Like I've said before, I never talk about my work. I refuse to let my job define who I am. I don't talk the about the nature of my work., the product I deal with, the things I achieve, the work I've done... not here at least. That's not to say there aren't any interesting things to tell. In fact, there are many.
Many people I know aren't quite happy at their jobs. Either they aren't getting enough pay, the work isn't fulfilling enough, or they hate their boss. A lot of them pride themselves for working at big, well known international organizations. Often times, they tell me the name of their company with more than just a hint of pride in their tone.
When they ask me in return what I do, I just say I'm working in a company small little company whose name I will not mentions since you would've never heard of before and not bother to remember after anyway.
"Oh, that's nice.." they tell me politely.
But here's the part I usually leave out:
I am exceedingly happy with my job. I'm getting way more than enough pay (for a person of my age), I find the work fulfilling & challenging, I certainly don't love my boss.... but he treats me real good. I dare say better than most of the others in the company. In fact, it's going so well that I am entrusted with a lot of information & task that are private and confidential and I have been put above people many years my senior. Says I'm being 'groomed'. For what he didn't say, but I think I have a pretty good guess. And since the boss is also the owner, anything he says goes in the company. And when you're in the good books of such a boss, it's hard not to say you're in a good position.
"So what do you do in your work?" they ask
"Oh, you know... attend meetings, do tenders, coordinate projects etc etc. Nothing fancy la. I'm the photocopy boy, the sales rep as well as the IT trouble shooter. That's what you get when you work for a small company. You do everything."
But I actually enjoy that. I've learned a lot more about a very wide range of things.. since there really isn't anyone else to do it. I've had to learn bits and pieces of web hosting, international freight forwarding, mechanical/civil/chemical/process engineering, purchasing, sales and marketing, legal & commercial contracts, banking & corporate financing, site construction, manpower supply and back home, how to prevent your photocopy machine from jamming. But of course, I don't tell that to people. Sound too much like bragging.
Having said that, I still know deep down inside that this isn't exactly my passion. No doubt, I can do the job (and do it well), but I still find myself talking to people about every other time other than my job. Intellectually & mentally, it stimulates me - and that provides some kind of satisfaction in itself. But I'm not the kind of nuts and bolts, machines kind of guy. Machines don't excite me. People do. If I ever drop all of this in search for something else, it will be something where people are the focus. Not machines, schedules & cost. People.
I think we all eventually find something we consider to be our calling in life. Some want to be millionaire stock brokers, some want to open a coffee house and some want to be doctors. Others have simpler dreams, like being a mom, a columnist or just a teacher. I'm not sure if I've found my own calling yet.
For now, it just a fuzzy little idea in my brain that can basically be summed up in one statement:
I want to help people, in a real and personal way - that they may learn to live fulfilling, meaningful & happy lives regardless of the obstacles they face in life; and that eventually they themselves go forth and be a help & blessing to others.
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