When I was younger I thought that the whole point of work was to get paid as much as possible and to do as little as possible. This view changed over time and gradually as my working life took on a range of different jobs, roles and organisations I realised that even though I had originally doubted the importance of it, job satisfaction was what I really needed, wanted and in mos cases didn’t have. I was well paid, well off and doing very little with my potential. Last year I had a great opportunity to really assess what that meant to me and to initiate some changes. I can’t even express to you how it feels to give up on the past, do what you really want to do, let go of security and reclaim passion and be truly confident that if it doesn’t work out what does it really matter, it is only a job.
Some of you know what I am talking about. I recently left a work obligation that I have had for many years, something that had turned toxic over time but was difficult to leave as it paid well. The money though never made up for the incredible lack of job satisfaction. The staff were great. The students were great. The organisation was toxic, deluded, incompetent and no longer listened to its staff and had lost the core reason why it existed.
Everyone who reads this blog knows that I like Seth Godin’s blog and the one this week was timely. Check it out here. To quote him “Doing a good job is no guarantee of security, advancement or delight”. Spot on. Personally I don’t care about 1 or 2 I am aiming for delight and for the delight of my customers and clients.
When I left the commitment I was astonished by the responses. From the customers it was shock and congratulations. Many wondered why it had taken me so long to do it. Good point! Thank you to all of those who wished me well. From the organisation? Nothing. No thank you. No farewell. No anything, just paperwork. I just watched a video that highlighted the incredible loyalty that dogs have (in Japan). Quite touching really. Maybe the organisation could learn something from this.
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