Workin' Nine to Five

Workin' 9 to 5...what a way to make a livin'....Okay, so I don't really work 9 to 5. I actually work 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and I really like my job. No, I didn't say I like working. I said I like my job. There is a difference.

If you work for someone else, do you like your job? Do you like the people you work with? Do they pay you enough? Do you like the person you work for?

A bunch of us were talking on a forum the other day about jobs and someone said , "If you don't like your job--quit and find one you do like." Wow! If it was only that easy, especially in this economy!

I worked in an office a few years ago, and I could honestly answer yes to all of those questions in the first paragraph, except the for the last one. I liked what I did. I liked my co-workers. They paid me well. In fact, they treated me well. They just didn't treat most of the other people the way they treated me. One day there was yelling, then the next day we were the best staff on the face of the earth! One day they liked this person, the next day they fired them. It was a roller coaster ride, and I happen to hate roller coasters!

I also knew, in fact we all knew, that if we ever disagreed with any of the boss's philosophies that we would lose our job. That's just how it worked there. So, I agreed...even when I didn't really agree. No matter what they said, I agreed. No wonder they loved me! Unfortunately, I started not liking myself very much and really lost sight of the person I once was. I hated going to work.

There was no way I could quit though. I could never make that kind of money somewhere else. No one would hire me. I didn't go to college. I had no real skills. Where would I go? What would I do? I ended up staying there for five years because I thought I had no other choice. I lacked the confidence to help myself.

Then one day, after yet another temper tantrum by the boss, I told myself it was time. I just couldn't do it anymore. I felt sick every day. I had no idea what I was going to do, but I gave my notice anyway. Once I decide to do something....that's it....I do it. It didn't even take very long, and I was offered a job at the local newspaper. The pay wasn't very good and I wasn't even sure I liked the industry. I just knew I needed a job so I accepted it. I was supposed to start in a couple of weeks. I was happy I had found a job, but for some reason it just didn't feel right. I was far from excited.

A few days later, my husband came home with a newspaper. He had circled an ad for a school secretary. I loved schools! I had volunteered in our kid's schools for 14 years! I had never been a secretary though. I didn't have any real secretarial skills...in fact, I wasn't even very good on a computer. I was a hard worker though and highly organized. I knew I was good with people, trustworthy and reliable. Would it be enough? I didn't know, but I sent my resume anyway. I wanted that job so bad. It was the right hours, the right pay and it was in a school!

Well, after two interviews, I was offered the job....this job....the one that I really like with the nice co-workers, the great boss and the great pay! What was it that gave me the confidence I needed to apply for and get offered this job? Where was that confidence during the 5 miserable years I spent at the other job? I'm really not sure. I think I just reached a point where I knew that I had to get out. I needed to find myself again, and I have.

Here is what I learned from my experience. Never doubt yourself....ever...in your personal life or in business. Have faith in your decision making ability and have confidence in yourself. Never lose sight of who you are or what you want out of life. Make yourself proud. If you do those things, success will always be yours.

Tomorrow we will talk about....when something is missing.