Jobs

[Paula]

Thanks. I enjoy the teaching in particular because I think it's meaningful (I get to have an impact on people's lives, not only the MBAs but the people who work with them as well and their families -- and I learn a lot of interesting stuff as well), I have clear goals for each class, it's challenging but I have control over how I teach, I get to spend quiet time preparing classes without distraction, I like the students and my colleagues, and I get very clear and specific feedback (student ratings) at the end of each class.

Maybe you could create your own feedback criteria/tangible outcomes that are meaningful to you? How would you define "a job well done" in your own mind? It's really hard to stay motivated without any feedback/tangible outcomes.

 

[kathydwells]

That was a great post Paula. It opened my eye's up alot!

 

[Miss Kitty]

This thread is so interesting. I will have both my kids read it. They have seen me as a full time mom and their dad as a full time corporate lawyer, whose job is very demanding. I felt very fortunate to be able to stay at home for them, but my advice to my daughter and others is I admit I failed when it came to following a passion for myself all those years (besides volunteering). I am now in the process of finding out what is out there.

 

[Mermaid]

This thread is so interesting. I will have both my kids read it. They have seen me as a full time mom and their dad as a full time corporate lawyer, whose job is very demanding. I felt very fortunate to be able to stay at home for them, but my advice to my daughter and others is I admit I failed when it came to following a passion for myself all those years (besides volunteering). I am now in the process of finding out what is out there.

Sueshore, I wouldn't have had the courage to write what you did, but since you did, I'll admit that my life parallels yours. I've also never found a passion for myself when it came to having a career. I've never had one. Oh, I've had lots of jobs and I've been lucky enough to like each and every one of them, but maybe that's because I never lasted very long in any of them! I always quit and moved on to something else when the boredom set in. That definitely does not make for a career. I've been a jack-of-all-trades for my whole life. I hope that I too will find something that will make use of my talents. I'd like to make a modest contribution to the SoWal mortgage my husband pays, just for the sake of my own pride.

 

[kathydwells]

Sueshore, I wouldn't have had the courage to write what you did, but since you did, I'll admit that my life parallels yours. I've also never found a passion for myself when it came to having a career. I've never had one. Oh, I've had lots of jobs and I've been lucky enough to like each and every one of them, but maybe that's because I never lasted very long in any of them! I always quit and moved on to something else when the boredom set in. That definitely does not make for a career. I've been a jack-of-all-trades for my whole life. I hope that I too will find something that will make use of my talents. I'd like to make a modest contribution to the SoWal mortgage my husband pays, just for the sake of my own pride.

And I feel the complete opposite. I envy all of the stay-at-home mom's. I have been the bread winner in my family alway's. I would love to be able to volunteer and just do thing's that I wanted to do. I would have loved to have been able to stay at home with my son when he was little. I see both sides of the coin of though. I like what I do, and I am not complaining about having to work, however not having too would have been fine with me also!!!!!

 

[Miss Kitty]

And I feel the complete opposite. I envy all of the stay-at-home mom's. I have been the bread winner in my family alway's. I would love to be able to volunteer and just do thing's that I wanted to do. I would have loved to have been able to stay at home with my son when he was little. I see both sides of the coin of though. I like what I do, and I am not complaining about having to work, however not having too would have been fine with me also!!!!!

There's the rub...BALANCE!! You seemed to have found it!

Mermaid...I am nothing but honest...you know that!!! Why do ya' think I get in TROUBLE! What job could I do that requires VERBAL HONESTY??? I am really very nice and talk to everyone I see. NO...I will not work at Wal Mart as a greeter, anywhere else, maybe. I have really wanted to be a grocery store clerk...would I get bored?

 

[dbuck]

Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh!! I cannot believe I have heard two other women on the same day express the exact same thing I am going through. Since watching Forest Gump last week I have begun to wonder "what's my destiny" or do we just float through life on a breeze?

 

[Paula]

I read a good book once called "living without a goal". I thought it was very wise. In fact Oprah magazine (great magazine) had an article about living without a goal and it said one of the problems with goals is that we can focus so much on them that we miss living in the present. I tore the article out of the magazine because I liked it so much and I'll post the other good things it said if I find it again.

 

[Mermaid]

I read a good book once called "living without a goal". I thought it was very wise. In fact Oprah magazine (great magazine) had an article about living without a goal and it said one of the problems with goals is that we can focus so much on them that we miss living in the present. I tore the article out of the magazine because I liked it so much and I'll post the other good things it said if I find it again.

Do you know, Paula, I think a variation of that might be true as well! I know I hyper focus on whatever I'm doing and then I get all burnt out on it and consequently disinterested. And then on to whatever catches my fancy next. No wonder I've never adopted a career in anything. I only do "samplers."

 

[audie]

i am currently loving my job even more - got a raise ! it will just about cover the new college fund i will be starting for neice or nephew #2 when hw or she gets here !