Are you in the right line of work? Should you be doing something else? Ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you get to do your work, or do you have to do your work?
- If you were guaranteed your current standard of living no matter what you did, would you still do what you’re doing?
- True or false: When you think about what you do, are you dreaming or dreading?
- Who decides when you work: you or your organization?
- Do you get through your day or are days a chance to advance your goals and projects?
- True or false: If you stopped liking what you’re doing, you would quit.
- Does your productivity keep you working or does it help you maintain productive motion?
- Do you like to talk about what you do, or would you rather people not ask about it?
- True or false: What you’re doing today helps build skills and achievements that will help you do what you want to do 6 months to a year from now?
- Does doing what you do drain your energy or renew you?
- Do you make your To Do list or does somebody else?
- True or false: You would be proud if someone you loved did what you’re doing.
- You get up early or stay late because…1) you want to work on the project or 2) you want to get the project done.
- When you say what you do, do you say “I am a (_____) or I (_____). Example: I am a painter vs. I paint.
- Would you do what you’re doing if you weren’t getting paid for it?
I recognize that some of the questions seem the same, but sometimes asking the question differently yields different answers. Please share some of your answers or thoughts if you’re up for it.
Yeah, I hate my job, I only do it for money, I’m not proud of that, but that is the reality of it.
Very thought-provoking questions.
I’d love to say that I’m totally sorted, but I’ve realised recently that I’m probably not the whole way there in terms of work yet. I’m FAR happier since I quit my day job in tech support (which, like Anonymous, I only did for the money). And I do enjoy what I now do for a living — writing. But longer-term, I want to work more on my own blogs and books, rather than spending the majority of my working time writing for other people’s blogs (but theirs pay ;-))
Looking forward to seeing your follow-up post on this one.
Ali Hale (from Alpha Student)s last blog post..Alcohol and internet connections don’t mix
Charlie, from the perspective of my day job in cube land:
1. Have to do my work
2. Not exactly
3. Some of both
4. Mostly my organization, but I do have limited latitude
5. Far too often I just get through my day. But I do have certain projects I find interesting so those are an opportunity that I look forward to.
6. After losing six digits on real estate, I can’t afford to give up the day job – it pays too well. I have a plan to change that within the next two years.
7. This is an area of improvement that I’m very focused on right now/
8. I like to talk about what I do.
9. I steer my projects toward thinks that will build skills and achievements that help will help you do what you want to do 6 months to a year from now whenever possible.
10. Mostly drains energy 🙁
11. I make my todo list, but my manager can tell me to add things or ask me to deprioritize.
12. True.
13. I get up early or stay late because I want to get the project done.
14. I say “I am a software developer”
15. I would do some development, but a lot less than I do now. I find it interesting, but not always fascinating.
Hi –
Question 16: Is it still work if you spend longer hours, try harder, and are more more involved than you ever were when you were getting paid to do it?
Rhys(Retired, Ancient, Net Addict)
Rhys@monetize your sites last blog post..How To Hide Adsense From Social Traffic
1. I have to.
2. No
3. I don’t necessarily dread, but its not something I would choose to do either.
4. Organization & I work for someone else.
5. I get though my day
6. I don’t have that choice right now.
7. I feel pretty positive about my work most of the time though I’m not thrilled about what I do in general.
8. I rather not talk about it, but in this colture its hard to avoid the “what do you do?” question.
9. I’m not learning anything I don’t already know. Its not a progressive position.
10. Its pretty draining.
11. I make my own lists based on what I’m told to do..
12. True
13. I want to get it done.
14. Project Coordinator
15. No
Carlas last blog post..Its not too late to plan a green Halloween
Charlie, the question that I like number 10: Does doing what you do drain your energy or renew you? My current business renews me. My previous business used to drain me. That is why I am so glad I am in this new business. Thanks for these questions.
this has been a hug eye-opener for me
I have been asking myself variations of all of these questions lately. I now know that it is more than boredom…I need to change.