Don't Quit Your Day Job!

The best career advice I ever got was given to me while I was in college.  Instead of worrying about which career assignments are considered the "best," or "career enhancing," to pick the job that you were most excited about taking... because it's easy to do well in a job that you love.

When I got to my first assignment, it was so overwhelmingly difficult.  I used to walk around trying to convince myself that I wasn't really worth more dead than alive, but from a purely financial standpoint I was actually worth more dead than alive.  Again, this advice found me, this time from my boss...

As it turns out, I really loved that assignment.  It was a tough adjustment but challenging and rewarding.  I looked forward to work and I worked hard.

And that is how I know it's time to move on from my current job.  It's something I do just to pay the bills and it barely does that much.  Actually, it doesn't really cover all the bills I would like to pay.  That's why I'm still in the Reserves.  It takes two jobs to cover the mortgage.  I'm tired.  There is no end in sight to increasing responsibilities and no extra authority or compensation.   I drag myself out of bed every morning and still can't get there on time... not that it matters.  The boss doesn't say anything because I put in my 8 hours and cover my job as well as two other vacant positions... and when I'm not doing that, I read.  I bead.  I research other things online such as grad school, LSAT preps, and recipes.

I know what I love, and it's not my job.  My job is work.  It's not getting me closer to where I want to be.  It's just work.

Do you get the impression that I'm burned out?  Are you happy with what you're doing now?  What's the hardest job you've ever loved?