Who loves their job and why?

[Tacenda]

Hi all,

I am right smack in the middle of a big and costly decision. To continue on in my schooling in a field I may end up hating or look for a job somewhere else. I am a sub in the school district and am in a technical school to either become a billing and coding specialist, or a medical assistant. I'm leaning toward medical assistant. My next class after completing the core classes is Medical Terminology.

I sat here thinking, I wonder how many people love their job, and thought wouldn't it be wonderful, I do love working with students, on my lunch break as I type. But I don't know if I love it enough to seek employment in this field either.

So just wondering if there are better options. Be my guest to share if you'd like.

[Jeanne]

1 hour ago, Tacenda said:

Hi all,

I am right smack in the middle of a big and costly decision. To continue on in my schooling in a field I may end up hating or look for a job somewhere else. I am a sub in the school district and am in a technical school to either become a billing and coding specialist, or a medical assistant. I'm leaning toward medical assistant. My next class after completing the core classes is Medical Terminology.

I sat here thinking, I wonder how many people love their job, and thought wouldn't it be wonderful, I do love working with students, on my lunch break as I type. But I don't know if I love it enough to seek employment in this field either.

So just wondering if there are better options. Be my guest to share if you'd like.

I am very grateful for my job.  In 2008, there were no jobs and I was so happy to get anything after nine months.  But...I do not love my job.  If I could have a do over..it would be in a social field that would help others.  Go with you heart on this.  Best to you and good luck!  I admire you for your continuation in your studies!

Edited November 15, 2016 by Jeanne

[Tacenda]

2 hours ago, Jeanne said:

I am very grateful for my job.  In 2008, there were no jobs and I was so happy to get anything after nine months.  But...I do not love my job.  If I could have a do over..it would be in a social field that would help others.  Go with you heart on this.  Best to you and good luck!  I admire you for your continuation in your studies!

Thanks for responding, I remember when my last child entered 1st grade I was desperate to get a job, I took a cleaning job with a small business that ran out of their home. It was back breaking work, we would clean apartment building sometimes and have to carry the vacuums and other equipment up flights of stairs. And there is much more to the story, like worrying over accidently damaging things through overzealous cleaning or having only 15 minutes to clean a bathroom. 

I will take your advice and try to figure it out, thanks Jeanne!

[BlueDreams]

I LOVE my job. Reasons why:

- the specialty means that I actually get a number of happy couples who just don't get Sex right. Plus it's sex. There's quite a bit of laughter in therapy. In fact some couples I can tell are doing better because they're laughing about sex.

- my hours are set by me and are flexible. I decide when I want a vacation. My boss is super easy to work with and the company is growing. Meaning more space and hours. When/if I have kids, I can super reduce my hours and still have an outlet while raising children mostly at home.

- I don't work in a cubicle. This was a childhood goal of mine, that I would never work in one. Mission accomplished

- I do my paper work at home in my pjs most days. 

- though I don't make a tone I can pay my bills and save up for things. And half the time I don't feel like I'm really working. No where near as hard as getting the dang degree.

- I get to help change people's lives in tangible ways. This not only includes sex, but marital security, body image, confidence, anxiety, etc. 

- because of the demographics of my job I work with a ton of LDS folks and often feel/see the spirit or spiritual concepts take better hold of their lives. I've had more than one case that I just had to convince them God wanted them to be sexual and half their problem was solved. I'm also micro changing cultural misconceptions that will hopefully not carry to their kids

- I often learn from my clients.

- I have the opportunity to reach out to the community. It's still small, I'm hopeful to grow in that and have a couple of presentations lined up. 

 

Still there are downsides.

i'll never be "rolling in it" per se. When I want a break it isn't paid. Because it's a small company I'm not currently paid for paper work. I have to get my own health insurance. And it was nerve racking to build up a base clientele. Plus keeping track of so many people's lives/schedules can be messy.  And I have cried more than once from working with people. I also still get cases every once and a while that just haunt me a little when I think of them or what'a happened to them. 

 

With luv,

BD

 

Edited November 15, 2016 by BlueDreams

[Jeanne]

51 minutes ago, Tacenda said:

Thanks for responding, I remember when my last child entered 1st grade I was desperate to get a job, I took a cleaning job with a small business that ran out of their home. It was back breaking work, we would clean apartment building sometimes and have to carry the vacuums and other equipment up flights of stairs. And there is much more to the story, like worrying over accidently damaging things through overzealous cleaning or having only 15 minutes to clean a bathroom. 

I will take your advice and try to figure it out, thanks Jeanne!

I was a janitor in my high school days to help make Mom and Dad's house payment.  I think I know what you are talking about.  Hard work!  Buffing floors was a hoot..but I loved the smell of sweeping compound.  It all depends on what makes you feel good...and knowing that what makes you feel good..may not be the job with the highest pay.  Keep us posted on what you decide and I am with ya lady...you rock.  Women rock!!!!

[Jeanne]

47 minutes ago, BlueDreams said:

I LOVE my job. Reasons why:

- the specialty means that I actually get a number of happy couples who just don't get Sex right. Plus it's sex. There's quite a bit of laughter in therapy. In fact some couples I can tell are doing better because they're laughing about sex.

- my hours are set by me and are flexible. I decide when I want a vacation. My boss is super easy to work with and the company is growing. Meaning more space and hours. When/if I have kids, I can super reduce my hours and still have an outlet while raising children mostly at home.

- I don't work in a cubicle. This was a childhood goal of mine, that I would never work in one. Mission accomplished

- I do my paper work at home in my pjs most days. 

- though I don't make a tone I can pay my bills and save up for things. And half the time I don't feel like I'm really working. No where near as hard as getting the dang degree.

- I get to help change people's lives in tangible ways. This not only includes sex, but marital security, body image, confidence, anxiety, etc. 

- because of the demographics of my job I work with a ton of LDS folks and often feel/see the spirit or spiritual concepts take better hold of their lives. I've had more than one case that I just had to convince them God wanted them to be sexual and half their problem was solved. I'm also micro changing cultural misconceptions that will hopefully not carry to their kids

- I often learn from my clients.

- I have the opportunity to reach out to the community. It's still small, I'm hopeful to grow in that and have a couple of presentations lined up. 

 

Still there are downsides.

i'll never be "rolling in it" per se. When I want a break it isn't paid. Because it's a small company I'm not currently paid for paper work. I have to get my own health insurance. And it was nerve racking to build up a base clientele. Plus keeping track of so many people's lives/schedules can be messy.  And I have cried more than once from working with people. I also still get cases every once and a while that just haunt me a little when I think of them or what'a happened to them. 

 

With luv,

BD

 

So envy you!!  But it is good...no matter what you do..that you know you can be self supportive and everything you own means so much more..because YOU worked for it!!  I love what you do!!

[Guest]

7 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Hi all,

I am right smack in the middle of a big and costly decision. To continue on in my schooling in a field I may end up hating or look for a job somewhere else. I am a sub in the school district and am in a technical school to either become a billing and coding specialist, or a medical assistant. I'm leaning toward medical assistant. My next class after completing the core classes is Medical Terminology.

I sat here thinking, I wonder how many people love their job, and thought wouldn't it be wonderful, I do love working with students, on my lunch break as I type. But I don't know if I love it enough to seek employment in this field either.

So just wondering if there are better options. Be my guest to share if you'd like.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, I have loved all my jobs...crew chief on a medivac helicopter in the Army. A police office, and even injured and to old to keep up, Chief Electrical Inspector over a group of inspector who were also police officer (retired with more money taking on that group). The part time teaching for two nights a week for 25 years was my favorite gig, and my current gig of public speaking around the State, sadly I must rely on my wife or my boys to get me there. When too far away, it involves a Hotel stay. This because I must stand most of the 4 hour classes. By the Grace of God, I can still do some, but less and less. 

Edited November 16, 2016 by Bill "Papa" Lee

[Calm]

Long time ago, but cleaning off the gum under the seats at the Varsity Theater at BYU as well as cleaning the toilet at a California mini golf course were the worst aspects of jobs I have had.  Lots of drunks came by to use the toilet, so sometimes it was vomit as well as urine we got to mop off the floor and walls.

[The Nehor]

I don't love my job but I do not dislike my job. I would not do it if they did not pay me. I have a nice single upper middle class lifestyle. While I occasionally worry over investments and the like and how much I am saving I have decent savings and retirement accounts. I like a lot of my coworkers, my boss trusts me to do my job and lets me do it, I set my own schedule and prioritize my own projects and within reason can start my own if I see a need. I work in an industry that is doing some good in the world. I get to play with fun new toys when we get new products. I get 4 weeks a year off and will soon get 5.

Giving up 35-45 hours a week doing that to live the life I want is worth it. I have not found an occupation that fills me with passion that would pay the bills so this is good enough until I do....if I ever do. If not in the Resurrection I expect to finally get jobs I want.

[Tacenda]

1 hour ago, Calm said:

Long time ago, but cleaning off the gum under the seats at the Varsity Theater at BYU as well as cleaning the toilet at a California mini golf course were the worst aspects of jobs I have had.  Lots of drunks came by to use the toilet, so sometimes it was vomit as well as urine we got to mop off the floor and walls.

Oh, yuck Calm! I too worked at a golf course and cleaned bathrooms, I still can't stand the smell of Pine Sol.

[Calm]

Amen.  PineSol...I almost would rather have it dirty, lol.

[Marmonboy]

I am an archaeologist--well, more of a tech/crew chief. I like my job a lot, when I have one. The collapse of oil in 2008 pretty much ruined it for me. Nobody has the kind of big projects any more that require lots of archaeologists. I was lucky enough to get a couple of year-long projects, but work has been intermittent the last few years. I have a hard time seeing myself doing anything else; this is a perfect fit for ADD me, and I'm too old to go back to school, even if I knew what else I wanted to do. I guess I just have to get any job until I get closer to an age I can retire.

[Tacenda]

53 minutes ago, Marmonboy said:

I am an archaeologist--well, more of a tech/crew chief. I like my job a lot, when I have one. The collapse of oil in 2008 pretty much ruined it for me. Nobody has the kind of big projects any more that require lots of archaeologists. I was lucky enough to get a couple of year-long projects, but work has been intermittent the last few years. I have a hard time seeing myself doing anything else; this is a perfect fit for ADD me, and I'm too old to go back to school, even if I knew what else I wanted to do. I guess I just have to get any job until I get closer to an age I can retire.

That's my problem, feeling old, but want to do something before dementia sets in, half kidding. It's in my family, early onset. How interesting that you are an archaeologist!  

Hope you get some more work!

[Marmonboy]

I hope I get work, too, but I'm hearing that archaeology is struggling all over the country, and with a new administration that will want to deregulate the energy industries, the outlook is pretty grim. Not to mention that winter is almost upon us. Walmart here we come.

[The Nehor]

46 minutes ago, Marmonboy said:

I hope I get work, too, but I'm hearing that archaeology is struggling all over the country, and with a new administration that will want to deregulate the energy industries, the outlook is pretty grim. Not to mention that winter is almost upon us. Walmart here we come.

I know a guy who sells cars until he can save up money to go on another dig. Then he quits until the money runs out and starts selling cargs again. If you don't have a soul you can sell used cars.

Edited November 16, 2016 by The Nehor

[Rain]

22 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Thanks for responding, I remember when my last child entered 1st grade I was desperate to get a job, I took a cleaning job with a small business that ran out of their home. It was back breaking work, we would clean apartment building sometimes and have to carry the vacuums and other equipment up flights of stairs. And there is much more to the story, like worrying over accidently damaging things through overzealous cleaning or having only 15 minutes to clean a bathroom. 

I will take your advice and try to figure it out, thanks Jeanne!

I was a maid in the Tetons one summer during college. We cleaned cabins and rolled handcart-like carts from cabin to cabin filed with our sheets etc. 

I was so excited after awhile to discover I had muscles in my arms!  I had run for fun on my own during high school so my legs were strong,  but I'd always had the weakest arms.  The day I discovered the bump in my bicep was quite exciting. 

Edited November 16, 2016 by Rain

[Marmonboy]

8 hours ago, The Nehor said:

I know a guy who sells cars until he can save up money to go on another dig. Then he quits until the money runs out and starts selling cargs again. If you don't have a soul you can sell used cars.

Unfortunately, I have one. I have known people with friends who own businesses, who can come and go at other jobs with those friends, which works out well for them, but I don't have that kind of friends.

[JLHPROF]

I have loved my jobs and I have hated my jobs.  My favorite job I had for nearly 10 years before I had to quit so I could relocate.  I then had a short lived job for less than a year that landed me on anti-depressants.

Right now I am in a job I love, but that I am probably going to have to quit and find new work in the new year.  (Thanks Pres. Obama!)

There is no substitute for loving what you do.  If you have ANY choice financially, find a job that you can enjoy.  Sometimes that's not possible.

[bluebell]

13 hours ago, Marmonboy said:

I am an archaeologist--well, more of a tech/crew chief. I like my job a lot, when I have one. The collapse of oil in 2008 pretty much ruined it for me. Nobody has the kind of big projects any more that require lots of archaeologists. I was lucky enough to get a couple of year-long projects, but work has been intermittent the last few years. I have a hard time seeing myself doing anything else; this is a perfect fit for ADD me, and I'm too old to go back to school, even if I knew what else I wanted to do. I guess I just have to get any job until I get closer to an age I can retire.

I worked on a Lewis and Clark (well, only Clark since he and Lewis had parted ways by that point) dig along the Yellowstone River in Montana a few years ago.  It was way more work and way less exciting than i thought it would be!  I admire people that do it full time (or try to).

Is there any thing else you can do with you skill?  Is teaching an option?  Working for the BLM? Museums?  I'm sure you have already looked into everything.  We have struggled with unemployment and underemployment often in the last 10 years and I can empathize with how difficult it is.  My husband is also in the oil industry but he's had to be a jack of all trades many times.

[bluebell]

13 hours ago, Marmonboy said:

I'm too old to go back to school, even if I knew what else I wanted to do. I guess I just have to get any job until I get closer to an age I can retire.

So not true!  I went back and got my degree when i was in my late 30s and I was not the oldest one by far.   One man was in his 60s and he was filling out applications for graduate school the last time i talked to him.  It wasn't weird at all.

[Jeanne]

14 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Oh, yuck Calm! I too worked at a golf course and cleaned bathrooms, I still can't stand the smell of Pine Sol.

I second that Calm...what a icky job!!!

[Calm]

13 hours ago, Tacenda said:

That's my problem, feeling old, but want to do something before dementia sets in, half kidding. It's in my family, early onset. How interesting that you are an archaeologist!  

Hope you get some more work!

Check out how light might help with Alzheimer's in recent research.  And if you have depression, it can help with that.  I just use my light box while laying in bed waiting for meds to kick in.  Even just 20 minutes a day is helpful.  You can get a headset or another version if you prefer being more mobile.  I know of some who wear it while treadmilling or using an exercise bike.  You might be able to get a prescription for one, though I don't believe they are very expensive these days.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/in-depth/seasonal-affective-disorder-treatment/art-20048298

Edited November 16, 2016 by Calm

[Marmonboy]

43 minutes ago, bluebell said:

So not true!  I went back and got my degree when i was in my late 30s and I was not the oldest one by far.   One man was in his 60s and he was filling out applications for graduate school the last time i talked to him.  It wasn't weird at all.

I'm 62. I already have student loans (!) from a previous attempt at grad school. By the time I dropped out due to poverty/stress I was a nervous wreck. While in theory I could go back, I'd have to work full time and start all over from scratch. If I had a full-time job, I wouldn't need to go to grad school...

[rodheadlee]

I love my job. I fix boats, mostly yachts. I do mechanic work, fiberglass work, wood work, plumbing and electrical. Sometimes we get paid to drive them. I passed my captain's license test and I should have my paperwork done by February.

[Garden Girl]

6 hours ago, rodheadlee said:

I love my job. I fix boats, mostly yachts. I do mechanic work, fiberglass work, wood work, plumbing and electrical. Sometimes we get paid to drive them. I passed my captain's license test and I should have my paperwork done by February.

Hello Rod... 

You have a wonderful set of skills that work in your everyday life on the boat plus as a job... How are the kittens (cats by now)... any pictures?... I'm glad about your captain's license,  Hope you and Patti are well.  All good wishes...

GG