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Wed 15 Dec, 2004 01:08 am
before I got into the "Technology" field and while i was studying to get a foot into the field i was passionate about what i was learning... I was really into and enjoyed learning all about it........
i got a good job working for a large company (the largest company, can you guess?).....and the first 3 years with the company i was soaking everything up, working 70 hour work weeks, and thoroughly enjoying my job.......i had dedicated that part of my life to work......i received numerous raises, bought a bass boat, bought a house, bought a dog, bought a motorcyle, and it fullfilled me.....it honestly did.....
then........ it seems like i burned out..... i lost complete interest in what i was doing and i couldn't motivate myself to get up and go to work... it's hard to explain.... i began having these philosophical debates with myself about how i shouldn't be spending most of my hours, days,weeks, months, in a cubicle hammering away at a keyboard.......i started working a normal work week, 40 hours... and thought maybe these thoughts and feelings would go away... they didn't........
i gave my 2 weeks, quit my job and could fortunately afford to take the next 7 months off.......i fished alot etc.... and re-charged myself......
i went back to my old job (i left on good terms) and have since been with the company another 3 years........the old feelings, the old debates with myself and coming back now.... i didn't go back to working 70 hour work weeks throughout this last 3 year stint.... and it doens't feel like i am burned out......i am not sure what is going on?
can anyone relate? should i be seriously looking at another line of work? problem is not much else can equal the pay.......
I realize not everyone gets the chance to do what they love in life and that i am very very luckly and fortunate to have what i have in this life... to be able to live comfortably etc. etc.... but it just doens't seem like i am happy anymore.......
can anyone relate? if so please share.......
I can, but I'm going to bed now, so I'll bookmark this for later.
Hey. Kicky... How can I do that (bookmarking a topic)?
I've asked that before in another thread and didn't get a reply. (but no pressure, hehe)
superjuly
I'm not Kicky, but .... by writing "bookmark", or anything for that matter, it means you get email updates on the thread. You're also indicating that you're interested in the topic ...
Ohhhh. Just some random A2K lingo... Got it.
I thought (and was kind of hoping) that I could actually bookmark a thread.
Thanks msolga!!
AR Man ~ It sounds to me like you need a hobby or a girl(boy)friend or a dog. Life shouldn't revolve around your job. Work is what you do to afford to do what you like to do.
I can totally relate, but don't know what the cause or the solution is to the problem.
i have a dog.... had a girlfriend (over now) and have interests..... I fly RC Airplanes, Fish and ride my motorcycle... I don't have a ton of friends but the friends i have are married and most with children... I am single, never married, no children......
my dreamjob would be doing something outdoors but problem is i like the cash from my current job, i just think about how i spend most of my life in a POD hammering on a keyboard and it just doesn't seem right... unno....?
maybe this is a point in my life where i have to do a gut check and figure out if i can be happy doing what i currently do for a job..... if i can't then i;ll need to get my finances in order and prepare to take probably a huge pay cut and do something outdoors etc... i dunno......
I have a very simple way of sorting things out when I am in a quandry over choosing one of two options. I take a piece of paper, and draw a line right down the middle. One side is "Pro", and one side is "con".
In your case you might want to have two pieces of paper, one for your present job, and one for the outdoor work that you would like to do. List everything that you can think of that relates to the two choices. This technique will enable you to look at the situation a bit more objectively.
BTW, one of the big things that you have going for you is that you are single, with no family to support. It does make you much more flexible in your ability to take risks.
Found this thread on google and I really identify with you AR_MAN. I've been a database consultant for 20 years. I usually like it. Sometimes really love it.
Money's good when I put energy into it. BUT, for the last few years I've been really bored. Have pets, partner, house, sports, friends, and down time too. Very content in life, except could care less about working. And over the long term that is going to be a big problem.
I can see myself jumping back into the consulting business with gusto but it seems forced or artificial. Thought about working for a nonprofit. Thought about expanding (just myself now). Thought about new specialization in IT.
Thing is, we both have options, which is a great place to be. Many people don't have that luxury. Remembering this makes it easier until you initiate the transition.
Something I've done in the past was to list what CHARACTERISTICS of something (i.e. job) I want long term, short term, and don't want.
When you take your time and focus on the characteristics first, it makes deciding on the detail a lot easier. You just rank your choices based on your required characteristics.
I've found that the hardest decisions to make are the ones where we have several choices and the need to make the decision is self imposed.
Good luck
Allen
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