Stop Doing What You Hate

We sometimes must do things which are not so enjoyable. Even in, say, your dream job — where you find yourself not only satisfied, motivated, and happy, but also liking what you are doing, and that something is ultimately useful — there are still elements you find not so wonderful.

But they need to be done… Admin? Paperwork? Team meetings? I don’t know — but you will fill in the gaps. These sometimes unavoidable elements to an otherwise wonderful occupation we see as a necessary evil. This is not the same as being in a job you hate, and you should not do what you hate… Sounds like common sense, and yet typically, surveys of job happiness often suggest 60% of people are doing a job they do not want to do.

Really consider this question: On a scale from 1 to 10 — with 1 signifying hate and 10 indicating love — where are you right now? If your score is 5 or below, why are you doing it? (I must as I am the only wage earner; it pays too well; I can’t find another job for which I am: young enough/old enough, qualified enough; I can’t find another job.)

I don’t think it is always easy to make such a change — and the process of applying can be demoralising — but the effort is worth it, to swap doing something you hate for something you do not hate, or preferably, love. If not love, then at least move further along the 1 to 10 scale.

What Holds You Back?

• Qualifications — Which qualifications are too long/difficult for you to continue doing what you hate?

• Interviews — Is it difficult to get one?

Employers are often bombarded with resumes, have preferred internal candidates, and other criteria including ageism, sexism, and racism (even though company policy clearly forbids all these isms). This, of course, gives rise to fear of rejection.

Jordan Petersen, in Beyond Order, tells us to work on a ratio of 50:1 — expect no more than one interview for every 50 applications. It may well help with the inevitable downheartedness that accompanies such rejection. And by the way — do all you can to not take it personally. They do not know you. In some cases, they may not even really consider or pay any attention to you. So just move on — 50 applications per interview. It is demoralising, if we let it be so.It is not so demoralising if it is what we expect.

Your life is too short to do what you hate. It should change. It needs to change. It is psychologically, and quite possibly physically, damaging — and you, the world, your family deserve better…

Reference:

Peterson, J.B. (2021). Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life. Random House.