Motivation and enjoyment
Taking pleasure in the task at hand makes all the difference in the world. At least this is how it worked for me. Having a genuine interest in whatever I was working on, made learning easier, working more pleasurable, and increased the likelihood that I would follow through until completion.
This concept was nothing new. It had been evident that, since grade school, I was able to learn and retain more if the subject happened to be interesting. Subjects that were boring and mundane seemed to take longer to grasp, as the information didn’t seem to sink in as quickly.
You would think that the next logical step would be to take this information and use it as an adult later in life. Well, I don’t know what went wrong – I suppose reality kicked in and fate landed me in a job that I didn’t particularly like. I was in love with the prestige and money part of the job – not the job itself.
In fairness though, we all try to do as much as we can when it comes to careers and sometimes that means assuming duties that we are not well suited towards. It all comes down to priorities and what you are willing to sacrifice for the greater good. Taking a minimum wage job at a 7-eleven might be your ideal career, but if your bills are outstripping your wages, then you need to make a decision as to whether you are willing to flex a little. In fact, very few of us have the good fortune to be able to work at something we love.
After four years in the corporate world, I was miserable. My social anxiety was making things much harder than they had to be – and, combined with the usual job stresses and fast-paced city life, I was literally dragging my ass to work every day. I decided that this lifestyle was not for me and I resigned. Well, the truth is that my SA got to the point where I could not function any longer. I’ll be writing about this soon. .
My life took an immediate financial hit, and though it was hard to get used to, I vowed that I would spend the rest of my life doing what I wanted, not what was expected of me. I just needed to find a job that I actually liked.
Anyway, my point is that by setting reasonable goals and enjoyable tasks for myself (whenever possible), I was more likely to succeed at whatever I set out to do. I could learn more, accomplish more, and hold out longer to see it to completion.
This “candy-coated” ideal contrasted with the stark reality of life. I knew this, but there was no harm in trying to improve one’s position. “Improve” did not necessarily mean more money and/or more prestige. In my case it meant more peace of mind, and a better quality of life.
I now have a very low-key position in a restaurant kitchen. There is zero stress, and it gives me time to think. I can honestly say that I enjoy working here immensely. I can be as interactive as I like – I have that choice. My co-workers are great, and the boss is very easy going. I might not keep this “career” forever, but it is so much better than my previous job, I can’t begin to compare the two. I do a top-notch job here because I like what I do and I am motivated. Quality of life does not always involve money and power.
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