Now I am looking for that same kind of opportunity. My last employer never gave me a chance to flourish and make contributions. I could never satisfy the employer. I was almost forced to quit the 1st 2 weeks. But I stayed on until the very end until they terminated. I didn’t do anything wrong. But they made me feel like I did.

Exactly! Just as in any part of life, it isn’t the circumstances we find ourselves in, but what we do with those circumstances and how we choose to react to them. And I like your advice about advancing your skill and appeal as an employee. As long as you’re in that job, you may as well stand out as a valuable employee!

I think your advice is really helpful. One thing I would add is that in addition to doing your best at your job, try to focus your energies on areas that improve your skill, are visible, and important to your boss.

And although I personally advocate quitting for myself, I do realize that some people are perfectly happy with their jobs, like the structure of having a job, or aren’t comfortable with the thought of striking out on your own. As you said, the important thing isn’t that we all subscribe to the same idea of career happiness, but rather that we strive for happiness in where we are, right now, while working for change if that is what we feel is necessary.,

I love those articles because they inspire me to follow my dreams, and to challenge myself to take risks and grow personally and professionally.

I hate those articles because in my experience not everyone has the skills and resources to make it as an entrepreneur. Some might not even want to be their own boss and the challenges that come with it, but they do want career satisfaction. I feel those types of articles overlook career satisfaction in a corporate job and I do believe it’s possible to be happy in a corporate job.

My personal and professional success is about my attitude, using my talents and skills to give back to my employer and/or customer and not about my position or situation.

That said, I certainly don’t envy someone who has to put in a 12 hour day, and I can absolutely feel for them. (While similarly feeling for the 8 hour worker.)

I was in the same “woe-is-me” mindset for a looong time, so I completely understand where you’re coming from. The instant you decide to take control of your *perception* of your life, your actual *experience* of life changes dramatically. It really is all about how frame things.

I actually wrote a post on just this topic a while back, if you want to check it out. I think you will definitely relate: http://www.cordeliacallsitquits.com/what-story-are-you-telling-yourself/

That is my philosophy exactly. I’ve said it so many times: If you’re unhappy with something, change it if you can, or find a way to live with it if you can’t. Moping, complaining, and resenting gets you nowhere but miserable.

Your post is actually a fantastic sister post for this one. I recently subscribed to your blog, incidentally, and am thoroughly enjoying it.

Most less-than-awesome jobs are actually stepping stones to better jobs; they are lower level positions that don’t often require a significant expertise, experience or training. They are great opportunities to network, train, gain experience and boost your career potential!

Let’s face it, you can’t always have everything you want exactly the way you want it. So why mope and complain about all the things that aren’t going your way when you can make the best of the things that are going your way? If you choose to see it, even your run of the mill less-than-awesome job has benefits.

I recently wrote an article with a very similar theme, “It’s your career- love what you do!” http://www.liveandlovework.com/2011/07/29/its-your-career-love-what-you-do/ After all, if you can’t have the job you love, love the one you’re with!

Unlike the stuckness of being in one place temporarily while you work towards a new goal, your situation is being stuck in a place that directly refuses to allow you to pursue ANY goals. (Which, quite frankly, I find absolutely horrific. Unless your side jobs would be directly competing with the business your 9-5 does, what should they care what you do with your free time?) It sounds like your job itself might have been o.k. if they hadn’t enacted these awful restrictions.

My best advice would be to start looking furiously for something else (if you haven’t already), and in the mean time, do what you can to keep your writing muscles exercised and your goals in sight. Work on some creative pieces, blog (are you allowed to blog anonymously if it’s not for pay?), start putting together a resume or web site to advertise your services that you can finally unveil once you’re in a new job–anything to lay some groundwork, keep yourself in touch with your dreams, and keep working towards your goal “unofficially” until you’re in a position where you can start officially doing it for pay.

Good luck to you. I really feel for you in this situation!

I consider my job well done if I can cut out needless steps and unnecessary wastes of time and energy. I make sure I’m bringing my A-game, but part of that involves not putzing around on things that don’t matter.

The key, as you said, is to fight the impulse toward “mediocrity.” And keeping your eye on the big picture is a great way to do that. The big picture is actually the entire reason for rocking your job rather than just settling for mediocrity–because you know you’re meant for bigger, better things, and you deserve to live like the awesome person you are, regardless of *where* you are currently.

I never meant to imply that you should throw your soul into photocopying, using up all your energy for other things. (Please, by all means, do NOT do that.) And I definitely don’t think you should interpret “rock your crappy job” to mean “stay there forever just trying to be as happy with it as you can.”

If the goal is to get out, and you’re working on that but haven’t been able to just yet, then I believe you owe it to yourself to find happiness and satisfaction in your current situation in the mean time. *While* you continue to work to free yourself.

Similarly, with the photocopying example, the idea isn’t that you should channel all your life’s meaning and energy into your job to the detriment of your goals. I would never recommend overextending yourself or taking things to ridiculous extremes. The idea is more along the lines that, as long as you’re stuck doing this work for now, you may as well find whatever satisfaction in it you can, take pride in your efforts, and represent yourself in the best light possible.

I personally get my crappy job done in kick-ass fashion, try to find as much satisfaction in that as I can, *and* have plenty of time and energy left over to run a blog, do freelance work, and write creative pieces. If anything, being my best self for the 8 hrs. I’m stuck at work each day energizes me and gives me the confidence and positive momentum I need to be able to have energy for all the things that DO matter to me.

I don’t believe that “be an awesome employee” and “follow your dreams” are mutually exclusive, in other words. I guess that’s what it all boils down to.

Although I’m all about giving it your all and doing a good job, what I’m not advocating is overextending yourself to the point where you wind up exhausted for the sake of this job that doesn’t matter. The point is more about being happy with what you can do where you are now, taking pride in your efforts, and not resorting to the route of schlumping through life just because things aren’t perfect.

Do a great job? Absolutely. Then leave it at that and get on with your real life. You can rock it and still stay disengaged enough to pursue your own things.

1) Give them the 8 hours of work they pay you for. Nothing more and nothing less
2) Learn all you can while you’re there
3) Connect with as many people who you respect as you can
4) When the time comes ( and you’ll know it when it happens), take all you have learned, the people you’ve connected with, and leave on the best terms as you can. You never know who you might work for or with, or even if you might find yourself back at the same company some time in the future.