory of things to come even. And it does not matter if you make it now or ten years from now, it is just about making it.
So here I am. 26. Single. Working for a 6 Billion dollar company. Managing projects that are worth 60 million a piece. Controlling the production flow of factories worldwide.
At the end of the day, if it does not mean shit to you, then it is worthless. So we can all continue to move forward, but at the end of the day we will have to answer to ourselves. Did we live a life worth living?
TL;DR:
I have lost my passion in most things and am on the hunt to find it again. Many things will have to change including my current occupation.
Everything you have gone through in life has brought you to this moment in time, with this set of skills, this set of values, and this set of beliefs and ambition. I do not know where I am going, but if I dedicate myself to the decision I make. I know I will go far in that direction. I guess that decision will be coming soon. I will commit to a choice. I will choose a cookie. Any cookie. They are all pretty decent cookies.
@apieceofthesky #lifeishard #bloggingforme #onmyway
Comments (23)
I am in a similar boat, except my office says what a great job we do (at entry-level). >.Good luck, the job market is a scary place!
this was that stand out phrase for me: we can not always gage life by our progress, but rather by our process. - thats wisdom... growth and so valuable!
I'm totally in a similar boat but at least you have a plan. I don't even have THAT. I have ideas, dreams, things I THINK I would like doing... but what if this is just another "grass is always greener" lesson, ya know? I'm not saying that is the case for you ... just that it is what I worry about and what is holding me back. What if I go through the hassle of making a semi significant change and nothing gets better? What if MY attitude is the problem and not my job? What if I'm just an unhappy person? These are all of the things that run through my mind.
Good luck to you. I hope you discover/chase after your passion. Part of me thinks ANYTHING that doesn't chain me to a desk has to be an improvement upon my current job... right?
@Babieboo_Annie - Sounds like Amway :p
Exciting. Can't wait to see which cookie it is that you choose to take that bite of..
The 3 C’s of life: Choice, Chance, Change. You must make the Choice to take the Chance if you want anything to Change.
@Manbeast - Lol. And you would know how?... :p jk I actually saw that online somewhere.
"we can not always gauge life by our progress, but rather by our process"
There was something I learned a few years ago. I don't know what the official term is, but the notion is that in any given project, journey, etc, there are three things by which we can call it successful: outcome, process, relationships. People will consider a project failed if it doesn't meet the outcome, followed a crappy process, or put tension on the relationship for those involved and it only has to meet at least one of those pieces for it to be a failure. Sometimes it doesn't matter what the outcome is as long as you understand a process or that you've built great relationships with your team, etc.
Anyway, glad to see that you've realized that piece about life =]
life is too short to be unhappy. never be afraid to try and i know you'll find your muse. good luck!
I think we put too much attention to thinks at work and we shouldn't...after all it should be just a way to get the material goods you need to thrive... i get that people in western culture is taught to compete but I've found that it's kind'a harmful to happiness, maybe do what your heart wants and see where that leads you?
Best of lucks!!!
I'm gonna keep a look-out for this 1 Minute Manager book. I opted option 4 the easy way out because i was afraid, i've made many bad decisions in life with career and relationships that just got me paralyzed by fear allowing many opportunities to just slip by, gotta hustle and make that change happen, like you say it doesnt matter how long it takes but as long as you are making it and whatever choice you take, i know you will be successful, i wish you all the awesomeness and success in the coming new year in whichever cookie you have decided on
Thanks for writing this, made me reflect and it sure sucks that so many people has got it altogether, but thank god, we are not where we are and we'll not remain where we are!
I like how you have the tools and wisdom to analyze a situation, break it down, and weigh the consequences and possible outcomes. I like the Farmer John and Dog story also, however the flip-side of it is the little boy who always thinks the grass is green on the other side. Of course everything comes with a risk and there will always be haters and doubters.
Truthfully I'm a bit excited for you. I don't think you're the type of man to back down. You might need a little break but I dont think you will ever be satisfied with option 4. Maybe this was what was needed for you to make a change. It may be tough at first but I think you will get the job done. Like Miss Babieboo said I can't wait to see what cookie you choose. Like you said there are plenty of good cookies. This can all be the start of something great.
Good luck Manbeast!
Your post makes me want cookies.
But seriously, good luck on rediscovering your passion (: I'm sure you will find it in time and find the energy to pursue your goals (: Then you can tell me all about it over burritoooooooos (:
Life is not uniformly difficult for everyone. Some people live charmed lives from birth to death- no adversity with a safety net the entire time. Others eek out a cursed miserable existence.
One cannot dictate or control success. All we can do is do our best to train, learn, do the best we can and put ourselves in the best situation to succeed and hope the ball goes through the rim.
My gf routinely says how she cannot imagine how I work a job I do not enjoy. I tell her that in the future, I will do what I want, but for now, I'm making a comfortable living.
Lastly, my recommendation is to stay in a career until the economy is booming again and just travel more in your free time. Take more holidays, take more four day weekends, and if you have the scratch, plan more trips. It will give you something to look forward to, something to work towards, and a chance to meet more people. Good luck.
good read, I felt the same way earlier this year about my career.
Are you alright?
Best blog I've read in a while! You're one smart guy David!
i love love love love love love love love love ^ infinity this post
btw. I agree with viet1 n only, I don't think you would be satisfied with option 4 either. it seems great, the escape, the easy solution, BUT it's not the right one for you, and you know it. =) also I want to clarify that being a teacher, which is deemed as altruistic by many, is only a cop out for you. many people teach because they're passionate about it.
You're brave to desire such a drastic change in your life. I'm in a daily battle to resist small changes, but I tell myself to take it one step at a time. After all, nothing worth having comes easy. Good luck with your journey!
hilo! this may sound trite, but i don't mean it that way: don't forget to pray! for your new job, for direction, for motivation, for whatever. and to thank God for what you do have. i think it will help, and i really hope you find something that is well-suited for you. God bless!
I agree with the comments above - never be too afraid to try. Looking back on my own career, leaving my job and trying to do something that means something to me - I would say that was the best decision of all, since I told myself that I deserved to be treated better, and that life is meant for pursuing what means something to you. It is extremely hard being at a job where you are unhappy, and I definitely have been there....my best wishes for you in your next step - you seem like you have much to offer your next employer, wherever they are!
sales is always a bitch to work in. youre in limbo. youre free to do anything. running is soometimes good for the soul, but its pretty shitty on your bank account. im going to read that book soon. my other manager is really shitty and i want to outshine her. its already been done but i want to be fucking excellent, and maybe know what im doing, do things intentionally, not just guess and hope.
The material and aggregation is excellent and telltale as comfortably.
printable application
Comments are closed.