Careers and self worth

Would most or all of us agree that Americans put way too much weight or importance on what we do for a living?

My girlfriend was telling me about one of her friends and I asked her what he does for a living. She said he works at the YMCA as an activities instructor. I thought to myself, "well it took me years to figure out what I wanted to do long term too".

I almost immediately realized that perhaps this is what this young man loves to do, so as long as he can survive financially and he's happy, then he's "made it".

Do other cultures put too much weight into what people do for a living?

i'll agree that american culture does. i work in a Bakery. the bakers make perhaps 20, 30k a year. far from rich, however, they're completely happy. some of the nicest people i know. i think that a lot of people whose jobs are looked at as sub-par are really quite satisfied. i'm not sure it really matters what a person does as long as they're happy.

i think it's sad how the importance of a person is weighed in what they do. poorer people are commonly seen as unfortunate, or unable to get a better job, when in fact, they aren't interested in doing anything other then what they do. people give money too much interest. it's a means, not an end.

jimbob said:

i'll agree that american culture does. i work in a Bakery. the bakers make perhaps 20, 30k a year. far from rich, however, they're completely happy. some of the nicest people i know. i think that a lot of people whose jobs are looked at as sub-par are really quite satisfied. i'm not sure it really matters what a person does as long as they're happy.

i think it's sad how the importance of a person is weighed in what they do. poorer people are commonly seen as unfortunate, or unable to get a better job, when in fact, they aren't interested in doing anything other then what they do. people give money too much interest. it's a means, not an end.

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I agree with you. I think I learned a good lesson today from that discussion with my girlfriend.

To add to the topic, my brother is on disability. He is 40 and is essentially retired now. He said to me the other day that a lot of people find self worth in what they do for a career. He said he already feels a heavy impact in his self worth because he doesn't have a career.

His boyfriend works and he gets a good bit of money from SS and so forth but if someone asks him what he does he is very uncomfortable.

.....what does he do??

*bumping this thread because i find it interesting and i don't want it to die*

Ciscokid said:

Would most or all of us agree that Americans put way too much weight or importance on what we do for a living?

Yes.

Do other cultures put too much weight into what people do for a living?
Yes.

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grfxs bchmn

My view is that career can be an excellent source of self-worth. However, it should not be the only source.

Don't put all your self-worth eggs in one basket!


eudaimonia,

Mark

What I do for a living pays for my journeys, books and love, so yeah, it's pretty important to me.

Still a student, though. And those jobs during summer break don't pay much.

Ciscokid said:

Would most or all of us agree that Americans put way too much weight or importance on what we do for a living?

My girlfriend was telling me about one of her friends and I asked her what he does for a living. She said he works at the YMCA as an activities instructor. I thought to myself, "well it took me years to figure out what I wanted to do long term too".

I almost immediately realized that perhaps this is what this young man loves to do, so as long as he can survive financially and he's happy, then he's "made it".

Do other cultures put too much weight into what people do for a living?

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I think we put too much emphasis on it. The best way to be successful is to do something you love, but people tend to assume it must be something big.

I think other cultures are worse about this than us, though. I'm thinking Japan.

jimbob said:

.....what does he do??

*bumping this thread because i find it interesting and i don't want it to die*

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What does who do? If you mean my brother, he doesn't do anything right now in way of a career.

nutshell said:

I think other cultures are worse about this than us, though. I'm thinking Japan.

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Sweden too. It's that Protestant work ethic.


eudaimonia,

Mark

Ciscokid said:

Would most or all of us agree that Americans put way too much weight or importance on what we do for a living?

My girlfriend was telling me about one of her friends and I asked her what he does for a living. She said he works at the YMCA as an activities instructor. I thought to myself, "well it took me years to figure out what I wanted to do long term too".

I almost immediately realized that perhaps this is what this young man loves to do, so as long as he can survive financially and he's happy, then he's "made it".

Do other cultures put too much weight into what people do for a living?

Click to expand...

You bet. So much so that Job titles have changed ovver the years, to make workers feel better about themselves.

When I joined the Bank, I was a "Bank Clerk" - that was changed in the early eighties to Bank officer.

Dustmen were known as Dustmen; now they are refuse collectors...I could go on.........

I don't think that that was as much as making people feel important as giving them "Grander titles" to go along with more responsablility and less money.:cover:

eudaimonia said:

My view is that career can be an excellent source of self-worth. However, it should not be the only source.

Don't put all your self-worth eggs in one basket!


eudaimonia,

Mark

Click to expand...

For the past several years I've spent most of my energy on my career. I don't know what income class I'm in exactly, I believe lower middle [or just middle].

There are times when I wish I would have a job with less stress and something a little more "fun". I don't think I want to give up the pay though.

the bakers make perhaps 20, 30k a year. far from rich,

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Even 20k a year, too me, seems to be on a "rich" level. That's 6k more than I was making working at one of Dollar General's DCs.

I also agree that too much weight is placed on one's career. If I could make it on money from band and wrestling shows alone, just to cover basic needs, and donating plasma once in awhile to do anything else, I would be an extremely happy person.

I haven't found a job that I really love. What I really love is my family. I work to suppor them and in return I get my happiness from them. It doesn't matter if I'm happy at my job as long as I have my family. Of course, if I happen to find a job I really love, and will pay enough to support my family, I'll go for it.

I know personally that certain jobs I have had made me feel somewhat "lower-class." I worked at a grocery store for five years, mainly in the salad bar, and I always hated telling people what I did for a living. But I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that I hated the job, and found it totally unfulfilling and monotonous. I actually made pretty good money, which allowed me the freedom to travel abroad on more than one occasion. So money had nothing to do with it.

My next job was at a day-care, where I took a drastic pay-cut, but found much more fulfilling. I am now a nanny, and make decent money, but still not as much as I made at the grocery store. However, I'm much happier. And, God-willing, my next "job" will involve no pay at all, which is fine by me. I hope to work with a mission organization in Brazil.

I think we attach way too much importance to our "status" as defined by our careers. I agree with others----as long as you're doing what you love, it shouldn't matter how much money you make, or what others think.