Occupational Burnout??

[KFC911]

I've been burned out on corporate IT for a few years now (in my current position). I loved my career as a systems programmer for many years, but after 25 of them, it's become nothing more than "beancounters and bs", time wasting meetings, outsourcing, etc. 46 more working days and the burnout ends, but who's counting ! Don't know what I'm going to do next (just yet)... "would you like to supersize it?"

[MT930]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Are you cynical and no longer believe in your product? You're burnt out.

What to do? If you can't retire or change careers, the following is recommend:

1) Get in a serious physical workout plan.
2) Develop outside interests and start to associate with more people outside of work.

I've attended several training seminars on this subject.

This is very accurate. I have had this happen a few times. you need a behavior change.

Work out, physical activity helps allot
Buy a project car
Do something you have always wanted to do, regardless of way crazy it is
Change what you do for a living

[Noah930]

Hey Kevin, wanna swap jobs for a bit? Little change of pace for each party?

[KevinP73]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Hey Kevin, wanna swap jobs for a bit? Little change of pace for each party?

I'll leave a key to the shop under the trash can outside. Have fun.

[Noah930]

My partner's a plastic surgeon. (Think boobies.) Have fun.

[red911sc]

I have never met Kevin but something tells me he wouldn't look good with boobies

[KevinP73]

Originally Posted by red911sc

I have never met Kevin but something tells me he wouldn't look good with boobies

Ha Jeff, best laugh I've had all week.

[red911sc]

Glad to make you laugh Kevin. FWIW, I have been struggling with this very thing for a few years. For me, I have had issue with my superiors. I don't feel I can afford to quit. I haven't found the resolution yet but I am considering some of the suggestions here (except the boobies one).

[Rick Lee]

With all this great advice, I'd hope that someone here can recognize the trouble signs and quit or switch careers before they get to the burnout level.

I hate my current job. I had high hopes for a while, but I don't believe any of the promises made will ever come to fruition. When I didn't know what the hell I was doing and didn't seem to be very busy, I was always ahead of my quota. Now I know what I'm doing, am crazy busy and fall farther behind my quota every month. In May, out of 300 sales people, not a single one was at 100% of goal. I've stopped caring. This is not a career to me and I know I won't be working here a year from now. Working from home 2500 miles away from my boss has made my days more palatable, but it still sucks. I look at this job as grocery money and it got me to Arizona with a steady paycheck. That's it. And I really don't feel too guilty about it.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by KevinP73

How would you recognize it?
What would you do if it were you?

Kevin...the last few years in my small town store? I felt like there were bars on the windows. You know when you know. Probably about when you begin to feel jealous of those who put in 8 hours with Government union controlled "breaks"....

[Hugh R]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

I'm leaving my job as a consultant (with a consulting firm) tommorow to take a job with a former client on Monday. I'll do something different, but related. It will be a new challenge. Although very sucessful at what I have done, I have been burned out for a while and I think this will be a fun change. I'll probably work less and spend more time with the family. I need to manage my expectations about what I can accomplish, but I'm looking forward to the opportunity.

Steve, I was an Environmental, Health and Safety Consultant for about 22 of my 29 year (so far) career. You'll love getting out of it. I no longer write proposals, market for work, see every person I meet professionally as "fresh meat", I don't worry about billability, utilization, or billing clients. I work a full week, most every week, and honest to god, I feel like I'm on permanent vacation. I'm at a conference this week in Vegas, and I just walk by those booths manned by consultants. Man, I can't believe I used to do that. I too joined a former client (Disney) a little over five years ago and the time has flown by.

[2.7RACER]

Through out my career there were times when I wasn't happy. Fortunately these were small issues and soon passed.
However near the beginning of my work career I found myself in a position where the issues I faced were not small and did not go away.

After some soul searching, I put in my notice. I did not have anything lined up. Within days I was free. My life was mine.

Within a short time I had a couple of job offers. One from a company that did busness with my previous employer. They were reluctant to raid customer talent. Once I had broken away I was fair game.

I later found myself located at the main office outside Detroit. I'm a California boy. The midwest culture was a problem for my family and myself.

I left a good job and returned to California at the urging of my wife. Again with nothing lined up.
I was rehired by the company I left to do sales work in California.

I was a tech guy. Not a marketing guy. It was an interesting opportunity as well as a huge challenge.

15 years later I retired after making more money and friends than I ever dreamed possible.

The moral of this story?

Do not let fear control your life. Failure is always possible. Success is hiding behind all that fear.
If you are truly not happy, do something about it. Life is too short.

[livi]

Thanks, Speeder! Sorry, yes my English still lacks in many cases the nuances that makes it understandable. My apologies for sounding harsh and non empathetic.

[aap1966]

Originally Posted by red911sc

For me, I have had issue with my superiors. .

It's not my (real) superiors who worry me, it's the idiots who think they're superior just because they are above me in the chain of command.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by 2.7RACER

...If you are truly not happy, do something about it. Life is too short.

Post of the year imo! Where's the key to my "golden handcuffs"

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Steve, I was an Environmental, Health and Safety Consultant for about 22 of my 29 year (so far) career. You'll love getting out of it. I no longer write proposals, market for work, see every person I meet professionally as "fresh meat", I don't worry about billability, utilization, or billing clients. I work a full week, most every week, and honest to god, I feel like I'm on permanent vacation. I'm at a conference this week in Vegas, and I just walk by those booths manned by consultants. Man, I can't believe I used to do that. I too joined a former client (Disney) a little over five years ago and the time has flown by.

That's what I'm trying to get away from. I just wanna "work" and do good. Let these other guys kill themselves for this business. Maybe I'll never be in a Carerra GT, but non of the firm's partners are either.

I'm a little (lot?) nervous. I know that the pace will be different, but since it's a former client I kinda know what I'm getting into and one of my peers (who was also on that project) went there a month ago and really loves the difference. I think the people at my firm have a betting pool that I'll be back...I hope to outlast that.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

...I think the people at my firm have a betting pool that I'll be back...I hope to outlast that.

You should enter the pool...it'll suppliment your "new" income ! Change can be "scary", but I've seen enough folks go through it over the years (mostly involuntary) due to downsizing, outsourcing, etc. and invariably they wind up happier when all is said and done. Good luck Steve...you'll be just fine!

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by KC911

You should enter the pool...it'll suppliment your "new" income ! Change can be "scary", but I've seen enough folks go through it over the years (mostly involuntary) due to downsizing, outsourcing, etc. and invariably they wind up happier when all is said and done. Good luck Steve...you'll be just fine!

I hope so.... 10 min till the exit interview.

[KevinP73]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

10 min till the exit interview.

Wow 10 minutes and your life changes in a big time way (insert appropriate sentiment here)

[Zeke]

Kevin, I feel your pain. I've tried to quit contracting more than once, but always came back out of necessity (the money). I can think of 2 ways to beat the burn out: delegate and become the office boss, or close the doors, take a job with benefits and do some side work (with an assistant so you can get things done).

One door installer I knew had a shop with employees while he concentrated on the outside work. When he got hurt and had to go inside, his business tripled. You know, part time in a hardware store (or some retail) will leave you some side time.

You could also analyze your business and cut it into separate functions. Pick one or two of the best functions for you and farm out the others. You know, Chip Foose doesn't paint his own cars and neither did Boyd. (I know the guy that paints the "Overhaulin'" cars and he's good. He also doesn't mind delegating and/or working 24hrs straight.)

You just can't do it all and do it by yourself. Ask me how I know.

BTW, I started a business model where all I did was structural tub welding repair. I wouldn't use any fillers except the lead I put over butt welds. I figured the painter was the one to straighten out the panels and be responsible for the final outcome. What happened was I couldn't physically do the work. You're welcome to my model and any advice that you may want to consider. To make it really attractive, you'll need a Celette or equal. You'll need a sheet metal fabricator as well. Any monocoque sports car was eligible for a quote.