More on the Work Ethic

[ailbhe]

So it seems that other people think I'm not lazy.

My friend says that I care too much about the job - whatever the job may be. That I need to learn not to care. I think she's right; I do care about getting a good job done, and I get frustrated when other people make that impossible, especially if I end up getting blamed for other people's mistakes or neglect.

So, how does one stop caring?

Comments

[nitoda]

My friend says that I care too much about the job - whatever the job may be. That I need to learn not to care. I think she's right; I do care about getting a good job done, and I get frustrated when other people make that impossible, especially if I end up getting blamed for other people's mistakes or neglect.

So, how does one stop caring?

When i read this i experienced a wave of tired cynicism ... *sigh* ... and my response would be it comes with age and experience ... and may or may not be a good thing. If other things have taken over in your life as the main source of your personal satisfaction and self-esteem it is easier to relax and not care too much about work. To draw firm boundaries and refer anyone who has a problem to the person who actually *can* do something for them instead of feeling guilty that one can't personally solve it ...

i think for me it took a long while of caring too much and thinking that professional involvement and the respect of my professional peers (along with doing a damned good job) would make my managers realise what a good thing i was to have in their organisation, appreciate me etc. etc. maybe even begin to pay me a decent wage and give me appropriate status in the organisation ... but of course it isn't enough, it is never enough. Especially when one manages a service whose role is not understood in the organisation ... It's ironic, but they only began to appreciate what I did for them when I stopped doing it! By which time it was too late for me personally, but then again, I had already learned not to care about that. Thank heavens I shall be retiring from the workforce in the foreseeable future - I wish you young things all the luck in the world, and draw your boundaries well! Know what you can and can't achieve and don't beat yourselves up about the latter ...

Sorry for the cynicism - i draw great satisfaction from other areas of my life and i am happy now to do my hours and leave work behind me when i leave the premises!