Quitting The Day Job

Do you need a change?

48 Days to Creative Income, Day 7

Day #7: Do you need a change?

A series of  questions are used to help you figure out if indeed you really need to make changes.  I won’t list out and answer all of the questions in this part of the program.  I will list some of them out so that you the reader can question yourself on them.  Other questions, I’ll just write some brief summaries and in some cases I’ll combine a few of my answers….wow, was that clear as mud?

Follow these questions and compare your answers and experiences to mine.

Do you love your current work?

Absolutely not.

I was drawn to my career in IT purely by my love of video games and a bit of the sci-fi fan in me.  Then I got to work with mainframes.  Yawn.  But even though my career progressed, it eventually hit a stone wall.  Technology was progressing at a pace too hard to keep up with.  Managerial theory was instituting what I will call simply “assinine” decision making as the norm.  Quality of work was thrown out the window.  Experience and knowledge were absolutely ignored.  At that point, I was broken.  And though there was promised change, it only got worse.

No, absolutely not.

Are you happy to see Monday come around?

Once again, absolutely not.  In fact, I dread Saturday afternoon because my thoughts drift toward Monday morning.  In fact, I am happy to see some things:  Lunch time, quitting time, company meetings that kill an hour during the day.

Do you find this to be true, or do love heading into work?  I never used to hate it, but once again, my turning point came when I was working for a large manufacturer.  I found my daily walk into the building to be an eerie replay of the opening scenes from “Joe vs. the Volcano.”  If you don’t know what I mean, watch the beginning of the movie.

Do you have satisfying job relationships?

No.  In fact I have broken off relationships with persons I used to recognize as friends.  I’m “batmobiled” and I now talk to and interact with a small hand full of people.  Pathetic?  My wife thinks so, but in keeping with my zen philosophy, it prevents me getting angry at stupid things that I cannot control.

Are you making as much money as you are worth?

Yes/No.  I was, in fact I was completely underpaid.  Looking at the situation now, I’m overpaid.  BUT It is not my fault.  It is because management has made decisions that undermines and minimizes my knowledge and experience.

Do you go home with a sense of accomplishment?

Rarely.  When I do, it’s because I recognize the accomplishment.  I know I did something right or well.  Usually the accomplishment is NOT recognized in any way shape or form by the management.

I usualy get home and wind up mad and frustrated at the work environment.

Do you have security, recognition and potential for advancement that you want?

I have had the same job title for over 12 years.  Question answered.

Is your work using your best talent?

Depends.  Yes/No again.  On an average day, no.  When the chips are down, yes.

Are you where you thought you’d be at this stage of in your life?

I don’t honestly no.  Most likely the answer is no.  I didn’t know I would be this frustrated and angry, or time strapped.

What are the key characteristics of an ideal job?

That is a problem.  That is why I want to read I don’t know what I want to do, but I know it’s not this.

I think I’d like to work on my own without a “manager”.  Not in a corporation.  On my own and within what timeframes I set.  Learning new skills and not just learning them, but using them.

Conclusion

Do I need a change?

I think the answer is yes.  But not a job change.  I need a career change, but I need more than that.  I need a change to find something meaningful and enjoyable.  Something that I like to do, no, LOVE to do.  Something that isn’t a burden.  I never liked my co-workers that were drones, that viewed work as “a paycheck”.  I always thought that was small minded.  I never liked co-workers (usually higher ups in other departments) who viewed work as almost a religious experience.  I thought that was just as small minded.

I need a change, but a complete change.  The biggest issue?  Money.