Published on | Prototyping: From UX to Front End — Medium Slightly Almighty

The norm is continuing to work a job for someone else’s ultimate goal. To get steady pay raises and promotions for the time you sacrifice. To be firmly inserted in a cycle and to guarantee you stay in that cycle. It’s the least risky and most predictable. For others however it’s an extension of your passions and, considering it takes all your daylight hours, needs to have meaning.

For years I was hired for being the ambitious one. I surrounded myself with those that were always teaching themselves how to code, starting bands, playing photographer or otherwise always trying to improve themselves in a focused, intent way.

For years I built green screen studios, started design departments, pushed into AR development (a decade ago) when none of that was my official job. When I got to a point where I was hiring, I found people like that to bring on. The people who were self-taught, had unexpected style and created their own path because no one taught them the “right way”. They weren’t always the most qualified but they were the most determined and I was never let down.

Now I find myself at a point in my career where we’re no longer allowed to hire those that don’t perfectly match what’s already happening. The ambitious ones that do things a little different are seen as a non-quantifiable risk. So when the projects start to take on that “lowest hanging fruit” aspect it’s disheartening.

My father’s generation came from a factory mentality coupled with early marriage and family. This meant that the priority was providing for the family and “finding meaning” in a job was unheard of. Sure, jobs suck, but you put dinner on the table and don’t risk your family’s stability. Our generation however is blessed with the freedom to worry about things like our personal passions and meaning in what we do for a living. We also inherited that factory mentality. That results in long work hours and an often unhealthy balance between work and personal pursuits. I know I’ve taken a vacation to recover from burn-out only so that after two weeks I could work more efficiently.

There are likely multiple paths to sanity with this. Working a job that has nothing to do with your passion might allow you to maintain that energy. Working a job that gives you an actual control might be ideal but slightly harder. Then there’s always the option to work for yourself. The final answer might be to care less. I don’t mean this in a negligent way (you should provide what you’re being paid for) but maybe it’s about not being so personally invested in the work you do for other people. Learn to protect your own personal time and keep that as your priority. Don’t confuse work and purpose, and keep your energy for what you truly care about.

Do What You Love (for a job). Or Don’t. Probably Don’t. was originally published in Prototypr on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Do What You Love (for a job). Or Don’t. Probably Don’t.

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