Work November 14, 2007

I can’t write at work. Employers are happy to hear this I’m sure. But for me this causes a problem. Work is where I have the most free-time. Honestly. I spend whole days at work doing, for the most part, nothing.  That’s 8 hours of time, doing – nothing.  I visit friends, I make coffee, I make tea, I make my lunch even when I’m going out for ‘lunch’, I randomly walk through the halls, and chat with co-workers. I pace the office like a caged animal waiting for the slightest relief from the boredom.

What would self help books say about this? A SHB could

1) tell me to be thankful for what I have and be content;

2) tell me to ask for my boss for more challenging work (and more money);

3) tell me to get a new job.

I’m going with a combo of 1 & 3. I’m trying (most of the time) to be grateful for my job and the money that allows me to have an apartment AND look for another way to make a living/earn money. Notice I didn’t say ‘get a new job’.  I don’t want a new job. I want something else, something more. I want a life of adventure I want a life I can be proud of on my deathbed (deathhammock?)

Can an issue of “O” be considered a SHB? September 4, 2007

O.k. after blasting O magazine for their 6 figure income ‘risk takers’ (wow! I’m bitter!), I’m clearly still reading it.

My friends if the answer to the question “Can an issue of ‘O’ be considered a SHB?” is ‘yes’, my tally of SHBs just went up exponentially.

And I think it can be answered yes. Each issue has a theme, this month “Do What You Love”. The whole magazine has a theme of “Live Your Best Life”, which sounds like a SHB if I’ve ever heard one.

Down market Oprah August 28, 2007

I’m a little annoyed with O.

What’s up with all the rich women in O? Who are the people who think a six figure salary is moderately successful? This month’s theme, Do What You Love, tells us to follow our gut, our heart, our passion. Leave your current soul sucking job for what calls you…

But the ‘example’ women doing this heart following all had six-figure jobs, no careers, or an extra home to sell, or a husband with a six-job to get them started.

My friend always gets annoyed with Suze Ormand, and rightfully so. She says things like “Always buy your car with cash!” If I had a spare $10-$20,000 I wouldn’t need to read her column! Yeah, sure, if I had it I would be in it for sure, but I don’t. Other suggestions please.

I don’t have a six-figure job, let alone a coherent career to speak of, nor do I have an extra home to sell, or a husband, at all for that matter. So what’s the lesson for me? Stay in the soul sucking job until I’m making six figures? Until I have 20 years experience? Will I have any soul left to leave?