When is it enough?

[Echo2002]

I'm considering a slight job change, but I'm mostly doing it because it might pay more. I like the job I'm doing now and my employer. I get paid a decent wage and I have no debt but my house, but I feel like I should always be chasing after more money. Does anyone else have this feeling? I feel like I should be happy with what I have,. Any thoughts or advice?

[pam]

I could be making more money elsewhere. But I like my job, I like how close it is to work, I like my coworkers. I've learned it's not all about money. Yet my home is paid for (I don't own the land so I do pay a fee each month for the property).

Personally I would rather be in a place that I enjoy than be in a job that pays more money but I don't like as well.

[Guest]

I have the opposite feeling. I just turned down a high paying job - at least 20% increase from my current pay - because it would have taken me away from what I truly love to do. I would have had been in management and, although I have all the skill/qualifications/education to succeed at that job, I just want to do what I love to do which is in the technical side of things.

It's kinda like a basketball player. I've always admired Larry Bird growing up. I was a very little kid when I watched him play ball and I've always thought to myself... imagine that, he gets paid millions of dollars to do something that he would still do even if he doesn't get paid to do it. I mean - I see my brothers playing basketball every afternoon and getting in trouble for being late to dinner... and they don't get paid for it. They would be jumping up to the moon and back if they are told to play basketball all day and get millions of dollars doing what they love!

And so, when I was 11 years old, my dad sent me to this programming class (in the Philippines at that time, kids didn't know what a computer was!). It was summer vacation and I didn't want to have to go to school! But, I stepped into the class and the first thing the teacher did was gave me a joystick and we played pacman. Man, I was in heaven. I mean, computers, I don't know... video games... I do know! It's a 2 hour class and we spent most of that time playing pacman. Then towards the end of the class the teacher said, well, by the end of the summer, you'll be writing your own pacman game. I was hooked. And ever since then, I've been programming.... until today.

The thing I found out is - if you really really love what you do, you are going to get good at it. And people will notice how good you are at it. And they'll give you money to keep doing it. The money was never my objective. I just want to wake up every single day and look forward to going to work. Well, fortunately, good programmers make lots of money, so it's hitting 2 birds with one stone.

Now, I have a family and a home to maintain. I hate to clean. I love to program. So, I got me a gig working from home getting paid to program so I can hire someone to clean my house. Best of both worlds.

[G-Money]

I have kind of my own opinion on this one. I think that you work to live, not live to work, and the best living is with more money to provide your family and yourself with things. Now I don't think money is the root of happiness, in fact I believe strongly it isn't, but working should be to provide for your family, If you like it, that's more of a side benefit.

[pam]

The key words being "If you like it."

Yes it's important to have more money to provide for your family. As long as making more money doesn't interfere with the quality of family life you also need.

My kids are grown so what may not be as important to me, may be very important to someone else.

It's all a personal decision based on personal needs.

[Echo2002]

Since I've decided to never use credit cards again I'm having to get used to waiting before I purchase the things that I want. I guess I just need a lesson in patience, which is what I'm getting.

[Backroads]

I get paid squat (the nature of working for a non-profit) and my husband (finally graduated) has just gone full-time at his security guard job (getting paid even less than me) because he hates the idea of committing to a career with a five-month training coming up in the next year. His job is boring. My job in some ways is dissatisfying (I run a computer and deal with volunteers despite having a college degree and in a way it's a pride insult).

But teaching jobs are rare these days, I like the non-stress of my job, I like my co-workers, and we are financially okay and realize there are worse situations to be in and hopefully we will make more money in the future.

In my situation, it's more about the nature of my job than the money I struggle with. You seem to be headed in a good place financially speaking by giving up credit cards. Is it more money you want, or a more glamerous job?

[Traveler]

I'm considering a slight job change, but I'm mostly doing it because it might pay more. I like the job I'm doing now and my employer. I get paid a decent wage and I have no debt but my house, but I feel like I should always be chasing after more money. Does anyone else have this feeling? I feel like I should be happy with what I have,. Any thoughts or advice?

I quickly look over this thread. At a minimum - every 5 years or so one should evaluate their employment and what they are doing. It is very important to keep your internal (where you are currently working) value and your external value (jobs available needing your skills) in balance. Too much internal value could cause lots of problems if technologies shifted and too much external value means that you could be falling behind in your skill set where your are currently working.

Some other thoughts:

Over 90% of jobs are given to those that apply for the position. This may seem obvious but it also means that those that work hard thinking they will be noticed are living a fantasy and very likely to be "looked over" when new opportunities open up.

On my mission I meat a very successful Bishop. In the 60' he was a self employed welder and only worked 6 months of the year. His theory was that if you are the best - you will be paid very well for what you do. He was the world's best welder and he did the jobs no one else could or would do. Yes, he was a millionaire. His example was most interesting to me - I was a certified welder before going on a mission

My father, also very successful, said there are 3 things to keep in mind when finding work. First: What is available that will allow you to make the most money possible - long term and short term? Second: What are you very good (the very best) at doing? Third: What do you enjoy doing more than anything else? According to my father you should look to accomplish a minimum of at least two of the three - if you can line up all three - Take that job!!!!! (don't just ask for it)

The Traveler

[Guest]

I have kind of my own opinion on this one. I think that you work to live, not live to work, and the best living is with more money to provide your family and yourself with things. Now I don't think money is the root of happiness, in fact I believe strongly it isn't, but working should be to provide for your family, If you like it, that's more of a side benefit.

My opinion:

Work to live... yes, sure. To provide the necessities. Beyond that, there's no point in working to live if your work is hindering your live-ing. So, liking your job after you've provided the necessities is not just a side benefit.

Money is nothing but an enabler. So, you don't work for money, you work for what the money can enable you to do.

Perfect example - Tim Tebow. One might think - this guy is a missionary, what the heck does he need millions of dollars playing football for? Well, to make him a really effective missionary! He just built a hospital in the Philippines where he used to volunteer doing surgeries in a very unsanitary hut. But, believe me, when that job is making him an ineffective missionary, he wouldn't care how many millions it is worth, he's leaving that job.

Now, let's put it in a more everyday-man kind of scenario. This father loves his children very much. He would LOVE to spend Tuesday nights sitting on the bench watching his son practice football at the high school and then spend Saturday attending all the games, cheering his son on. Unfortunately, he has to cut the grass and trim the bushes and weed the garden every Saturday. So, what does he do... he goes and finds a job that pays him enough money so he can hire somebody to maintain his yard so he can attend all his son's football games. Perfect right? Well, unfortunately, this higher-paying job that he found he really hates. So, after coming home from work on Tuesdays, he has such a blooming headache he can't get up the energy to go watch his son practice. And, at the end of the week, he is so stressed out that instead of enjoying the Saturday games, he is constantly complaining that it is too hot, the other team is too rough, the coach is too stupid, and the hotdog is too cold.

So... what benefit did that higher-paying job that he hates do him? Nothing. The money has not enabled him to do anything because the hated job wipes out the value of the things the money enabled. Might as well go do the lower paying job that he likes, cut out the cable TV and high-speed internet so he can continue paying the yardman so he can attend the games...

See what I'm saying?

So, something I learned very very young is to make my Perfect Calendar. Fill it with everything I want to do and everything I hate to do but have to do and then go build the life that will give me that Perfect Calendar. So, I didn't do really stupid things in my teen years that would jeopardize my Perfect Calendar. Yes, I rebelled, got myself in trouble, but never bad enough to ruin my chances of achieving my goals.

Edited May 22, 2012 by anatess

[Echo2002]

That was good advice Traveler.

I work in a lab in a hospital, I like the job and my coworkers, but I feel like I'm just a button pusher. I've probably lost 75% of the knowledge I had about lab tests and diagnosis since I started working because we are not allowed to use our knowledge.

There's a training program I found where a private lab will train you in cytogenetics testing for a year and you can get a specialty license to work in TN. Of course after that year is up they send you out to find a job.

I guess I just feel like I've been in school my whole life and I can't seem to find something that satisfies the financial side and the career side. I have two Bachelor's (I don't think I spelled that right) degrees and one Master's.

Maybe I'm ADD when it comes to figuring out what I want to do.

[pam]

He just built a hospital in the Philippines where he used to volunteer doing surgeries in a very unsanitary hut

I knew about the hospital his foundation built but Tebow used to do surgeries? Do you have a source for that. It would be interesting to read about.

[Guest]

I knew about the hospital his foundation built but Tebow used to do surgeries? Do you have a source for that. It would be interesting to read about.

Here's a small blurb about it. He's been doing it most every year when he was in college. Not sure if he still did it when he was in the NFL.

Tim Tebow Circumsizes Poor Filipino Boys | Bumpshack.com

He did more than circumcision. He assisted in cleft palate surgeries as well helping volunteer doctors and nurses.

[Jennarator]

When I was hired, the person interviewing me asked why I never got a promotion in my past job. I told them i wanted to be a receptionist. I didn't want a promotion. I liked that I could work all day and come home and not think about work. She later wanted to promote me and I said the same thing. If you like your job, it can be worth less pay. That's what I think anyway...

[HEthePrimate]

I'm considering a slight job change, but I'm mostly doing it because it might pay more. I like the job I'm doing now and my employer. I get paid a decent wage and I have no debt but my house, but I feel like I should always be chasing after more money. Does anyone else have this feeling? I feel like I should be happy with what I have,. Any thoughts or advice?

It's a rare gift to like your job and your employer, make decent wages, and not be in debt.

Why do you feel like you should be chasing after more money? Are you getting pressure from your parents? Are the bills getting too expensive?

I'm not going to counsel you one way or the other about the job change--only you and your family know your situation well enough to make that decision. But if your only reason for changing jobs is because somebody else thinks you "should" make more money, in my opinion that's not the best reason. But if you have bills to pay, or you want to change jobs, then do it.

Peace,

HEP

[Vort]

Here's a small blurb about it. He's been doing it most every year when he was in college. Not sure if he still did it when he was in the NFL.

Tim Tebow Circumsizes Poor Filipino Boys | Bumpshack.com

Puke-o-rama. And to think I used to admire Tebow.

[Desertknight]

Here's a small blurb about it. He's been doing it most every year when he was in college. Not sure if he still did it when he was in the NFL.

Tim Tebow Circumsizes Poor Filipino Boys | Bumpshack.com

He did more than circumcision. He assisted in cleft palate surgeries as well helping volunteer doctors and nurses.

What the heck!

OK, that has to go in my file of, "Stories that you would never expect to see in a million years." Ick.

[pam]

Puke-o-rama. And to think I used to admire Tebow.

Yeh if knowing that was supposed to make me admire him more..it does the opposite. To think that someone who is not a doctor is performing surgeries such as this..just doesn't sit right with me.

[EarlJibbs]

Your decision may also depend also on how you get along with others. If you know that you butt heads a lot, and you like the people you work with now, then maybe changing isnt so good.

For myself, I normally get along with just about anyone. So for me to change careers even, wouldnt be that big of a deal. I am also easy going on what kind of work I would do. I just kind of fell into my current job.

Another thing to consider is if you are offered a promotion by your current employer, by saying no, will that hurt you in the long run? You would have to know their attitudes about it, but I have had a few jobs where someone said, I would just rather stay where I am at. Saying that impacted their Yearly reviews since they felt like they reached out in need to the person, and they didnt rise to meet the challenge. Unless it was something I felt completely clueless on how to do, I dont think I would ever say no to a promotion. I am always trying to build my resume. But that is just me.

Good luck.

[Echo2002]

I really can't get promoted unless I get my supervisor's license, which I can't get for another year.

I usually work well with others, there is one lady that I can not stand for some reason. I haven't had to work with her in a while so it's not that big of a deal.

I guess I was just afraid that I was being greedy in always wanting to earn more money. Someone else asked if I was getting pressure from family to make more money, and the answer is no. My parents never made a whole lot of money in their careers, they pretty much just made enough to get by.

[RowanSpirit]

In my own opinion, a job where you're happy with those you have to work with and what you do is extremely rare. While money seems to have growing importance in our society, I think happiness is something of far greater value. After all, we weren't put on Earth to earn a truck load of money, but to gain experiences, and there are few greater experiences than joy and contentment.