I Want to Like my Job

posted 19th August 2009    Written by: Robyn    CATEGORY: All Posts, Job/Career/Work, Quarterlife Crisis, Robyn, Season 1

Robinandsis

(This week I posed a question to Andrea, Kendra, Robyn & Marisa- When you were small, what did you want to be when you grew up?  How has this played into your life?  And perhaps the more appropriate question for a Quarterlife Crisis: What do you want to be when you grow up? xoxo  Molly)

When I was growing up, I played “house” with my two younger sisters constantly. I was always the more practical of my sisters: Holly wanted to be a Dutch girl when she grew up so that she could always wear wooden shoes and Alex wanted to be a dolphin trainer so that she could meet Flipper.

When we played house, I was always the “Mom” and surprisingly, I balanced two jobs on top of that. I was a 9-year-old mom-doctor-artist. Pretty impressive, right? I was a creative kid who loved helping others, so mom-doctor-artist was the perfect profession for me.  Back then, I was only concerned with three simple things that I “like to do”:

Being happy
Drawing
Helping people

Now…  I am not an artist nor a doctor. I can draw nothing other than stick figures, and I faint at the site of blood, so it really wouldn’t have worked out anyway.

I am, however, still searching for something that I just plain “like to do.”

And I want that to be my job.

Over the years, I have wanted to be a restaurant owner, a high level businesswoman, a traveling journalist, a teacher, a counselor, and…  the list goes on and on. I think I have been searching for my niche for a very long time and hoping that eventually it will just find me.

I have given different occupations a chance, but I lose interest quickly when I feel like my skills aren’t used and my talent is underestimated. I’ve also really started to pay attention to how quickly time moves.  I feel like I am still a “recent college grad,” when really I’ve been a professional (well…kinda!) for the past three years.

Point is… Time flies and life really is what happens while you are sitting there making plans.

I have reached the conclusion that I will never enjoy a corporate job. I will never enjoy a 9 to 5, because there is too much living left to do! I can’t do that cramped in a cubicle, doing mindless work. I’m looking for a job that doesn’t seem so much like work.

cubicle

I also think I do need something of my own so that I can only answer to myself due to my severe aversion of doing bitch work for “the man.” I know I’m better than that, and if no one else will take advantage of my true skills (not my data entry or copying skills), then I’ll work for myself and pat myself on the back!

I’m working on getting the courage to leave my secure job and take a chance, but it’s scary to take that kind of a chance.  I’m confident in my skills, but I need an idea…a plan…  More on that later, I promise!

robyn-bio1

photo credit: stewf

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Comments (1)

One Response to “I Want to Like my Job”

  • Maureen Jann Says:
    August 20th, 2009 at 10:23 am

    Wow, I completely understand where you’re coming from.

    I’ve felt trapped, cramped and otherwise stifled by corporate environments that have muted my creative juices. I’ve always been on the road to self-employment. But what I’ve learned from my experiences is that by knowing my end goal allows me to choose strategic positions that point me in the right direction of living my dream. By working in these places, I’ve been able to learn from others mistakes and attain a whole toolbox of knowledge that will allow me to be far more successful when it’s my turn to jump ship.

    For example, if you want to run your own online portal about shoes, work for an online shoe retailer. Or work on writing for any sort of retail business. Or work for an online portal so you can better understand the ins and outs of how those work. No matter what level you start at you’ll learn something about the business you want to be in.

    So, I guess what I’m saying is working for someone else can suck. But, looking at each position you pioneer as a study session to live your dream.

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