I come from a family of very hard workers. My mother has been known to arrive almost an hour early every day to get to her job. My grandmother (father’s mother) worked a forklift in mid-western manufacturing plant and was the first woman (and was a black woman) in that role. Needless to say, it wasn’t easy for her.
In fact, most of my older relatives have similar stories about working hard and the various levels of crap that they dealt with at work. My relatives never talked about work in terms of satisfaction and in retrospect I think that we’ve all been fed a line.
The Myth of Job Satisfaction
Or, perhaps I could call this post: “Why I Was Able To Work The Same Job For 10 Years.” I worked the same job for 10 years and if I weren’t commuting I’m sure I could have continued working that job for a while longer. I would have been bored out of my mond-but, the process of getting up, doing my assigned tasks, and serving the clients that I was hired to serve is basically the goal of every employed person and what I was being paid to do.
I would argue that most of our older relatives found satisfaction from the stability that their jobs provided them. It wasn’t about being deeply satisfied and there wasn’t no feeling of angst about the ability to travel abroad, or if they could wear Gucci. Their jobs did the following: paid them, and gave them stability-fulfillment came from their family life.
Are We Overthinking Work?
As I move forward into my freelancing life, the truth is what I will be paid to do exactly what I was doing before-provide a high level of service, be professional, communicate with the people I’m working with, and get ‘er done.
So, what what about this myth of job satisfaction? The reality is that the way American business culture is set up-it would be very difficult to attain a deep level of satisfaction through your job. In order for that to happen the following would need to occur:
- Businesses would need toempower their employees in ways that they don’t seem to want to do.
- They would need to be comfortable with giving employees time off without the threat of losing their jobs.
- They would need to be comfortable with some level of parental leave. I’m not saying European levels of leave-but, enough time so that we don’t feel like we’re doing “drive by birthing.”
- Some level of educational/professional development/ or time off for employees.
- Eliminate the ridiculous practice of keeping people below the number of hours needed for insurance coverage or full-time benefits. It’s just enough time to keep people from doing other things.
- Flexibility-I did have a pretty decent amount of flexibility at my previous job. While there were many things that frustrated me towards the end-that flexibility was key to me sticking it out over time.
How Do I Measure Job Satisfaction?
My job satisfaction truly centers around my ability to work hard and maintain connections with people-in real life. The biggest problem that I had with my old job was the increasing difficulty that I was experiencing maintaining friendships/family life/ and dating outside of work. I just couldn’t do both. I was working 60+ hours a week. By the time I got home I was exhausted.
The thing is, we are sold this idea that our lives end and begin with what happens at work. Well, I could care less about what a big business wants from me. Businesses are currently set up to take care of their needs-not mine.
Now I understand why so many people are attracted to freelancing. The thing is-freelancers are working just as hard, if not harder than they had been before. The biggest perk that they get is increased FLEXIBILITY within their life. There are a number of downsides to working for yourself, but the ability to do what you need to do for yourself is huge.
I had a wonderful day today, I worked like a dog last night and then I enjoyed the 80 degree weather this afternoon. Then, I helped my mom out with a tech problem on her computer. No, I didn’t solve the problem, but, I did something that I have been trying to do for awhile:
I Showed Up
And that was the most important thing that I could have done that I haven’t been able to do for awhile. I was also able to show up to an event this weekend and hung out with my friends. As, I get deeper into the freelancing life: pitching like crazy, working the different angles of my business, and working on the logistics of running my own business- I am even more convinced that I’ve done the right thing. I am able to show up when it’s important and that’s where I get my satisfaction.
I will be working like crazy, and I am comfortable with it. Because, that’s the essence of work.
At least I can show up for those I love and for myself. It’s a heady feeling and I feel giddy with it.
Do You Think We Overthink Work?
And Job Satisfaction?
Is It A Myth?
On My Way To Hang Out With Friends-Showing Up (for once)
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I do think contentment is underrated. I think there is this idea that you have to be gaga over what you do for a living to be happy, and I don’t think that’s true. When I worked full time, I didn’t LOVE it. I didn’t have a passion for video games or editing for that matter, but I had a cushy job, nice office, great boss, great location, etc. I was content. Maybe that’s not good enough for some but I enjoyed it at the time. But I also accepted I had to kiss a lot of frogs before I finally got that job, and it does seem that younger generations want to skip that whole “starting at the bottom and working their way up” mentality. But hey, who am I to say if they are happy!
I think that contentment really comes from the inside. The problem becomes how do you manage your life in such a way that you’re able to cultivate a feeling of contentment in all aspects of your life. While I am quite excited to move further into freelance life, the reality is it’s still work. What appeals to me about it is primarily the flexibility and the potential to make more money…through working more LOL! I wonder why American employers are so focused on the bottom line that they miss the fact that they could keep their employees longer by addressing the need for flexibility.
I feel like the old style of rigidity around hours and being physically present in an office are undergoing a re-examination in newer, more nimble start-ups, which I think could go a long way in making employees happier and more productive.
I think people are increasingly looking for more satisfaction/fulfillment from their jobs and flexibility could be one answer to that. For me, I’m happy to be moving towards self-employment of a sort :). It’s great to hear that freelancing is going so well for you!
I am really happy to see that smaller organizations are looking very closely at the intersection between employee productivity/morale/ and longevity. Increased flexibility seem so obvious as a way to keep people happy at work. I’ve worked a number of jobs that sucked but I really liked the people (or clients) that I worked with so I stayed.
Good topic Michelle. I think many were brought up around parents and family members who worked the same company their entire careers. For many a job it a big part of what defines them, so they thought of leaving to freelance or to go o another company is a scary thought.
Thanks Brian! My Grandma can’t wrap her head around my job related needs. She is just happy that I’m not complaining about the commute anymore (I complained daily for years). She will also like it more when I see her more often which was a huge part of why I made the switch. I wanted to spend time with the people that I love.
Yep, I ranted about this awhile back. I don’t think you have to do what you love. I think it can even be healthier not to.
But now everyone talks about finding their passion, as though a simple 9-5 isn’t good enough. I think it creates angst and even some guilt in people who don’t have an alternate career to pursue.
Pursuing your passion is very time-consuming, and you’re more likely to lose your work-life balance. I say find passions that you can enjoy in your spare time. You can (and should) find meaning outside your job.
Quite honestly, a lot of the tasks that I do I find pretty boring-because they are 🙂 BUT, the actual organizations, their stated missions, and the services they provide are what keeps me engaged and excited. My biggest issue with how I was working before was the lack of flexibility (and the hell commute) Now, I will be working harder-and that’s ok. But, I have to be honest and say that at the end of the day I feel work is work. So, in 10 years I will probably still be freelancing and working like crazy as my m.o. is to commit. BUT, work is work and my goal is to really focus on my personal life because it has been put on the back burner for way too long.
Good question. It probably means different things to different types of people. I understand how our parents had a different idea of job (and thus life) satisfaction. It’s a means to an end. However, to much is given much is expected. It’s not in some of us to spend our precious time advancing a cause that isn’t quite our passion. When I worked for someone else, I was challenged and love it…but just knew very clearly – it was a temporary situation.
Good for you. Follow your instincts…work your passion…be present for this one life that we have!
A lot of my relatives don’t understand my constant search for “balance” and work happiness. They worked tough jobs, and had super intense lives. Despite that I would say that they had good lives: the occasional vacation, kids/grandkids who went to college, paid off houses, and good social networks. Basically, they have the life that I aspire too..minus the international travel. So, I’m left wondering-why did I overthink this? As I move forward and start freelancing, I will keep that in mind. Keep it simple…
I think you hit the nail on the head with the statement about the older generation finding satisfaction in stability. My parents immigrated to Canada in the 1970s, so for them finding a steady job with a steady income was their dream. My mom worked the same type of job( a nurse) at several different hospitals, whereas my dad worked for the same company 30+ years. The longest I’ve ever stayed at a job is for just over 4 years at my current one and I am quite bored with it.
While I am not sure I would/could ever take the freelancing route, I respect and admire those who have the will to do so. I do believe in job satisfaction and enjoying what you do.I never realized how that felt until I started teaching fitness classes part time. If I only I could get that from a full-time job then I would be set.
To be honest, my mom just laughs when she hears some comments about work and job satisfaction. We come from a family where people worked their whole lives in factories. I am pretty sure that those jobs didn’t speak to the “souls” of my relatives. But, they did pay the mortgage, the lights, and food. I think that the older generations were a lot more pragmatic about work. BUT, I do think that those of us working now (regardless of generation) do define ourselves more by the work that we do-and we are working longer hours.
You have basically summed this whole conundrum perfectly. We have so many options now that didn’t exist before and I think it confuses us about what work really is. Work is the way we make income to sustain our lives. That’s it. I just thought of Mazlow’s Hierarchy of needs. I just need: food, a rough over my head, people, and security. That’s not that complicated. Most of my family worked in factories. They just got used to what they were doing, got it done, and then went home and enjoyed things similar to the friend that you mentioned: God, family, and a simple life. Maybe we’ve just made our lives more complicated than they need to be and we have complicated our ability to just be satisfied with the life that we have.
Michelle,
I feel the problem is that we’ve been driven within Western culture to self-identify with our job titles; as if a job description had ANYTHING to really do with one’s personality. The reality is that most people would not do their job if they had the choice and yet let it define them.
What I have found is that the people most satisfied with their personal lives tend also to be the best people to work with. The goal should be finding a personal satisfaction with life rather than looking for a job that will somehow fulfill an emptiness.
Thanks for the read,
– Ryan from GRB
Ryan, you have totally hit the nail on the head. You’re right that there is a level of deep concern with how we’re perceived by what we do. The other issue is that we spend so much time focused on work related tasks that it’s hardly surprising that we’re thinking this way. Part of why I am now working for myself is to focus on what I think is important-my life! Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate your comment.
There have been monumental shifts in the workplace. Most of my life, I was content, and mostly happy in my jobs. Companies used to provide employees with job stability, wages, and benefits. It’s no wonder older generations, baby boomers, would stay with companies long-term. There was a lot more than a paycheck to be had. Today’s job market is tough. Since 2008: benefits have been reduced to practically nil, job stability has gone out the window. Cost of living has gone up, wages are abysmal. Jobs have been eliminated so one person now does the job of 3. These days I find myself working for a paycheck and nothing more. I too am looking to start something of my own.
I would 100% agree but say that these trends have been happening since the 80’s when Reagan accelerated the Globalization of our economy. Then, you add the acceleration of mechanized work processes and the Great Recession and it has become a very toxic work environment because of perceived uncertainty surrounding work. The thing is, I think that this is the best time to think outside of the box and create something of our own…before we’re forced to do that through a layoff, etc. I feel pretty happy about life in general but I was definitely like you-I wasn’t feeling connected to my job other than the paycheck and felt that there had to be something more. Work is still work, I just want to do it on my terms.