One thing I like about being in Shanghai is I am constantly inspired by people who want to do something of their own. These people are general called "entrepreneurs". With the different industries they are in, different things they do, as well as the different background they have, I see one thing in common--these people have passion, and of course treat what they do to be more than a surviving tool.
Today it suddenly dawned on me about the right perception on our jobs. I use the word job here because it generally refers to our day-to-day, 9-5 paid job, the one most people do and get "salary" from. Let's be practical here, for a well-paid young professional in say advertising industry, if you want to rely on your job to pay your mortgage, buy a house, buy a car, travel around the world, it's a long fulfillment. Sadly most people are in this situation, including me. However, even though we can not change the current situation, I want to ask the question: exactly what is our job, and how should we perceive our job?
Yes, it is bleak to think that most people don't earn as much as they think to be enough from their jobs, but it is even more bleak to think that the primary function of their jobs is to feed the stomach, and that should never, ever be the determining factor for a person when choosing his/her job. Sounds idealistic? If you think it that way, you will think your current job--whether you like it or not, whether you are growing from it or not--is your only thing to make you survive that you can hold onto. While for most people that maybe true, but the perception itself will make a person highly insecure about his/her situation and who they are.
I've heard many people complain that they don't like their jobs, don't like their bosses, don't like what they do, feel like they are not growing with the company anymore. Well, if you have thoughts like that, think this fundamental question: what do you think your job is and should be? Remember, your job is more than something that feed your stomach, and you should never count on your job to make your rich. You job should be something that enrich your brain, and bring you professional growth. If you think it that way, first of all every challenges that happen in your job you see it as an opportunity for you to grow, you will think more in terms of "how do I change the situation", instead of "my job sucks, I hate it". Second, if you tried and there are really no hope at changing at all, having the right perception changes your way of looking at your current options within or without your organization, making it more clear and simple when you make your next move, especially when you ask the question "I don't know what kind of job do I want to do next..."
Therefore I think next time when people have the same complaints, if they can hold on to the right perception on jobs and make decisions with those in mind even though they are hard decisions to make, I think they make big difference.
Today it suddenly dawned on me about the right perception on our jobs. I use the word job here because it generally refers to our day-to-day, 9-5 paid job, the one most people do and get "salary" from. Let's be practical here, for a well-paid young professional in say advertising industry, if you want to rely on your job to pay your mortgage, buy a house, buy a car, travel around the world, it's a long fulfillment. Sadly most people are in this situation, including me. However, even though we can not change the current situation, I want to ask the question: exactly what is our job, and how should we perceive our job?
Yes, it is bleak to think that most people don't earn as much as they think to be enough from their jobs, but it is even more bleak to think that the primary function of their jobs is to feed the stomach, and that should never, ever be the determining factor for a person when choosing his/her job. Sounds idealistic? If you think it that way, you will think your current job--whether you like it or not, whether you are growing from it or not--is your only thing to make you survive that you can hold onto. While for most people that maybe true, but the perception itself will make a person highly insecure about his/her situation and who they are.
I've heard many people complain that they don't like their jobs, don't like their bosses, don't like what they do, feel like they are not growing with the company anymore. Well, if you have thoughts like that, think this fundamental question: what do you think your job is and should be? Remember, your job is more than something that feed your stomach, and you should never count on your job to make your rich. You job should be something that enrich your brain, and bring you professional growth. If you think it that way, first of all every challenges that happen in your job you see it as an opportunity for you to grow, you will think more in terms of "how do I change the situation", instead of "my job sucks, I hate it". Second, if you tried and there are really no hope at changing at all, having the right perception changes your way of looking at your current options within or without your organization, making it more clear and simple when you make your next move, especially when you ask the question "I don't know what kind of job do I want to do next..."
Therefore I think next time when people have the same complaints, if they can hold on to the right perception on jobs and make decisions with those in mind even though they are hard decisions to make, I think they make big difference.
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