The Trouble With Work....

"If you want a job where it's okay to follow the rules, don't be surprised if you get a job where following the rules is all you get to do. if you want a job where the people who work for you do exactly what they're told, don't be surprised if your boss expects precisely the same thing from you. If you want a job where you don't need to be creative because the company's cost structure is so aggressive that customers just materialize, don't be surprised if the low cost structure eventually costs you your job. If you want a job where you get to do more than follow instructions, don't be surprised if you get asked to do things they never taught you in school. If you want a job where you take inteelectual risks all da long, don't be surprised if your insights get you promoted." - Seth Godin, Linchpin.

The more I read Seth's book, the more I become convinced that our current set up for working is broke like a joke. The system favors those at the top who tend to squeeze as much as they can out of us, with the desire of always increasing profits...without thinking about the bigger picture or overall system. We have become a more efficient work force over the last 20 years with the addition of computers to the office and yet, we are working more hours for less pay. How is this possible? Where is job security? What ever happened to loyalty? It just seems this current system results in a reality of "you're damned if you do, you're damned if you don't." Sadly, I am not sure how you beat this system --maybe if I finish the final 350 pages of Linchpin, there will be a section on that. But what it seems is... you must follow the Venn diagram above. You must realize your own talent, your own ability to create. You must understand that having a role in your job that is simply worker bee-ish might end up eating your soul and leaving you feeling unfulfilled. I believe I am at that point. and so... once you realize your value, your abilities... you must fight for your rights.... your views...your needs.

So, in my case... I quickly thought about it and this is what I want:

• I want to be able to work from anywhere.
• I want unlimited vacation.
• I want a 30 % raise
• I want to be in a creative roll.
• I want to use my own brilliance to create pieces for the business, that I believe few others can provide.

believe me, there are more -- but for the sake of brevity...let's go with it....

If i really believe this...then I must fight for it. I must do whatever it takes to live this life. Otherwise, what is the point? Why am I doing something the way millions of others do it, if it makes me miserable? If this was the "olden days" -- I get it. You suck it up. Life was hard back then. But this is a new age. There is a lot of money and power out there.... why should it flow upwards (as the system is set up to do)... don't I deserve more?

Don't we all?