People stick it out in jobs they don’t like for many reasons. “The money is good.” “The benefits are good.” “It’s a means to my ultimate goal.” One of the most common statements I come across, however, is, “I have job security.”
I would have to argue though that in this day and age, there is essentially no such thing. And if this is your primary motivation for doing a job you hate, don’t make yourself suffer any longer. Freelancing is a risk. You don’t always know where your next paycheque is coming from or who your next client will be. There is definitely no “security,” so to speak. But if you are passionate about what you’re doing and have the skills to back this passion up, the work will come. A client may fire you, but you won’t lose your job.
Freelancing is not for everyone, and I would never say that this is something everyone should be doing. But it’s important to be mindful of the risks involved in any job and to be prepared. Learn as much as you can about your field and constantly build relationships and network yourself so that if the worst-case scenario rears its ugly head and you lose your job, you are prepared and armed with the knowledge, skills, and relationships necessary to move forward.
I heard a statistic the other day about how many hours the average North American spends at work in a lifetime. While I can’t remember the exact number (sorry!), it shocked me (thousands and thousands). Life is too short to spend that much time doing something that makes you miserable, especially for a reason such as job security. Granted, some jobs promise more security than others, but you need to ask yourself if this is enough. Is it worth it in the end?
Everyone has different motivations for pursuing certain careers, but it’s important to be mindful of this motivation. There is nothing wrong with wanting to make a lot of money, but if you’re doing a job that makes you a lot of money but doesn’t bring you satisfaction, for example, carve out other areas of your life that will fulfill this goal. Maybe it’s just me, but what’s a life without passion?
Thoughts? What motivates you in your current career choice?
Namaste 🙂
Freelancing to Freedom 
Hear, hear. I briefly held a permanent full-time job with perks, only to be laid off (along with 2/3 of the staff) at a moment’s notice. I now see “permanent” as unstable. I like the security of knowing (thinking) that my freelance contracts will be paid out.
At “work”, not even the holy pension or benefits are reliable anymore. I am far more reliable than any employer can be.
On the hours-spent-at-work front:
40 yrs x 40 hrs x 50 weeks = 80,000 hrs at work
By: Scieditor on April 4, 2011
at 2:55 pm
Thanks for your comment. I’m glad to hear you were able to turn being laid off into something positive.
By: faultlessfinish on April 4, 2011
at 3:26 pm
Interesting idea about no one having job security. Whether or not we’re in a high-risk or low-risk job, I’m also a big believer in living a life full of passion. =)
In Chinese culture, work is a means to an end and has nothing to do with individual passion. Following your dream is, in a way, considered selfish. Needless to say, I had a hard time making the decision to choose my own path, but I’m motivated by the fact that I’m excited to wake up every morning and get to work. =)
Thanks for this inspiring post, Rachel. =)
By: Samantha Bangayan on April 4, 2011
at 11:55 pm
Thanks, Samantha!! I have occasionally struggled with feeling selfish. I have to stop and remind myself that there is nothing wrong with doing what I love instead of slogging it out at a job I don’t like just because that’s the norm. It’s inspiring to hear other people say that they are excited to wake up and work in the morning – so thank you!
And it’s also OK if you don’t wake up excited to work every single morning. Even when you do something you love, there are some days you just won’t feel like doing it. And that’s OK too. When you choose your own path, you can make time for downtime whenever you need it most.
By: faultlessfinish on April 5, 2011
at 3:32 pm
True! Thanks for identifying with me and reminding me that it’s okay not to love my job every single day. Knowing when to rest has always been a struggle of mine. That’s why I really like the concept of child’s pose — the idea of knowing when to take a break, when your body has had enough (and this is different every day, so we always have to be listening to ourselves). Thought you might relate. =)
By: Samantha Bangayan on April 5, 2011
at 9:04 pm
Ah yoga! Yes child’s pose is a great analogy 🙂
By: faultlessfinish on April 5, 2011
at 10:23 pm