If you like your job, are you always happy?

[Racerbvd]

Lets see, my job requires me to to have drinks with club owners, meet & hang out with hot chicks. Of course, after over 20 years, it does wear on you,, and some owners tend to try & stab you in the back.

[legion]

Originally Posted by livi

2) Always look on the bright side of life.

Some things in life are bad,
They can really make you mad.
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you're chewing on life's gristle,
Don't grumble, give a wistle!
And this'll help things turn out for the best...
And...

[sammyg2]

Bright Side of Life

Always look on the bright side of life.
[whistling]
Always look on the light side of life.
[whistling]

If life seems jolly rotten,
There's something you've forgotten,
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
When you're feeling in the dumps,
Don't be silly chumps.
Just purse your lips and whistle. That's the thing.
And...

Always look on the bright side of life.
[whistling]
Always look on the right side of life,
[whistling]

For life is quite absurd
And death's the final word.
You must always face the curtain with a bow.
Forget about your sin.
Give the audience a grin.
Enjoy it. It's your last chance, anyhow.
So,...

Always look on the bright side of death,
[whistling]
Just before you draw your terminal breath.
[whistling]

Life's a piece of *****,
When you look at it.
Life's a laugh and death's a joke. It's true.
You'll see it's all a show.
Keep 'em laughing as you go.
Just remember that the last laugh is on you.
And...

Always look on the bright side of life.
[whistling]

[Superman]

I don't remember the last time I didn't want to come to work. My official work week is probably 8-5 M-F. In reality, I work close to sixty. I was up and in the game at five this morning. I can in last Saturday, and three of the four other people I work with were already there. they work 8-5 M-F too. Yea, we are crazy but then you knew that already.

Two more comments:

One, I tell my children to do what they love. It will become their work. Nothing worse than doing something all day, every day of the work week, that you don't enjoy. I have a friend who is probably the world's foremost authority on soap bubbles. He blows bubbles for his living.

And finally.....it is a well-known principle of organizational behavior that pay takes a distance backseat to working conditions. You have to respect the people you work with and for. With all due respect (that would be the respect earned) to those who think harshness and the threat of termination is an effective motivator, you have to feel protected by the folks you work for. Fear is a ****ty motivator. It creates zero loyalty. It also encourages zero risk-taking.

[legion]

Originally Posted by Superman

Fear is a ****ty motivator. It creates zero loyalty. It also encourages zero risk-taking.

Is this what you tell companies as you adivise they take the union's offer, or else?

[svandamme]

[911Rob]

Some things that I've learned about motivation over the years;

Keep in mind that at one time I owned a development company that employed over 100 men and a few women, all on my payroll. I also owned a company that had over 200 commissioned sales staff. I've studied leadership my whole life and with compassion!

Men are highly motivated by recognition.
- money must be respectful, but a recognition program will bring out the greatness in most men.

People are more motivated by the fear of losing something, than the joy of gaining something.

I personally am goal orientated, but the majority of the world are not; they are what I call 'employee mentalities'. I've even seen self employed people with employee mentalities.

FWIW Your thoughts?........

[targa911S]

Hell I'm retired and I'm not always happy. Life is diverse, live with it.

[Flatbutt1]

I enjoy my work and most of the people that I work with. But the company has gotten HUGE. I've posted here previously about the nepotism and political promotions and that gets me down bigtime. Especially when a person with lesser qualifications gets promoted over me. But I've received some good advice here regarding that crap. Sometimes work sux but I have to keep reminding myself that a lot this crap comes down to my ego. I have to learn to let it go, I'm only making myself miserable.

So if its tolerable most of the time and you're making a good living, I guess it ain't so bad.

[WI wide body]

Originally Posted by masraum

I'm sure I know the answer to this but, it's hard to see right now.

I enjoy my work. Best way to describe it is "network engineer", routers, switches, firewalls, Cisco stuff mostly.

The last 2-3 months have been particularly stressful and it's taking its toll on my attitude.

When I started this was a small company, it's still pretty small (~450-550emp, I think), but it's grown a lot. We have more people and more business. Because of the growth, our management has realized that the new size requires some different methods and organization. There have been lots of changes, and lots of "stuff" that I think is just growing pains. I suspect that in 6-12 months, the turmoil will die down and things will be back to (a new) normal. But damn, right now it's a royal pain in the neck and makes it hard to see a bright future. I suspect that the problem is that the higher ups, are trying to figure out what needs to be done, and we'll try things and end up keeping some of the new stuff but ditching some of the new ideas too.

I guess I'm just wondering, if you enjoy your work and enjoy where you work, does everyone go through periods where it sucks, but then later it's back to being enjoyable again?

frustrated and stressed...

Well, since I don't work ...let me give you some advice based on a lifetime of observing: NEVER allow your job or occupation to define who you are. That is a recipe for...if not disaster...then almost certain disappointment or disillusion at some point.

There are far too many good things in life to allow placing too much importance on work or job to ruin it. IMHO.

[alf]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

Lets see, my job requires me to to have drinks with club owners, meet & hang out with hot chicks. Of course, after over 20 years, it does wear on you,, and some owners tend to try & stab you in the back.

Are you a pimp?

[stealthn]

Steve,

Yes I love my job, but don't always like what I have to do (and I'm the boss)...I too am a Network Engineer (working on my CCIE) but if you want happiness, be a consultant I quit the full time drudge 12 years ago and never looked back (unless Cisco wants me ). I'll mop floors with a smile on my face if they want to pay me what I want.

I figured out long ago my job is not what defines me, but gives me the money to do things in life that I really enjoy - family first and foremost.

Good Luck I know it will get better

[Whtnkls911]

Steve,

I 'm going to stick my neck out, I am a Account Manager for a very large Cisco VAR. I deal with entprise and large commercail accounts like your company all the time. I realize how difficult it is to try implement new ideas (organization) and technology into your network. In my most successful clients (for them stress wise) they have very well developed 3 to 5 year strategies for refresh and new applications. Your company sounds like it has grown to a point where you now need to put in place a strong 3 to 5 year roadmap. With a strong technology strategy in place it makes everyones life easier.

Good luck