Working your life away

[RoosterRussell92]

I'll be a doctor in 3 years and 6 months, which is a ****ing scary thought. I'm gonna work hard, save the pennies, and retire ASAP to enjoy what I've amassed with my family.

Good luck to you my friend. A noble profession indeed.

[Asha]

I'd say I was of similar thinking; the idea of repetitive spirit-crushing mundane work for a lifetime is obviously not something that excites me.

Something I really love about myself is that I'm not motivated by possessions, at all really. Therefore, why work myself silly for XX years purely to obtain things that don't really interest me? Even now, I see nearly everybody about in college with these blueberry things and ipads and what have you - and I'm very content with my second-hand w810i. I've already come to the personal conclusion that I'll never find true happiness in such things, so there's no point in pursuing them.

For me, the absolute dream would be to leave Uni with a degree and move abroad or travel the world and find a flexible job that I love. I've always wondered why, when asking me what my uni plans etc are, the first question people seem to have is 'Where will that take me?' I guess I see the romance in not particularly knowing, not resigning myself to a mundane work life and having my life mapped out in front of me purely because it's the expected behaviour. For me, the best plan is to keep doing things which you're passionate about, inevitably meaning you'll happier. Maybe there won't be a five floor mansion to live in when I'm 60 or a yacht in Monte Carlo, but I'd definitely take that for a life journey I'd find more enjoyable and rewarding.

Experiences and memories come before possessions every single time.

[Haydos]

Guys - long time lurker and very occasional poster here. Apologies for bringing up an old post but I'm having a bit of work related crisis at the moment and suddenly remembered posting on this thread last year.

I'm curious to know how Kareem (if he still posts on regularly on here) or indeed anyone else has gotten on after quitting their jobs/becoming their own boss. Without wanting to re-state everything that has been posted thus far (as the original post summed up my situation succinctly), I am utterly sick of working. I know no-one really likes work, but I consider the entire concept of work to be paid slavery and just cannot find the motivation to do it any more. I earn good money and have progressed nicely since graduating but I honestly cannot stand some of the people I work with - if you're a brown-noser, the corporate world is your oyster. And I just can't bring myself to act like that, nor work with people like that.

I've been saving for some time now and can afford a good stint abroad but am in two minds whether to do it or not. My family, and the majority of people I speak to for that matter, are of the opinion that I should just carry on being a mindless drone taking the money. Why? Because everyone does. But I really feel the overwhelming urge not to do as 99% of people do any more. Life's too short in my opinion. Anyway, I honestly just want to quit my job and I don't really care that I don't have another one lined up; deep down I know it'll be just the same routine of being a robot being told what to do by some jumped up jobsworth with a hareem of yes-men to do his/her bidding.

What I guess I'm angling for is - has anyone here gone down the route of doing their own thing - i.e. freelance work from home, starting their own on-line business or even doing some English teaching abroad? If so, how are you getting on? Any advice?

All thoughts are welcome, and apologies for the long, incoherent ramble of a post.

Mates dad sacked off being an electrician to go abroad. Went on holiday to Thailand for around a month then within a year he upped sticks and moved there. Now teaching English in local schools, he gets paid what would be pittance over here but a really decent wage over there. Everything's cheap as chips so living costs are fine and from what I know he absolutely loves it.

So yeah it sounds totally doable if you think that's the kind of thing for you.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

So you're back from travelling now? Where did you go? I spent a year on Australia 5 years ago now and loved it. And I couldn't agree more that you don't need heaps of possessions to be happy.

Yeah only went for 6 months went to South Africa, Botswanna and Zimbabwe then all around europe and scandinavia loved it, i went with the intenion of doing 5 months travelling then work for 12 months in Leicester but apart from the football Leicester is a pretty mundane sort of a place (no offence to any one) So came home to save some more coin and try and do save up my leave to do Asia then in another 12 months Central America and then Brazil 2014 for the world cup.

I enjoy my work and mates here but nothing beats the randomness, excitment of seeing and experience new things and most off all the people you meet some for one night others for weeks travelling, but you will always remember them and many i still stay in contact with. When i head to Asia i'll be heading with a girl i meet overseas and started travelling with her. Once you've travelled it's hard to stop.

Where in Aus did you go?

[Alexikokopops]

I quite enjoy my job

[dave the caveman]

One of the most common reactions people speak of, when they've visited poorer countries, is being suprised when making an observation along the lines of, "the people have nothing compared to us, and yet they're always happy and smiling."

They often stop short of asking why, though, and I suppose the phenomenon could be explained in numerous ways, such as pointing out that while we have more material wealth, the people from the poorer country are much more wealthy spiritually; or observing that smiling doesn't necessarily indicate any form of happiness, indeed it could mean the opposite.

But I think a strong and relevant explanation concerns the poorer persons relative proximity to genuine hardship. Taking the example of say, a third world farm worker, their work may be labourious and poorly compensated, but they know why they need to do it; they know first hand the ultimate consequences of failing to do that work - no food, no shelter. So it's no suprise that they go to work happy, because each morning when their alarm clocks go off, they're not thinking, "oh no, another day at work", but "oh yes, one more day where I won't have to worry about my kids starving to death."

Meanwhile, as a nation, we've been free from serious hardship for decades. We take it for granted that there will be food on the table. We take it for granted that our house will still be there when we get home. We take it for granted that we'll enjoy a standard of living comfortably above the poverty line.

Then consider our jobs. We're pushed through school at a young age, forced to make career choices way before we could reasonably be expected to know what we'd actually like to be doing for the next 50 years. We're told to stay in school so we can get a good job as if getting a good job is the key to a happy and fulfilled life.

So we do that, and then we end up in offices, in cubicles, behind computers... where not only are we not challenged, but our labour also produces no tangible result. Indeed the only result many of us see from our work is the manager's new car.

In this situation it is very difficult for us to grasp the two things which I believe are necessary to being happy in your work: 1) that like the third world farm worker, you know fundamentally why you go to work, and 2) you can see the fundamental usefulness of your labour.

I think if you can tick these off, then you beat the quarter- and mid-life crisis. The first ensures that you are aware that the stress of a 9am meeting pales in comparison to the stress of not knowing if you are going to be able to eat today. The second deals with our need to feel that our lives are worthwhile.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Good post Dave

I would almost say that choose a career, work hard buy a house and settle down is almost forced upon us as the "norm" and the "right" thing to do.

In respect to poor areas especially in Africa people seem happy but it is almost because they don't know anything else, people don't sit in front of there tv or computer during down times. Instead during there down times they sing, dance hunt and look after there elders.

[Zingari]

One of the most common reactions people speak of, when they've visited poorer countries, is being suprised when making an observation along the lines of, "the people have nothing compared to us, and yet they're always happy and smiling."

They often stop short of asking why, though, and I suppose the phenomenon could be explained in numerous ways, such as pointing out that while we have more material wealth, the people from the poorer country are much more wealthy spiritually; or observing that smiling doesn't necessarily indicate any form of happiness, indeed it could mean the opposite.

But I think a strong and relevant explanation concerns the poorer persons relative proximity to genuine hardship. Taking the example of say, a third world farm worker, their work may be labourious and poorly compensated, but they know why they need to do it; they know first hand the ultimate consequences of failing to do that work - no food, no shelter. So it's no suprise that they go to work happy, because each morning when their alarm clocks go off, they're not thinking, "oh no, another day at work", but "oh yes, one more day where I won't have to worry about my kids starving to death."

Meanwhile, as a nation, we've been free from serious hardship for decades. We take it for granted that there will be food on the table. We take it for granted that our house will still be there when we get home. We take it for granted that we'll enjoy a standard of living comfortably above the poverty line.

Then consider our jobs. We're pushed through school at a young age, forced to make career choices way before we could reasonably be expected to know what we'd actually like to be doing for the next 50 years. We're told to stay in school so we can get a good job as if getting a good job is the key to a happy and fulfilled life.

So we do that, and then we end up in offices, in cubicles, behind computers... where not only are we not challenged, but our labour also produces no tangible result. Indeed the only result many of us see from our work is the manager's new car.

In this situation it is very difficult for us to grasp the two things which I believe are necessary to being happy in your work: 1) that like the third world farm worker, you know fundamentally why you go to work, and 2) you can see the fundamental usefulness of your labour.

I think if you can tick these off, then you beat the quarter- and mid-life crisis. The first ensures that you are aware that the stress of a 9am meeting pales in comparison to the stress of not knowing if you are going to be able to eat today. The second deals with our need to feel that our lives are worthwhile.

[MikeyT]

Working 40+ hours a week for the rest of my life does not sit well with me. I am not equipped for that. I am 26 years old, and the thought of me doing 40 odd hours a week for the next forty years until I and become a weak and mobility-restricted senior citizen depresses me no end. I think too many people accept the status-quo and just accept that they are destined to get a job in a boring soul-destroying industry doing 40-50 hours a week for the rest of their lives, and whilst we purchase a shitload of useless material goods and services that we don't really need.. It's a system that was designed for us by the powers be.

An insane level of aspiration that cannot be met is fostered so that everyone can stay on the treadmill to chase an illusion that one day it might be you with the private jets and a strip club in the basement of your Berkshire mansion. Too many people have bought those fake aspirations and bought into this soul-destroying pyramid scheme. Start at the bottom and you may get somewhere if you work your arse off for 15 years. Right.

I quit my job last week and I am working out a plan to simplify my life to the point that I can live comfortably on a relatively small amount of income. It's the only solution I have been able to come up with.

Cannot agree more. I'm 31 in 3 weeks and recently unemployed and the thought of, like you say, a soul destroying job working 40+ hours a week terrifies the life right out of me. We are in education for at least 12 years (ish) if you say you started school at aged 4 until leaving aged 16. Then an option of college then university for the ones that can afford it. Then into the working life for 40 years at possibly 40+ hours a week. It really is a depressing prospect.

[Bob Weasel Fox]

Cannot agree more. I'm 31 in 3 weeks and recently unemployed and the thought of, like you say, a soul destroying job working 40+ hours a week terrifies the life right out of me. We are in education for at least 12 years (ish) if you say you started school at aged 4 until leaving aged 16. Then an option of college then university for the ones that can afford it. Then into the working life for 40 years at possibly 40+ hours a week. It really is a depressing prospect.

an old boss of mine once asked "do you live to work or do you work to live?" i think if you enjoy your job you "live to work" and if you hate your job and it just pays the bills then you "work to live". I feel lucky to generally love my job, even though it has unsociable hours and usually never gets praise or any sort of thanks at all in fact its not very well thought of full stop, but in some small way each day i can usually feel like i have helped people (in reality who knows?). I hate sorry strongly dislike some of the bosses i work for but at ground level the people i work with have a tremendous spirit and resolve when all around is crumbling usually. i did 2 years at my first job, just less than 2 years with my second job and I did 11 years with my last job and have done 8 years with the current job - the current job is definately the best i have done and i do realise (as i am told virtually every shift) how lucky i am to a) have a job and b) enjoy it

[FoxyPV]

I enjoy my job especially working with crews but it doesn't challenge me at all. It's a means to an end. I can't bring work home and because I know it inside out I rarely have to stay beyond 4. It does me (for the moment any way)

Dave - top post

[Asha]

"Amazing post"

Excellent, excellent post Dave.

Cannot agree more. I'm 31 in 3 weeks and recently unemployed and the thought of, like you say, a soul destroying job working 40+ hours a week terrifies the life right out of me. We are in education for at least 12 years (ish) if you say you started school at aged 4 until leaving aged 16. Then an option of college then university for the ones that can afford it. Then into the working life for 40 years at possibly 40+ hours a week. It really is a depressing prospect.

Mate, do something you love then! I've seen your photography work and it's brilliant! If that's the kind of thing you want to do then keep pursuing it as much as possible man, really believe you can do it for a living

[MC Prussian]

I'm there right now. Been at school up until 20, went to Uni, did some higher education and didn't really enter the work world until I was 26.

Today's job market is unpredictable and a long-term contract a sheer miracle. And even if you're in a job for more than 5 years, it doesn't protect you from being axed in the end.

A friend's missus has been given the boot after 13 years of dedicated work.

The regular job world has become a modern slave trade system, with more and more HR people unable to feel for the people they manage and/or hire.

It's all paper-based evaluations.

The most shocking part of it, from my perspective, is that team leaders and/or head of departments have begun to lose what I call a human touch.

They're told how to lead in business school, but fail to implement it naturally in the real world. The treatment some of these "leaders" give their employees is frankly embarrassing.

But I can't just blame them, it's the system in itself that is rotten - those very same department/team leaders have to comply with rules and regulations from within the company, and the bigger the company, the bigger the rule book. And besides, they have to pay rent and feed the family, too.

With the days of the patron with an ear for his workers gone and a standardization in leadership qualities (everything is measured in tests and tables) dominating today's working world, it's looking a bit grim.

I wonder what's happened to common sense - and above all, communication.

I'd say we've lost our ability to talk to each other appropriately in order to improve the working conditions.

I got made redundant a couple of weeks ago, mainly due to personal issues with my immediate superior (let's say it was antipathy by mutual consent).

You could say it was a job under a bad star from the start and I think it got me down quite a bit towards the end of my employment.

I was merely going to work early in the morning, sit on my behind for hours, without given the chance of working on an interesting project, only to return home in the evening feeling empty and useless.

This standard procedure breeds boredom, routine becomes your best mate and it's no wonder why there's a steady increase in depression in the Western World.

Right now, I'm in the situation where I know I need a change of scenery by doing something really worthwile - both for me and the people I'll be working for.

A meaningful life is nothing without a meaningful job.

Breaking free, feeling good about it and leading a decent life is what many people are asking for these days.

[Webbo]

Just a few words in defence of working for a living;

Sure work is boring, I work to live, I don't live to work. I'm sure there are people who do enjoy their work but I'm not one of them.

What is wrong in taking a pride in providing for yourself and your family? What's the alternative to not working? Relying on benefits from the state that can be given or taken away at the stroke of a bureaucrat's pen, where's the pride in that?

What if everyone decided that work was just slavery, what if doctors, ambulancemen, farmers, police and everyone else we rely on decided they couldn't be bothered?

We all like a moan but whilst the present system isn't great for everyone it's the best system we've got.

[MikeyT]

Mate, do something you love then! I've seen your photography work and it's brilliant! If that's the kind of thing you want to do then keep pursuing it as much as possible man, really believe you can do it for a living

Thank you mate, much appreciated. Photography is what i want to do with life. I find alot of joy and fulfilment doing it. I'm trying different ideas here and there at the moment and fingers crossed, eventually, it will be more than a hobby. Still alot of thngs to iron out though. Thanks again for the compliment.