Is it important to like/love your job?

It's a nice train of thought!
I wonder if love could ever take the place of wisdom? ('Wisdom' in the true classic sense, where experience, insight and enlightenment combine to leverage one's complete view).

I've always fantasized that, rather in Buddhist fashion, once we are developed in a way that we are/can be detached from earthly considerations (indeed a bit like floating souls), the wisdom we've gained will also drastically change our experience of loce, as this would become a more all-encompassing love ("for all that lives" or "for pursuit of understanding" or something lofty like that). Much in fact like true Buddhist enlightenment which is -in many ways- extremely egocentric with no regard for surrounding or "mere" human concerns.

It's just another thought experiment though.
We might end up quite differently, obviously.

Yes, it is important. Fact.

Be that as it may (which from the many times you've reminded is of course an understandably horrible thing to experience, I'm sure), I will always remember my late Grandad's attitude to old age. He never complained about getting old, he never complained about much at all to be honest (except other old people). He had had two heart attacks within 10 years prior to his death, his wife (my Grandmother) had died during that time too, yet he never changed his attitude to anything. He remained the same person I knew as a child; a positive, happy person. For sure, he had health problems, but he overcame them partly due to an apparently positive attitude... he also kept on riding his motorbike until his last days!

I'm not comparing his health problems to yours of course, circumstances are of course different for everyone, I'm just giving an example of a philosophy I happen to agree with: you're as old (or young) as you feel. If ever I reach the same age as my Grandad reached (76), and only become half as positive as he was, then I will have succeeded with that philosophy.

By the way, the inscription on his grave reads: "No watch, no time, no worries." (I too never wear a watch... but mostly because I don't actually have one.)

Sorry to go off topic. That's another 3 points on my forum license from the Thread Police.

Points are well taken Steven. I admire your Grandfather and his positive attitude on life. The hardest thing for me is the brain functioning. To have it and then have it taken away and sometimes your fine and sometimes your not is difficult.
Thomas

follow your dream

A very negative attitude my friend.

This seems to be the thread that would suit my current dilemma best.

So my current project is coming to an end (well, not really. I'm just finally bowing out after THREE years and no end in sight, as I was getting pigeonholed and getting a little frustrated by that).

And then, in a ridiculously luxurious situation I now have a choice of two projects:

- One is a four month implementation job. It's quite technical (which I don't enjoy), setting up a complex IT infrastructure and security.
But here's the thing: it's for the European Space Agency!
How awesome is that? (Plus, I get to visit Rome )
It's pretty high stakes though: it's a major account and may lead to follow-up business if handled well.
If I'd f*ck this up, I'm doomed.
However, if it's successful, I'm a hero.
So: major political complexities there.

- Second is a pretty permanent position as a service design consultant on a new service development team I have had my eyes on joining for two years now! Had a chat with the team lead and the match seems about 120%! I know I'd really enjoy this job and be very good at it...but the risk and visibility are almost nill. It's well in my comfort zone. And if I do this, that's it for a few years.
No game changers, no major challenges.

Both jobs start yesterday, and there's no way to keep one on the back burner while doing the other one.
It's one or the other.

So I'm really going over and over it in my mind to try and figure out what the right step is.
Oh, I know I'll figure it out before Friday (the deadline), but I'm mostly and foremost kinda hoping that by writing it down I'll create some structure in my mind where the pluses and cons become a bit more clear.

Plus, of course, any thoughts from the good community here would be greatly appreciated.
I tend to lock myself in my own head with these things, so any outside input might just provide that little bit of clarity.

It just occured to me that I don't really know what you are all doing for a living. I only know about my fellow teachers on the board.

If you feel adventurous, Martijn, do the ESA job. If you want securtiy and time for your loved once, do the other.

All the Best!

Volker

Wow, Martijn, that seems to be quite a luxury position you're in for sure! On the plus side, I feel there's no wrong choice to make here. Either one, there're major benefits to be had: either a great life experience in context of the job (the first option), or stability on doing something you'll love.

Of course I can't really tell you what you should do, there're elements here I can't oversee dealing with your own needs for the perfect job. If it were me, I'm currently at a point in life in which my job almost seems a bit suffocating, just the fact I've been doing it for 6 years now and thinking I'll be doing it for the next years frightens me. If I now had the choice between settling in something stable or getting a once-in-lifetime chance I'd definitely be taking the chance. After all, you might enjoy the stable job for now, but are you sure it won't bore you in the longer run? With this, I don't know the nature of your current job and if you get bored easily? Also, you might learn more in terms of personal growth and experience from this option.

On the other hand, I believe you've had quite a rough few years behind you and I can imagine the peace of mind might just be the thing you need. The first option will probably, if I read it correctly, come with its fair share of stress, be it on the job or after those 4 months, when you need yet another job.

Either way, plus and minuses on both! It often helps me if I just take a decision on one, and see if that decision starts to nag. Sometimes it's not until you throw one option away until you realize how much you wanted that one.

P.S.: the first option really seems like a once in a lifetime opportunity and one that only lasts for 4 months, while the latter one is an option that might stay around for a while, a vacancy at a place where they might have an opening again in another few months? How imaginable is it that that one presents itself again in the future? Or: are you really throwing that job away completely , definitely, if you don't take it NOW?

I'm not sure if any of this helps, but it's just some thoughts that spring into my mind. Good luck, either decision can be the right one if you take it for the right reasons!

Actually "shoot for the moon and even if you miss you'll fall among the stars" is quite meaningful in this ordeal... and I would go with this sweet and apt phrasing, taking it a bit more literally

I was thinking the same. You've had a lot of stress! So the ESA will bring up a lot of stress due to the important task there, but it should be over by summer!

As for your job, that's all impressive Martijn. Congratulations. I'm 'just' a developer and I usually have respect for the people who can manage the big projects here. They often don't always agree or line with how the developers think but they are certainly ahead and brave!

We do!??

Oh, okay then.

haha

( Martijn, I'm not sure exactly what he did, I'll ask Mel later )

Congrats! Per aspera ad astra!
Again All the Best, Martijn!

Volker

Time to put on Horner's Apollo 13!