That’s right. You read it here first. I go to an office every single day and I’m not doing what I love (translated: I’m not working my ideal job). And I’m okay with that.
As it turns out, life often takes unexpected and sometimes exciting twists and turns. We must also make decisions (right or wrong) along the way, meaning we usually wind up in situations that aren’t necessarily our ideal environment.
Does that mean we should throw in the towel on our current employee/employer situation and go on a soul-searching journey to find our ideal job, office, co-workers, etc? Assuming all those things actually exist, I’m still going to go out on a limb and say the answer is mostly no.
So if you happen to feel like you’re tirelessly laboring away in a dead-end job that gives you no respect –okay, that’s probably a bit dramatic and, in which case, you probably should seek a new job – this post is for you.
Just in case you’re new around here, let me rehash my current situation. I’m a full-time blogger. Yep. Oh, and…I’m also a full-time employee at a mega-corporation. And have been for about 15 years.
My “regular” job requires 40+ hours of work each week. And recently, I’ve been given the opportunity to work from home a few days each week. Icertainly don’t hate my job, and on most days I actually enjoy it – to the extentone can enjoy a non-ideal job.
How Did I (And You) Get Here?
For me, and likely for you, the journey that ended with my current job started when I was a kid. Long before I realized that every little decision could have long-term effects, I was skating through my childhood not giving my adulthood or future career a thought, let alone a second thought.
Eventually, I reached high school graduation day without honors and without any real direction as to the course my life was going to take. After graduation, I flopped around in various jobs, including one at a local hatchery sexing chicks (yes, I actually “sexed” chickens for a living) and one at a very popular fast food joint that uses towering arches as a beacon to lure in customers. You may have been lured in a time or two yourself.
After a slew of interesting yet low-paying jobs, I decided to try my hand at a local community college to see if I was smart enough to earn a degree. Low and behold, I was.
I graduated community college with a degree in general studies and transferred to a 4-year school where I earned a degree in Psychology and Biology.
And believe me, I was just randomly checking boxes when it came time to pick a major. Even after working for a few years and earning an associates degree, I still had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up or the path my decisions would lead me down.
One of my first jobs after college was working for a pharmaceutical company. At the time, I, again, had no real vision for my longterm career or the direction I wanted to take. All I knew was that it paid well and I could finally afford a nice car and a dinner out without going into debt. WooHoo!
What I’m about to tell you is probably no surprise. I never left. I still work in the industry, but now I make a whole lot more than I did when I started. On top of the salary, I have excellent bennies – including healthcare for my family and matching retirement plans. All the things responsible adults crave. #ugh
Related:
- F.I.O.R. – Financial Independence Optional Retirement
- Proof You Can Royally Mess Up With Money And Still Retire Early
- How We’re Achieving FIRE/FIOR Through Selective Frugality
- We’re Reaching Financial Independence Without Bikes or Baked Beans
- Why I Love My W-2 Job And You Should Love Yours Too
- The Looming Retirement Crisis And Steps You Can Take To Avoid It
The Point Of No Return
Of course, we always have options. But the older I get, the fewer options I feel like I have – especially when it comes to turning my back on a job that offers a robust 401(k) plan and quality healthcare.
In my opinion, I have reached the point of no return in my current job situation. Sure, I could opt to look for a different job in the same industry or search for a job in a completely different field altogether. But is that the smart and responsible thing to do considering I’m not flying solo anymore? My short answer is no.
Like I said earlier, I’m mostly satisfied with my job. It’s not ideal, but is anything ideal after you’ve done it for awhile?
My reasons for being okay with my current job:
- Excellent salary
- Quality healthcare
- Matching 401(k) plan
- Pension – Yes, my company still offers a pension. And I’m vested.
- I enjoy my co-workers
- I don’t mind/sometimes enjoy the work
- Option to work-from-home
- Funds my lifestyle and provides for my family. Enough said.
Chasing Your Ideal Job At Any Cost
I’m not chasing an ideal job, I’m chasing financial independence. I started this journey with my husband (Mr. MMM) when we nearly purchased a home we couldn’t comfortably afford.
Since that near catastrophic misstep, we have been committed to frugality and building wealth at lightning speed. Our reason – to create options.
With each passing day at my current job, I am inching closer to financial independence. And the closer I get to financial independence, the more I experience the freedom of choice. Yes, I could choose to seek out a different job, but at this point, it’s simply not worth it to me and wouldn’t greatly benefit my family. In fact, switching jobs at the stage might actually harm my family by creating unnecessary stress and tension.
The Bottom Line: My current job, though not my ideal job, is mostly enjoyable and creates a life of security and stability for my family. And I am so okay with that. 🙂
Well, what do you think? Are you in your ideal job? And if not, how important is it to make a change at any cost?
