The title of this article is sure to raise a few eyebrows for some who have put a high value on college education and obtaining a high stress, anxiety-prone “power career.” And while I totally agree with the things I’m about to talk about here, I also admit that it’s not for everybody. But it wouldn’t hurt to read this and consider what I have to say, so that we can re-think the way this society is running and why we’re doing the things we’re doing.
For starters, the reason why this article doesn’t apply to everybody is because many people incarnate here to be involved with a certain job/career that involves a particular skills set. It’s their calling you could say. One good example off the top of my head — health and medicine. To do that requires school, and once you’re done, indeed, you’ll have yourself a nice little career whether it’s in mainstream or alternative medicine. However, many people, myself included, know that we’re not here to seek a specific mainstream career that we’re “supposed” to be doing. There’s never really been a particular career or industry that tugs at us…certainly nothing that would require college, and all that time, energy and money. In some cases, we’ve even felt a bit like alien visitors, on the outside looking in. We’re here, in this realm during this time for our own reasons, and a consequence of being here means we have to work. So, we do…but only because we have to. Most of the time, whatever industries we work in we just sort of accidentally fell into. There was no plan, no agenda, no goal. Just makin’ it up as we go along. Kind of like the rest of our lives. :D And that’s who the target audience is for this article – all those who know that whatever they’re here to do in life doesn’t involve obtaining a power career of some sort.
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Problems arise in the world of work if you’re not here for a power career…but you also happen to be smart. That’s when you get noticed at your jobs, and “rewarded” by being given more work and more responsibility. Maybe there’s the “allure” of a 50 cent pay raise and a promotion with a new snazzy title. You find yourself getting backed into the corner and pressured to take on more and more and more, and committing yourself to being “locked in” to that job and industry/career. Society meanwhile is simultaneously giving you the message that all this is good, because life after all is about MONEY! MONEY! MONEY! and having a prestigious job with an impressive title. So you either eagerly, or reluctantly, accept. And so begins “upward mobility”, which can often times actually be a downward spiral. What many don’t initially realize is that those promotions and “rewards” come at a hefty price: Your personal time, energy, enthusiasm, and happiness, which in turn spills over into your personal relationships and spare time when you’re at home. Some eventually figure it out and walk away. Others sort of do, but by then, society programming and fear in general has them convinced they should stay, no matter how much they may hate the situation.
I’ve written about work before, in my article “Working For the Puppet People…and Finding a Way Out”, but I was inspired to write this specific piece after emailing with another woman who, like me, works as a temp. She says I’m the only other temp she’s ever talked to who not only enjoys temping, but enjoys it for the same reasons she does. The reason we both love it seems to mystify people when we explain it to them, but which makes perfect sense to us:
And a big one for me personally is the fact that most modern day companies and jobs are often based around what I call dream logic (nonsensical stupid) concepts, and/or they are businesses which offer products and services that are completely illusory in nature, as mentioned in my “Working for the Puppet People…” article, lacking in any real meaning. Worse yet are those people who don’t even recognize the meaninglessness and uselessness of the companies and products they’re working for, and give 100% of themselves to their “careers.” Sacrificing free time with their families, sacrificing their personal health and energy, chasing illusions in an amnesiac state while their (meaningless) lives pass them by, all so they can further their careers at companies who produce illusory services and products. It’s bad enough that I have to work for these companies and their useless jobs, BUT, at least I’m not deluded into actually believing it has worth and value and thus sacrifice my precious free time, health, energy and happiness. ;) I see these companies and jobs for exactly what they are, and that’s why I’d like to remain an – aware – temp for as long as possible. Because I can remain on the outside, and often times even use these jobs for my own purposes that benefit others. (such as writing for my website, knitting for charity, etc., which I briefly mention at the end.) So, taking a meaningless job and transforming it into something that can actually indirectly serve a valuable purpose.
There are downsides to temping as well, no doubt, but I enjoy it because it matches me, and works for where I’m currently at in life. Everybody’s going to be different, but for me, I get endless variety in my assignments, get to sample different industries, and always have new challenges, people, sites and scenery to satisfy my restless nature. And when the job starts to suck and lose its appeal, I’m on my way out the door anyway, so, it’s all good. ;) I’m not trapped there indefinitely the way a perm employee would be. So yes, it works for me. But not to most others. For some people I’ve talked to, temping seems like this weird, lowly thing to do. It’s transient, it’s unpredictable, it’s not a solid steady guaranteed five day a week thing. What they fail to realize however, is that their job isn’t guaranteed either. ;) It’s illusory, and they could be out on the sidewalk next week. And this thing about steady money — money is a big one with people. Don’t mess with their money flow! Yikes! The idea of finishing an assignment and not knowing when the next one will come in…that’s just too much. People need their security – or else the illusion of it. They also are still at a point where they believe in getting emotionally and intellectually invested in their jobs. They have their community of people they work with, they get involved in the office gossip and politics, and they can get all worked up about “office stuff.”
Not I. I learned years back to never commit myself emotionally to any job, ever again. I was burned over and over and over again between the ages of 16 and 25, and finally learned the hard way — I’m expendable. They don’t care about me. I’m another cog in the wheel. So, adapt myself accordingly. Or as my email buddy put it, Why do people care so much about these jobs when they’re just going to be forgotten a week after they’re gone?! Exactly.
The “new me” goes in, kicks ass, is the best employee you’ll ever have…and could care less about you, or the company. Versus the old me who went in, kicked ass, was the best employee you’ll ever have…and got all emotionally involved and believed the job cared about me. I didn’t consciously set out to change, it just naturally evolved due to what experience taught me about the nature of nearly every job and company out there. Do the best job you can do, for the sake of it, and because it’s actually kind of fun to conquer a challenge, but don’t be emotionally invested in the outcome. And don’t believe that you’re not expendable. Especially when you work for chain stores and corporations! It’s sad, but people do eventually learn the hard way.
So what I’m proposing is that if you know your mission here in life isn’t to chase a college-fueled career, and you’re just drifting along, working only because you have to, then go about things the right way. Seek out easy jobs that pay what you need with some money left over, where you’re able to enjoy what you do — with little if any responsibility. That’s the key right there. So many jobs are all about heaping on the responsibility and pressures, which creates stress and anxiety, all for a salary that’s not usually worth it.
If you’re going to make $7-$8 an hour, then do so at a job where you have to do the least amount of work. Not a job where you’re considered “Shift Supervisor”, doing tons of work so that the General Manager doesn’t have to. It’s not right, and many people figure it out the hard way, and finally quit, bitter and pissed off, grumping about their old job for months afterwards.
Be smart…seek out the easy jobs! Always remember: The Powers That Be (TPTB) want us to expend as much energy as possible in everything we do, so that we’ll be rendered impotent to affect any sort of change in our own lives or the world. And since work is where we devote anywhere from six to twelve hours of our days, when you factor in the commute time, then you can start to see exactly why they’d link the high stress, energy depleting jobs with “money!” and “prestige!” By the time you get home, and especially if you have a family you also have to contend with, where’s your time and energy to do anything else?? Every day passes by, and what have you managed to accomplish, other than being a hamster in a wheel?
I know…this goes against everything that society wants us to do. TPTB want everybody in that wheel, desperately chasing money and material things. More! More! More! The need is insatiable, the ego can’t be given enough. And to accomplish this means to have a job that pays well. So they’ve got everybody convinced that they need these high up, higher paying but stressful jobs….when in actuality, those high up jobs only serve one purpose: To keep the flow of material items coming in. So eliminate being a materialistic consumer, and you won’t need those jobs. You will suddenly be able to survive just fine with an easy but fun job that pays less. Live below your means. Cut out what isn’t necessary, learn to differentiate what is a “need” versus what’s just a “want.” In this day and age, it’s becoming increasingly more and more difficult for people to do that, so accustomed are they to a life of ease and luxury. Cable TV and a TV in every room, video gaming systems, techno gadgets galore, trading in the car every two years for a bigger and better model, buying clothes and shoes that get lost in the closet and never worn, trying to keep up with the neighbors and outdo the next person. I see people of average means pushing carts loaded down with TVs and stereos and DVD players at Best Buy and I just want to scream “NOOO! DON’T DO IT!!!!!! You don’t really need that stuff!! Save your money!!” But the kicker is, they’re not actually paying money. They’re putting it all on credit. Pay the price — literally and figuratively — later. It’s just what TPTB want. Keep us all endless chasing materialistic dreams like that hamster in a wheel.
The issue of lower paying but easier jobs also brings up society’s programming about status and prestige. The “lower” jobs are stigmatized, while the high stress jobs are promoted as the way to go. Society has everything backwards, not least of all this. Again, it can’t be stressed enough – it’s all programming. “But what would ____ think if I worked at a job like that!”
Who’s judgment are we actually worried about here? Our family? Friends? Neighbors? Whose life are you leading…theirs, or yours? Who cares what people think? ! Ultimately, you’re here to live your own life as you see fit. As adults, we don’t answer to anybody but ourselves. We have to do what’s right for us and what makes us happy.
If you can get rid of the programming about status, prestige and class hierarchy, while learning to live below your means and eliminating the materialistic consumerism tendencies, then you are well on your way to personal freedom.
A few times in the past couple of years while temping I’ve been offered an assignment with the mile long job description, or taken an assignment that turned out to be a colossal pain in the butt, full of tedious work and stress, or a job that was the sort where I’d inadvertently end up taking work home with me. Even though I was at home, work was on the brain, stressing me out, even on the weekends! It was only Friday night, and there I was, my mind already on Monday morning, Monday morning, have to do this and that on Monday morning, Monday morning…….ahhhhhhhhhh!
It’s not worth it. Which is why I now reject those jobs, or ask to be removed from those assignments once the true nature of the beast is revealed. I continually hold out for the easy jobs, although the temp agency just doesn’t understand this at all. For the longest time they kept trying to stick me on these high maintenance positions, because “I’m smart”, or “I can do the job” or whatever. Sure, I’m smart and I’m capable…but I know better! In fact, I’m so smart that I’m NOT going to take the job! :D Those jobs aren’t worth it. I don’t care about the money. I’ll take the $10 an hour easy office clerk jobs ANY day. It’s easy, it’s fun, (for me) and the job ends when I walk out the front door. I’m not in charge of anybody or anything, there’s no spotlight on me, I have no responsibilities, with the weight of the office on my shoulders, and if I can’t come in one day for whatever reason…then it’s no big deal, and nobody will even miss me. These easy jobs also have lots of down time, which affords me the opportunity to read and/or work on my writing and website stuff. THAT’S the way to go. It’s what so many people in the world aren’t getting. If you’re only working because you have to, and you have a job with a workload and some stress, then maybe it’s time to re-think the game plan. Throw the programming out the window about status and prestige, and materialism and consumerism. Easy jobs are the way to go.