Do you like your job?

[FFR]

Originally Posted by Puppet Guy

I used to love my job. Now it's just a paycheque.

This is me. 100%. I used to love coming to work, but recent management and supervisor changes, as well as changes to my role outside of my control have changed what I do. I'm actively looking for something else, but unfortunately, I'm finding out my job was either somewhat specialized for my employer, or is called something else by other companies as I can't find anything.

[burn_this_city]

Its been a rough few years in my industry so job satisfaction has declined. But I still enjoy the work and the challenges it brings. Just wish the constant worrying about job security would end.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

A couple things here. I didn't see any comparison between a job and free time in the poll. While I do love my job, of course I love my free time more. That goes without saying for most everyone, I'd think.

But as to loving the job...I work a difficult stressful job that I love...because I love knowing that what I do makes a difference. Without any doubt. I know, every day when I leave, that I have had a positive impact in someone's life, and generally more than just one person. I love knowing that what I do matters and is important. While there are days I wonder what's wrong in Humanity's collective brain, or days I'd rather stay home curled up on the couch watching some TV or the game, I still love my job. I've been doing it for 3 1/2 years now, and I find that I enjoy it even more than I did when I started, because I know more, can do more, can help more.

I think that whether or not one continues to enjoy their job depends on what one is looking to get out of it. My job is giving me what I want out of it. A sense of mattering. Of directly helping. Of not just having to watch from the sidelines, helpless, as the situation rages around me. And for that, I love it. I love coming to work. I love being here. I love doing what I do.

That's good for you. Personally, I could never love going to work, because I'd rather be hanging out with my family, or going snowboarding, or bike riding, or working on my house, or to a movie, or camping, or out for lunch with my friends, or going for a drive, or any number of things that aren't work. You say you like free time more than work, but you love going to work anyway. I don't see how you can reconcile that.

Maybe we need to define love or something because to me if you have to do something eight hours a day instead of things you enjoy more, then how could you possibly love the mandatory thing. It's getting in the way (to a degree) of the things you'd rather be doing.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Sliver

That's good for you. Personally, I could never love going to work, because I'd rather be hanging out with my family, or going snowboarding, or bike riding, or working on my house, or to a movie, or camping, or out for lunch with my friends, or going for a drive, or any number of things that aren't work. You say you like free time more than work, but you love going to work anyway. I don't see how you can reconcile that.

Maybe we need to define love or something because to me if you have to do something eight hours a day instead of things you enjoy more, then how could you possibly love the mandatory thing. It's getting in the way (to a degree) of the things you'd rather be doing.

What if your job IS doing the thing (or at least one of the things) you love?

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by MattyC

What if your job IS doing the thing (or at least one of the things) you love?

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by Sliver

That's good for you. Personally, I could never love going to work, because I'd rather be hanging out with my family, or going snowboarding, or bike riding, or working on my house, or to a movie, or camping, or out for lunch with my friends, or going for a drive, or any number of things that aren't work. You say you like free time more than work, but you love going to work anyway. I don't see how you can reconcile that.

Maybe we need to define love or something because to me if you have to do something eight hours a day instead of things you enjoy more, then how could you possibly love the mandatory thing. It's getting in the way (to a degree) of the things you'd rather be doing.

Some people enjoy the challenges of their job and get satisfaction from being successful at it. Granted, I'd say personally I lean more towards your viewpoint. But I know many people (musicians, teachers, woodworkers, etc.) who love their jobs and would be spending time doing something similar with their free time even if money was no object.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

No body does that? Sliver's got Snowboarding on his list of things he'd rather do. Well, there are people that make a living doing that.

[Mr.Coffee]

Are you suggesting Sliver quit his job and take up professional snowboarding?

[Locke]

I definitely enjoy my job a lot more now that I'm self-employed. Theres a lot more stress but I reap all the rewards and benefits of my work.

That being said, its a bit of a love/hate relationship. Its work and, as I said, it can be insanely stressful at times and it can be a struggle to offset that during slower times. For instance, I've had about 10 days off in 2016, and I'm including weekends, I'm still working on that.

But I'm scary good at it which makes the work easier, I can make a good living at it and provide for my family and for most of the year I go to work on my terms, my dress code, my hours, and I dont have a boss.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Are you suggesting Sliver quit his job and take up professional snowboarding?

No. I'm saying that there are people that pursue things they love and make careers out of it. So an eye roll to the assertion that it can happen is just cynical IMO.

[Mr.Coffee]

we probably will never agree. You're worldview is incredibly naive in my opinion.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by Sliver

That's good for you. Personally, I could never love going to work, because I'd rather be hanging out with my family, or going snowboarding, or bike riding, or working on my house, or to a movie, or camping, or out for lunch with my friends, or going for a drive, or any number of things that aren't work. You say you like free time more than work, but you love going to work anyway. I don't see how you can reconcile that.

Maybe we need to define love or something because to me if you have to do something eight hours a day instead of things you enjoy more, then how could you possibly love the mandatory thing. It's getting in the way (to a degree) of the things you'd rather be doing.

I guess I can reconcile the difference because I like having money to spend doing the things I like to do, so doing something I really enjoy to get the money to do other things I enjoy makes it all good.

Maybe it's also because, at one point in my life, I was unemployed for nearly a year. I had the free time to do what I wanted, and after about a month, I got bored out of my tree. I do very much value my current amount of free time (I refuse to work overtime, for instance), but perhaps my desire for it has been tempered by having too much.

If I was independently wealthy and didn't have to worry about money...I'm sure I could find ways to fill my free time happily that didn't include "work". Since I'm not (and the chances that I ever will be are slim to none) I've decided that it's in the best interests of my mental health to find a job that I really enjoy. If I was rich, per se...I'd likely still work where I do at least in a part-time capacity.

Also, I think you are overthinking this. Once again, nothing in the poll asked if one prefers work time over free time...it just asked what we think of our work time. I'm of them mind "I have to work, so I'd rather enjoy it than not". I've worked my fair share of "soul-sucking/destroying" jobs, to be sure.

Also, as with a couple other posts...what you define as love will affect how much you 'love' your job. I have always, always enjoyed and wanted to help people...helping is something I even do in my free time. I now have a job where it's very clear that I am helping, so I do find it very enjoyable.

[dissentowner]

I have a love/hate relationship with my career. It is a lot of stress but the times you go out and make a difference in the community makes it worth it.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

we probably will never agree. You're worldview is incredibly naive in my opinion.

The view that there are people that exist that have made careers out of doing things they love? This is a hockey forum for christs sake. You don't think Brad Treliving loves his job? My guess is yes. This is not something to agree on. It happens. It's a fact.

Not to mention, not everyone loves "impractical" jobs. There are people that enjoy doing what someone like me might think is mundane. I'm sure there are plenty of teachers that absolutely love what they do. It's not some fantasy.

[para transit fellow]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I have a love/hate relationship with my career. It is a lot of stress but the times you go out and make a difference in the community makes it worth it.

That statement encapsulates my job.

My organization has grown 300% since I started as executive director.

and... someday they will figure out that I only have the barest clue of what I am supposed to be doing....

[nik-]

The business you're executive director at has grown 300% in your tenure.

Perhaps you have a little more of a clue than you think you do.

[Misterpants]

Never know, could be from 1 person to 3.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by MattyC

The view that there are people that exist that have made careers out of doing things they love? This is a hockey forum for christs sake. You don't think Brad Treliving loves his job? My guess is yes. This is not something to agree on. It happens. It's a fact.

Not to mention, not everyone loves "impractical" jobs. There are people that enjoy doing what someone like me might think is mundane. I'm sure there are plenty of teachers that absolutely love what they do. It's not some fantasy.

Making a career out of something you love isn't the same as loving your job. It's all relative, and I can see how you're both right and wrong.

There are things I love doing. None of them involve work. I'm very lucky in that my job incorporates a love I have, and I get to be surrounded by it and involved in it daily. Do I love my job?
Yes, if it's simply comparing it to doing a different job.
No, if you're comparing it do being anyway but at work.

I see what Sliver is saying. I can't understand how anyone can truly love their job, because the essence of work diminishes enjoyment. If your job is the best part of your day you need to improve the rest of your life, in my opinion.

Out of curiosity, what are you leaving your current job to do? It's always good to pursue a passion.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Making a career out of something you love isn't the same as loving your job. It's all relative, and I can see how you're both right and wrong.

There are things I love doing. None of them involve work. I'm very lucky in that my job incorporates a love I have, and I get to be surrounded by it and involved in it daily. Do I love my job?
Yes, if it's simply comparing it to doing a different job.
No, if you're comparing it do being anyway but at work.

I see what Sliver is saying. I can't understand how anyone can truly love their job, because the essence of work diminishes enjoyment. If your job is the best part of your day you need to improve the rest of your life, in my opinion.

Out of curiosity, what are you leaving your current job to do? It's always good to pursue a passion.

Yeah that's true. By the nature of turning something you love to do into a career, it becomes work and it's not always fun. Every person with a "dream job" I'm sure have days when they'd rather be doing anything else, and there will always be other things you love doing that don't get the same attention. So I can see that.

I'm going to film school. TV and Film Production. And I suppose in order to go that route, especially when leaving a pragmatic position such as mine, you really have to have full optimism that you can turn a passion into a livelyhood, however small the chance.

But at the same time, isn't reaching the top tier of any profession just as unlikely as reaching the top tier of a sport, or an art medium? For something like film anyway, there are more jobs than just superstar movie director. Same with sports. Sure, everyone would love to be athletes, but we can't all be that. It doesn't mean you can't still have success in that field.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by MattyC

The view that there are people that exist that have made careers out of doing things they love? This is a hockey forum for christs sake. You don't think Brad Treliving loves his job? My guess is yes. This is not something to agree on. It happens. It's a fact.

Not to mention, not everyone loves "impractical" jobs. There are people that enjoy doing what someone like me might think is mundane. I'm sure there are plenty of teachers that absolutely love what they do. It's not some fantasy.

Hahaha, I can't even imagine the opportunities open to me if my dad was worth $640 million. It's such a hilarious example you used. Very wealthy people have all sorts of opportunities in life. I'm not an expert on Brad's life, but I'm pretty sure he was in some damn fine hockey camps/schools etc. growing up. Doubt if he had to quit hockey at 16 to get a part-time job.

Oh man, dude, you remind me of 14-year-old me. I hope reality never has to hit you. Your attitude is great, but I don't believe it has any basis in the reality most of us live in. If you're an exception, that's great and you should roll with it, but I think you need to recognize the world generally isn't as opportunity and passion filled as it may be for you at this stage in your life. You do come off very naive.