Comments on: Proving Your Worth

By: Justin Owings

Justin Owings — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:50:26 +0000

It’s satisfying to be able to type **anything** that fast. Why is that? Mastery of a routine process?

I think the attitude of the average 9-5′er is less about sexy promotions, and more about squeezing the most out of a fairly non-sexy trade-off. The compromise of taking a boring job is then offset by the opiate of life after work intermingled with the possibility of the chance of a minimal effort resulting in a reward (promotion/bonus/whatever).

An honest and happy individual is aware of the choice they’ve made (the compromise) and have accepted it.

By: Marsha

Marsha — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 03:19:20 +0000

I always hated my corporate jobs. The endless meetings, the politics, the ever changing priorities.
Then the layoffs. You never knew who would be gone until your email came back returned.
Now I am self employed and there is a whole new set of conflicts.

By: Gab Goldenberg

Gab Goldenberg — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 04:58:55 +0000

It’s called starting a company :).

By: cheryl andonian

cheryl andonian — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:26:54 +0000

It really depends on the type of person you are. I have never found satisfaction from any job that was created by someone else for me to do. The jobs that have been the most rewarding and fulfilling are the ones that I have created for myself. A more difficult path to follow indeed, but for me at least, a better way to reach my goals and aspirations is to create and implement my own vision and my own path.

By: steve garfield

steve garfield — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:45:12 +0000

This is great book:

http://www.johnnybunko.com/

There is no plan.

By: @luchito

@luchito — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:46:25 +0000

A job is what you make of it and if a person is not happy and fulfilled doing a job, then they need to find another one. Easier said than done in some cases, but that’s where the person’s creativity and drive will make the difference. Put on a good attitude, find ways to stand out, work harder than the guy/girl next to you, and opportunity will make its way to you.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:56:21 +0000

As a guy who has an assistant whose job was boring (by design), I will tell you this: She made her job interesting by coming to me with good ideas for the company that she was passionate about. I told her ‘go for it’ and now her job (same job mind you) is interesting and challenging for her.

And the company is now an (arts) industry leader in social media.

And I got an assistant who isn’t bored out her mind and who I will have to replace in a year.

By: Rayanne Langdon

Rayanne Langdon — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:56:41 +0000

Julien! I can type 120 words a minute! Hire me!

By: Nate

Nate — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:36:39 +0000

I would say the best way to make fast-paced exciting job right now is to create your own. It seems like theres nothing more exhilirating and challenging than being your own boss. Cool post.

By: John Meadows

John Meadows — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:23:06 +0000

I have a saying posted beside my desk at work: “If all you can do is follow the manual, you can be replaced with someone cheaper.” The key is finding a way to be innovative — there is NO job that does not provide an opportunity to make suggestions, and employers are increasingly valuing employee innovation and creativity.

Also, if the workplace has things like health and safety committees, United Way committees or other groups you can volunteer for, these groups can be an excellent way to get noticed by people either way above your level in the hierarchy with whom you would not normally interact, as well as people in other areas of the organization.

By: worldmikel

worldmikel — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:58:06 +0000

Skills and ability to do boring jobs don’t get you stuck in boring jobs. Job “success” or ability to rise depends on factors outside yourself. Often the “who you know/are related to” accounts for your getting a “better job”. Blackmail or the cash you bring gives some “success”. Longevity and being the last man standing will give rise to promotions. Very few jobs – as the Auto companies and the Financial firms have shown recently – elevated people due to positive merit of their real efforts and skills directly related to the work they have done or the positions they’ve held.

Fast-paced exciting job? I think most will be happy if they have a part-time job at the end of this year. And most of those may be in service areas as the glitz jobs that don’t add value to anything in the world will, by necessity, disappear.

Unfortunate, but this is also the open wound that is now exposed and won’t heal in our system until it manages to eradicate it. That won’t be anytime soon. You can trust that.

By: Zach

Zach — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:11:30 +0000

The best advice I’ve heard for the workplace would seem to apply here. Find a need and fill it. You want the exciting, fast-paced work? Find it. Or make it.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:11:00 +0000

Volunteer.
You can get a lot of responsibility in a short period of time.
If you do a good job, leaders in the organization will see that and recommend you for other gigs you may like.

By: Rob

Rob — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:34:44 +0000

It’s a fair point. Surely the only way to get out of that situation is to stick your neck out a bit. Get involved with things you’d rather be doing!