can you really do what you love and work for a company?

[datasuspect]

does the association of your work product with profit invalidate the value your work might have as an end in itself and not as an aspect of a mechanism of capitalism?

is most employment reducible to variations on the theme of documenting transactions of capital?

[petronius]

1. No... I mean, yes... Wait, what?

Straight answer - why not? If you truly enjoy an activity, the fact that it's also profitable is just lagniappe...

[wildhorses]

2. no and no

quit drinking the kool-aid

[begin_within]

3. Anytime I have heard anyone say, "I'm doing what I love to do..."

they weren't working for a paycheck from a corporation. They were either self-employed or freelance or contracted out, or unemployed.

[supernova]

4. Yeah, I'm at that crossroads right now

as a matter of fact.

I came to realize that working for a corp and working for love of the work, or the pursuit of excellence in it, are two entirely different things.

[begin_within]

8. I have read many stories of people who "abandoned the corporate ladder"

to do something else, like starting their own small business, or whatever, and how it was "the best decision they ever made" and so on. I can't recall ever reading any story where someone abandoned their own business or their "true calling" to climb aboard the corporate ladder and then called it "the best decision of their life." You spend so much of your life working that you had better enjoy what it is you do, even if you don't make as much money as you could doing something else.

[supernova]

9. The biggest obstacle

IMNSHO, is that the "boss" wants what he or she wants. And that is defined as "excellence."

When in reality its just an expedient version of mediocrity. I have only met, one, maybe two people in my career who were genuinely concerned with excellence and what it takes to get there. The rest were looking for expediency.

[pitohui]

11. you've read a lot of propaganda

i know a lot of people, personally, including myself, who curse the day they went out on their own to do what they loved

what does it matter that you got to express your "art" if your kid or yourself can't get an operation to remove an unsightly tumor?

you learn to hate your dream, as the dancer said in carlito's way

there's a reason this movie resonates w. people

do what you love for money, give up the job, give up the insurance -- and you will learn to hate what you loved for it has destroyed you

[barb162]

5. Yes, especially if you're CEO n/t

[wildhorses]

7. don't you mean ONLY if you're the CEO?

:shrug:


of course the upper echelon minions might reap some substantial benefits:shrug:

[barb162]

12. Not quite, but it sure helps.

I have known people who enjoy their jobs. One was a safety guy who liked chasing fires since he was a kid and he was intensely interested in his job and field. Being in safety allowed him to write manuals and preach and teach people how to be safer. Another profession? MDs, I think, like their jobs as long as they can avoid the insurance stuff. MDs and vet usually or often work for large group practices.

[wildhorses]

13. you know what...there are three questions up there.

and you are right. it is too late for me to edit but, i think that i would answer question #1 yes. #2 no. #3no.

[leftofthedial]

6. only if you sublimate the depreciation of your own time

as a leveraged resource and not as an aspect of a mechanism of bullshitology.

[pitohui]

10. yeah if you love taking care of your family and their health

look this time of century it is cruel and irresponsible to encourage people to go out on their own, when they are middle-aged they won't be able to get health insurance and then what?

it happened to me and i'm thin, don't smoke, blah de blah, so don't say it can't happen to you

until we have universal health insurance if you love your family the best thing you can do is work for a LARGE company with bargaining power that offers health insurance

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

14. No. That's why I started my own business.

It's GOOD to be the boss- even if it's a one man company and you work out of your home. ESPECIALLY then.

[triguy46]

15. I've spent 20 years as a senior executive...

will work 5 more. But do not love my job. I have not loved a job since I was a lifeguard at 17. I do it for the money, yes I'm a work whore. I'm fortunate that I've been successful, but the minute I can retire I'm done. I'm going to do nothing but ride my tractor, grow vegetables and sell them at the local farmers market.