Easy to say when you are earning money, until one day you are not.
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Is it okay to be content?
- Thread starter RobDogDog
- Start date
Easy to say when you are earning money, until one day you are not.
Caporegime
Ah, this is why I love the cc button, there is always someone higher to cc in.
When I've worked very hard in the past I keep being given more work. Phrases like "Can you do x person's task next?" really killed it for me. When you start doing other people's work for them, they're still getting paid and you're not getting pay rises that does a number on your work ethic.
Absolutely. Welcome to a happy life.
I'm in a similar ish position...
I've previously done a management role and I know I was good at it, but it's just not something I enjoyed. I felt like my job was to just talk. Multiple meetings a day. The stress of juggling multiple projects/staff etc.
Some people love it...for me...I never felt like I really achieved anything, built anything, completed or fixed anything like I have done in my technical roles. There is less room for imagination and problem solving. The day to day stress I handled fine and the big responsibility. I can deal with that. I just can't keep it up long term in terms of the boredom.
So I kept technical and work in a "DevOps" role.
I think the problem with some people's version of being content, is that it includes many silver haired surfers and people that have given up on even doing their role adequately. I.e. Not even quiet quitters...we are taking the ones that make it very obvious they will do the bare minimum and only that. They bring the whole place down. They will never leave. They wait for redundancy where they won't even go and get another job as they have their mortgage paid off and a massive pension pot. Those "content" people are pretty depressing and are lying to themselves.
I'm content enough to stay in my role because the pay is good enough (not market leading but good enough I guess) Vs the work intensity. I'd say I regularly operate on a 3/10 level intensity wise, relatively cruising. The benefits are very good. The staff are generally nice and employees do get looked after well. In fact the best I've ever experienced. I can hybrid work as well and whilst it is a London commute, it's only 2 days a week.
Everything is balanced where if I did go chasing more money it would involve most likely contracting, or a role with more office presence, or management roles. None of that I really want, especially when the contract market is seemingly dying out.
If I got made redundant tomorrow, I'd simply have to get my ass in gear and get something. All the while I hold this current job, I figure I may as well enjoy the relative simple life. I've worked hard enough to climb the IT ladder so why shouldn't I stop for a while.
Soldato
I think it's fine, healthy even, to be content with your job if you are actually contributing to a relevant level and it's adequately feeding you/paying bills. I'm certainly in a position where what I want from work is less stress and more free time, not more money or power.
What I have achieved in life this past year or so (I'm 36 for perspective) is that I'm happy and content. this is despite work getting more stressful and leaving me tired and with little energy/time. So even though a lot of my hobbies and home renovation are neglected, I am content with less. I have adjusted my mindset. But this is temporary - long term I do need to make time for my hobbies and sorting house out. So I need work to become less intense, and my plan is to work fewer days. So that still involves "achieving" that with my employer - building up a case to negotiate part time work for fair reward.
Secretly I think I've just given up on the job and my "given up" still looks pretty good to the company, because I treat people well despite not caring about the company goals.
What I have achieved in life this past year or so (I'm 36 for perspective) is that I'm happy and content. this is despite work getting more stressful and leaving me tired and with little energy/time. So even though a lot of my hobbies and home renovation are neglected, I am content with less. I have adjusted my mindset. But this is temporary - long term I do need to make time for my hobbies and sorting house out. So I need work to become less intense, and my plan is to work fewer days. So that still involves "achieving" that with my employer - building up a case to negotiate part time work for fair reward.
Secretly I think I've just given up on the job and my "given up" still looks pretty good to the company, because I treat people well despite not caring about the company goals.
Caporegime
Why the sad emoji @LuckyBenski ? That person would claim he never received such email. The entire reason people (not just me) when emailing them is not merely get his attention but actually need said person to do something that is part of their job. If they neglect it and the lower down gets their neck on the block for not doing something...that isn't fair.
It isn't grassing someone up, it's to protect our own butts. Playing the same game he is.
It isn't grassing someone up, it's to protect our own butts. Playing the same game he is.
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Soldato
I read it more as passing the work upwards, than ensuring a senior person is informed. Maybe misunderstood
Soldato
Fancy reading my reply in the context of the OPs question?
Haven't got the patience for this today.
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It took me until I was about 36ish (37 and 3/4s now) and about 4 different jobs, all of which I worked at between 2-5 years, to be content. I sucked everything I could out of the jobs knowledge wise and left when there was nothing left to learn, things got stale, or I got fed up with the company. I always moved on to a higher wage.
I think the main part that makes me content, is I now permanently work from home and able to stay with my dogs.
I also work with a good friend, who is my boss. I actually worked here as my first job, and he asked me to come back in December 2019. He wasn't my boss when I first worked there, but we had the best time then, and still reminisce the old times almost daily. He doesn't pressure me and leaves me too it, and I put the extra effort in to make sure his life is easier if I need too.
If you're genuinely happy with your wages and work/life balance, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with being content. If you're paying all your bills on time, can buy what you want (obviously everyone has different levels to this) then crack on mate.
If you're content, lazy and moan you can't afford things you want, or anything similar, then no it's not ok, in my opinion of course.
I think the main part that makes me content, is I now permanently work from home and able to stay with my dogs.
I also work with a good friend, who is my boss. I actually worked here as my first job, and he asked me to come back in December 2019. He wasn't my boss when I first worked there, but we had the best time then, and still reminisce the old times almost daily. He doesn't pressure me and leaves me too it, and I put the extra effort in to make sure his life is easier if I need too.
If you're genuinely happy with your wages and work/life balance, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with being content. If you're paying all your bills on time, can buy what you want (obviously everyone has different levels to this) then crack on mate.
If you're content, lazy and moan you can't afford things you want, or anything similar, then no it's not ok, in my opinion of course.