Every 2 years i find myself in a whirlwind of strong emotions - mostly negative - about my career. Each of these bouts lasts typically a couple of months, wherein i twist and turn ,flap my wings, huff and puff and exhaust my Googleness in search of an outlet. But in all these years i haven't yet been able to define this outlet. It's always "something different", "something more creative", "something interesting" but never has a name.
The more i talk to people around me i realize that its not just me. Its atleast a hundred other people waiting for "something interesting" to come along. I'm not sure if its an IT syndrome or if it affects all kinds of professions. Although i'd be quite surprised if someone in media or advertising or art mentioned this. I mean these things are supposed to be "interesting". Or that's what people in these fields say to rationalize their choice - because its certainly not the money - atleast not untill you are very successful and distinguished.
Well IT gives you money, travel and you could actually faff your way up the ladder if everyone above you isn't anything to write home about. But then what is it that is creating a void for me? Alot of things some to my mind ...
For one - its the fact that i'm not flying up the ladder as i expected to ... im just about crawling up - one inch at a time. Also while you are hanging in there by your little finger... there will be people stepping on your head, crapping from the top, and there would be times when the ladder is against the wrong wall.
Second - the saddest part about working in an organization is that there are a million external factor affecting your growth. You see something promising which rings a bell in your head - you slog your butt of all year long and finally when its time to reap the benefits - you find out there are none. It could be anything - your boss left, your boss had a fight with his boss so everyone underneath is getting screwed, your boss fancies other people, a rockstar employee screwed up the dreaded "bell curve" pushing you over to the average hike segment, your business ran into loss and has decided to close down - i could go on forever. Most importantly, no one would want to be appraised by someone they think is a moron. Btw, who invented the bell curve? Its amazing how year after year, manager after manager, HR after HR, and org after org its always the Bell Curve.
Third - faffing doesn't really bring any satisfaction to me. I like tangible transactions. Things i can see, feel. Medieval stuff like - i sell A for X amount of money - where A is a tangible object.
That's alot of ranting for a day. But i'm hoping one of these days this itch would get so strong that you are forced to break free the chains of inertia and scratch ..... oh scratch ... till you moan with satisfaction :D
The more i talk to people around me i realize that its not just me. Its atleast a hundred other people waiting for "something interesting" to come along. I'm not sure if its an IT syndrome or if it affects all kinds of professions. Although i'd be quite surprised if someone in media or advertising or art mentioned this. I mean these things are supposed to be "interesting". Or that's what people in these fields say to rationalize their choice - because its certainly not the money - atleast not untill you are very successful and distinguished.
Well IT gives you money, travel and you could actually faff your way up the ladder if everyone above you isn't anything to write home about. But then what is it that is creating a void for me? Alot of things some to my mind ...
For one - its the fact that i'm not flying up the ladder as i expected to ... im just about crawling up - one inch at a time. Also while you are hanging in there by your little finger... there will be people stepping on your head, crapping from the top, and there would be times when the ladder is against the wrong wall.
Second - the saddest part about working in an organization is that there are a million external factor affecting your growth. You see something promising which rings a bell in your head - you slog your butt of all year long and finally when its time to reap the benefits - you find out there are none. It could be anything - your boss left, your boss had a fight with his boss so everyone underneath is getting screwed, your boss fancies other people, a rockstar employee screwed up the dreaded "bell curve" pushing you over to the average hike segment, your business ran into loss and has decided to close down - i could go on forever. Most importantly, no one would want to be appraised by someone they think is a moron. Btw, who invented the bell curve? Its amazing how year after year, manager after manager, HR after HR, and org after org its always the Bell Curve.
Third - faffing doesn't really bring any satisfaction to me. I like tangible transactions. Things i can see, feel. Medieval stuff like - i sell A for X amount of money - where A is a tangible object.
That's alot of ranting for a day. But i'm hoping one of these days this itch would get so strong that you are forced to break free the chains of inertia and scratch ..... oh scratch ... till you moan with satisfaction :D
