"If I find no joy in my work, Then I'm condemning myself to 60 years of torture"

Working 40-50 hours out of a 168 hour week is not spending most of the time working. Howard's premise is false.

You mean Ayn Rand's premise is false.

I am glad I don't have such a crappy outlook on life. I read Rand's "Among the Living" and determined that she was a thoroughly miserable person with an equally miserable outlook on life.

I'd only ever read her work (and others like her) as guides on how not to think or act or live my life. Complete negativity.

Oppsie!

"We the Living"

The idea that you should enjoy your work is something new. It's work, not vacation. I think it is something that can cripple people. They realize they aren't doing exactly what they want to do, and make themselves miserable.

You work to finance your personal life. Worry about that.

Dirty30 wrote:

The idea that you should enjoy your work is something new. It's work, not vacation. I think it is something that can cripple people. They realize they aren't doing exactly what they want to do, and make themselves miserable.

You work to finance your personal life. Worry about that.

I don't see any reason not to select a profession that you enjoy. Of all the jobs that exist, there has to be something that a) you enjoy, b) you are good at, and c) someone will pay you for.

Sure, you work to finance your personal life, but why not also enjoy your work while you're at it?

slaving away wrote:

correct you are a wage slave. you are just figuring this out??

a neighbor up the road recently retired after working 50 years at a manufacturing plant. he died 6 weeks after retiring. all those plans of travelling, doing things he always wanted to do, pooof gone.

Damn, that's depressing.

If you're going through Hell, keep moving.

Churchill

Dirty30 wrote:

The idea that you should enjoy your work is something new. It's work, not vacation. I think it is something that can cripple people. They realize they aren't doing exactly what they want to do, and make themselves miserable.

You work to finance your personal life. Worry about that.

And who truly does that? Add a wife and children to the equation and you're working to support them.

I completely agree with Rand. We become complacent. Everyone at some point will have to look back at their life and feel content or unsatisfied. A weekend trip to Paris, a second home, or kids following in your footsteps isn't going to answer that question. I admire people who have the courage to devote their time and effort to their passions.

why not enjoy it? wrote:

Dirty30 wrote:

The idea that you should enjoy your work is something new. It's work, not vacation. I think it is something that can cripple people. They realize they aren't doing exactly what they want to do, and make themselves miserable.

You work to finance your personal life. Worry about that.

I don't see any reason not to select a profession that you enjoy. Of all the jobs that exist, there has to be something that a) you enjoy, b) you are good at, and c) someone will pay you for.

Sure, you work to finance your personal life, but why not also enjoy your work while you're at it?

For people capable of this, sure.

But obviously large portions of the population aren't capable of this. Tons of our jobs are generic desk jobs, manufacturing, and food type jobs. I don't think many people truly enjoy those lines of work. Of course there are exceptions, but in the general case I rather doubt it.

why not enjoy it? wrote:

Dirty30 wrote:

The idea that you should enjoy your work is something new. It's work, not vacation. I think it is something that can cripple people. They realize they aren't doing exactly what they want to do, and make themselves miserable.

You work to finance your personal life. Worry about that.

I don't see any reason not to select a profession that you enjoy. Of all the jobs that exist, there has to be something that a) you enjoy, b) you are good at, and c) someone will pay you for.

Sure, you work to finance your personal life, but why not also enjoy your work while you're at it?

I'm with Dirty 30 on this. The reason people get paid for working is that what they do for work is not usually something they'd do on their own. Yes, there are a few exceptions, you read of people who could retire but don't because they like their work so well. But they're exceptional.

On the other hand, most work, if not enjoyable, is not torturous either, so the "60 years of torture if I don't enjoy my work" thing is a bit melodramatic and overstated. After all, if you're reasonably smart you can retire in 30 years, not 60 and actually be working for less than a third of the time during your work life.

One of my buddies in finance told me a story about one of his first bosses. This guy was a workaholic who went the

Ivy League-> Wall Street route and planned to make a bunch of money and retire early. Going from banking to private equity by age 35 the dude was definitely netting 7 figures. However, working consistent 90+ hour weeks for years takes its mental & physical toll on anybody.... so weeks after this guy retires at 49..... with millions in the bank, a Ferrari, and finally free after slaving away in the office for 20+ years...... he dies of a heart attack just like that. Depressing, but I guess the lesson is to enjoy your life while you can because you never know when you could kick the bucket.

Agree or disagree? wrote:

"But you see, I have, let's say, sixty years to live. Most of that time will be spent working. I've chosen the work I want to do. If I find no joy in it, then I'm only condemning myself to sixty years of torture. And I can find the joy only if I do my work in the best way possible to me." - Howard Roark in The Fountainhead

Agree or disagree?

1) MOST people do NOT work for 60 years. Public school teachers retire after 35 years. I will retire at age 60 after working for 38 years.

2) Now, are you doomed for 38 years? No. Find a job you like better, or if you can't, realize it's just a job and that you will find enjoyment in other areas of your life. I never understand people with 'regular' jobs who claim to love those jobs anyway...most of us have rather tedious boring jobs...if you do not, you are one of the few.

3) You could also bank a ton of money and retire early. not everyone dies soon after stopping work. I know a guy who retired at age 51 and is still going strong as he approaches 80...he still runs marathons...all over the world.

Most people dwell too much on the enjoyment they derive from their job. Two things:

1. Your attitude affects your enjoyment of everything.

2. There is beauty and meaning among the routines of everyday life once you start to notice it.

3. Learn to have fun with the people you are with in any situation.

I've been working since I was 11. Paper route.

Before that under the table jobs mowing lawns, yard work, etc.

I'll work 60 years I hope. If you work only 30 years of your life you are a spoiled brat, handicapped or have a sugar daddy.

To each his own, but speaking for myself, getting pigeonholed to a boring job just to earn a steady paycheck would be my definition of my own personal hell.

You're a slave.

Dirty30 wrote:

The idea that you should enjoy your work is something new. It's work, not vacation.

Enjoying your work has no relation to vacation.

I work full time and do enjoy my job.

Vacation? No, but enjoyable. It's a good life.

I think I hit a good level of maturity early on, there was never room in my life to think about this existential garbage you're bringing up. I wanted to run and in college realized the professional lifestyle was not for me. I majored in business and went for an MBA immediately after. Burned the midnight oil at an accounting firm for 3 years. I must admit that was a miserable time in my life, but mostly because it was the transition phase from college to real life. I made the most of that time by figuring out exactly what I didn't want to do and how to market myself well. It's now 4 years later and I have a very high paying banking job. I came in with enough credentials and seniority that I can make demands, so I don't kill myself at work. I supervise others and have enough flexibility to run in the mornings and have breakfast with my wife. I am in great shape, have good friends and am very well connected because of my job. There are things I love and there are things I hate, but the money is amazing so I get to do whatever I want with the time I have off. What more can you honest ask for from a job?

I see one big plus in your dilemma - you have a problem that's very easy to fix. Stop thinking of yourself as someone gifted and special, you have to have a go getter attitude. Nothing in this life will be handed to you, you won't even get instructions most of the time. You can't be timid and weak, to know what you want and what works for you you've got to get out there and get dirty. Get busy with something productive and trust me soon you won't have time to ponder about this crap. My last words of wisdom - NOTHING you do in this that you get compensated for will be enjoyable, nothing. Don't expect pleasure in business. Even a sex addict who makes a living as a porn star will tell you life ain't easy... We are human, our brains are ****ed up - we're always searching for something we don't have. Plus we live in capitalist and commercialist America, you're swamped with bills from the moment you're born. You don't have the luxury to sit on your *ss and think about life. You need money and better to make more than less. Good luck

vivalarepublica wrote:

Most people dwell too much on the enjoyment they derive from their job. Two things:

1. Your attitude affects your enjoyment of everything.

2. There is beauty and meaning among the routines of everyday life once you start to notice it.

3. Learn to have fun with the people you are with in any situation.

^^^^^^ I agree with this^^^^^^^