The 3 Best Things About Your Job

Would you rather work here or in a cubicle?

I don’t know anyone who thinks they have the perfect job. Sure, there are plenty of people who love their jobs (and plenty who loathe them), but everyone has something to complain about.

I enjoy my job, but it has its frustrations. Sometimes those frustrations overwhelm me a bit. I think it’s okay to vent on occasion. But when I’m frustrated, more than anything, I try to realize the amazing things about my job. After all, I have a job. That in itself is awesome. I don’t want to take for granted the little things about my job that make it special.

So today, instead of focusing on your crazy boss or the terrible coffee or the neverending meetings or the constant stream of interruptions, think of the 3 best things about your job. Write them below and refer to them the next time you have a rough day and start to update your resume. Go beyond 3 if you want–I have 9 to share from my own job.

  1. No office politics
  2. Free soup for lunch several days a week
  3. I work in a big old house instead of a fluorescent-lit cubicle
  4. I live 5 minutes from my job
  5. Completely flexible schedule for doctor’s appointments, errands, lunches with friends, etc.
  6. I can come in any time before 10:00 as long as I work 40 hours/wk and get the job done well
  7. I have what feels like an enormous amount of responsibility and autonomy
  8. I have my own bathroom
  9. I get to work on a college campus without going to class or worrying about homework

Daily Quickie: Although we haven’t quite gotten the book back from the presses yet, my publishing company’s first novel was released in Kindle format on Amazon.com today. Check it out here.

12 thoughts on “The 3 Best Things About Your Job”

  1. Off the top of my head…

    1) Incredibly flexible team leaders who really care about people.
    2) Competent teammates who are open to new ideas and challenge me intellectually.
    3) Responsible freedom: Lots of autonomy with the understanding that I’m accountable for the output & the upkeep of my programs.

    There are more too, but those are the 1st 3 I thought of.

    Reply
    • Good ones. People make a huge difference in the workplace. It’s one of the joys of working at a nonprofit–these people (staff and volunteers) aren’t in the rat race. They just want to do some good.

      Reply
  2. Being a grad student can be summed by 1 statement:

    I am getting paid to learn and study what I’d want to be learning and studying.

    I often think I have the best “job” in the world, minus the absurd hours and measly pay. Those things don’t even matter most of the time though because of the above statement. I feel incredibly lucky.

    Reply
    • What about the tests and memorization? I feel like I hardly have to memorize anything in real life. You either know what you’re talking about or you don’t.

      Other than that, grad school sounds great the way you describe it. I forgot that some people get paid for grad school.

      Reply
  3. OK, here goes:

    1. Working w/ kids is generally satisfying and important work. Most of the time you feel good about what you do.

    2. I’m a much better musician now than I was 8 years ago; having a guitar or piano under your fingers most of the day pays off.

    3. The state doesn’t give standardized tests in music, which means my principals don’t breathe down my neck about what I teach. It’s basically up to me to decide what’s important and what’s not. Traditional folk songs are good and pure; professionally-written kid songs about vegetables and homework are evil and soulless.

    Reply
    • Awesome answers, Aaron. I’ve never thought of point 3; I know SOLs are tough on many teachers, but you have an awesome loophole that allows you to do some great work.

      Reply
  4. 1.My job title, duties, responsibilities and location vary depending on the day and what needs to be done. It keeps things interesting and fun and I don’t feel like I’m stuck in the same routine. It’s varied enough to where I’m comfortable fulfilling all my roles but not to the point that I feel I’m going to be attacked by surprises that come up.
    2.I’m loved for my weird, creative, bubbly self.
    3.It’s a non-profit, so everyone there just wants to help people/children be as successful as they can in life. No hidden agendas, no guessing games with what someone’s motives are.
    4.I can take vacation, lunch, appointments, family emergencies,etc. mostly whenever I need to.
    5.I have keys to every single room at the main locations. Keys mean power lol.
    6.I get to dress casual. No uncomfortable shoes or ridiculously expensive business suits here.
    7.I get my smile and hug quotas met on a near daily basis.
    8.I have enough silly but true stories from the job to fill a mountain of books but mostly I just recall them to myself to give me an extra burst of happiness on an icky day.
    9.It’s stable. I know it won’t be shut down tomorrow, next month, or even next year. I know I won’t get replaced by a computer or laid-off like some unfortunate others in the world.

    Reply
  5. This is hard for me, because I generally loathe my job. I took it so that I could work at a university and get free grad school, but it’s entry-level and not challenging in any way and I’m somewhat sh*t on most days. Now that I’ve finished grad school I’m eagerly looking to find a new one, but I will try to come up with 3 or more meaningful reasons to like my job. Here goes:

    1. I got free grad school. Other than the cost of books, I got a free MPA and a free graduate certificate.

    2. I work for the state. While we haven’t received raises in 3 years and will not be getting one this year either, working for the state does have perks. I get great time off, great health benefits and the job is pretty stable.

    3. Most of the people I work with are nice people. Most are friendly, two are my age and while it’s a state job, it’s also a nonprofit (we actually house a program called Nonprofit Learning Point where community members can take classes) so the people here genuinely care about other people.

    4. Considering I work at an urban university, the fact that I can park in a lot directly behind my building is a huge plus. Very very few people here can say that. Most have to park in decks and walk a few blocks. While they get a nicer experience in spring and fall, I win in winter and summer.

    5. Working at an urban university means that on days I forget my lunch or didn’t have time to pack one, I’m within walking distance of places to eat.

    6. I have a job–and one with health insurance and paid vacations/sick leave.

    Reply
    • That’s awesome that you came up with 6 things despite not even liking your job!

      I’ve noticed that “the people” is a trend among everyone’s responses. I wonder if there’s any ranking out there for companies that employ the most “good people.”

      Reply
      • I actually have an emotional intelligence research stat about that–80% of people don’t quit their jobs, they quit their bosses (according to one of the articles I read). Interesting, huh?

        Reply
        • That’s an awesome line–people quit their bosses, not their job. Bosses of the world, what do you have to say for yourselves?

          Reply

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