It’s better to hate your job than to like it a little bit.
I used to harass people for a living.
I would put my hand up as if to stop the happy shopper at Sam’s Club.
“Sir! Who is your cable provider?”
When they mentioned anyone other than DirecTV, I said, “Come here, let me show you something.” Then, without looking back to see if they were following me, I about-faced and walked straight to my booth. They always followed because they felt obligated.
I was the worst salesperson who ever worked for that company, I’m sure.
I said all the right things and made all the right gestures, but my heart wasn’t in it.
Why? Because I would never buy DirecTV. I’m a Netflix guy. Why spend $100 on TV when you can pay $15. The math is pretty simple.
I despised my job because I didn’t believe in what I was selling.
One week, after selling nothing four days in a row, my boss, who really liked me and fought for me, called me into his office and said, “If I don’t fire you, my boss is going to fire both of us.”
A weight fell off my back that day. I walked out a little nervous about finding another job but relieved about never having to harass anyone about DirecTV again.
Nothing kills your soul like a job you like a little bit.
Fast forward 5 years and several jobs later, I finally accepted a position I liked a little bit. It was an office admin position at my church. I was excited about it at first. But when the newness wore off, I realized the job was just ok. It paid well, and I liked the work… at least a little bit.
The scariest part about that job was the indifference I felt about it.
I lasted 4 months at my sales position before getting fired. I worked at my church for 5 years as an office assistant before finally escaping. I still attend that church. It’s nothing against the people or even the job. It’s just that it wasn’t what I should have been doing.
The thing about a decent job is that it’s just tolerable enough to keep you from quitting or getting fired…
