Paying your dues, laziness, and the work-life balance...

Flambeur · Apr 1, 2009

I don't know if it's just me, but it seems like too many people (especially younger people) today have an expectation of easy work, huge rewards, comfort, etc.

You know, the typical "I am absolutely entitled to make money and have a brilliant career, but I only want to work thirty hours a week, take two months of vacation every year, and have tons of personal time to pursue my true passion of saving homosexual environmentalist hipster whales of the southern seas."

Whatever happened to hard work, ambition, understanding that you need to pay your dues, and all those other good things? Let's talk about it.

adversity04 · Apr 1, 2009

Depends on the young person I suppose. A lot of the people around me aren't looking to have huge careers, we just want to find jobs in this economy. Those who are more ambitious want to do their own startup and know the pains that that will entail. Personally I want to get involved in less technical work then what my degree states and I'm willing to put in the hours/effort to get there, but I'll be damned if i'm 45 before I can do it like at some companies.

Edit: Engineering major so we know what our dues are supposed to be. Maybe you run into this more with the Business/Law students?

dfagdfsh · Apr 1, 2009

I go to school fulltime and work two jobs.

You can give me props, I know. Its cool.

montecristo#4 · Apr 1, 2009

This is Obamanation. Community organizers become POTUS. Hard workers need not apply.

Flambeur · Apr 1, 2009

Originally Posted by adversity04

Depends on the young person I suppose. A lot of the people around me aren't looking to have huge careers, we just want to find jobs in this economy. Those who are more ambitious want to do their own startup and know the pains that that will entail. Personally I want to get involved in less technical work then what my degree states and I'm willing to put in the hours/effort to get there, but I'll be damned if i'm 45 before I can do it like at some companies.

Edit: Engineering major so we know what our dues are supposed to be. Maybe you run into this more with the Business/Law students?

I think students get caught up in expectations and rumors. They hear things about long hours in finance or accounting, hear some people bash it, and buy into it. Next thing you know, you have someone who has no chance of ever making it anyway proclaiming that they would never want a certain type of a job because it requires long hours, selling your soul to the devil, etc.

P.S. Don't get me started on the start-up bullshit. It's fine to have ambitions and all, but the whole "I have no experience, money, or contacts, but I believe that I have what it takes to start a worthy, successful business" thing is REALLY annoying and stupid. And unfortunately I know this firsthand.

zalb916 · Apr 1, 2009

Originally Posted by montecristo#4

This is Obamanation. Community organizers become POTUS. Hard workers need not apply.

I get it. Obama is not qualified to be POTUS. There is plenty of truth in that. But now he doesn't work hard?

Flambeur · Apr 1, 2009

Originally Posted by montecristo#4

This is Obamanation. Community organizers become POTUS. Hard workers need not apply.

While I am not totally clear on the details, I suspect that someone who makes it into Harvard Law and becomes a law review editor probably has SOME kind of work ethic. Just a guess though.

zalb916 · Apr 1, 2009

Originally Posted by Flambeur

While I am not totally clear on the details, I suspect that someone who makes it into Harvard Law and becomes a law review editor probably has SOME kind of work ethic. Just a guess though.

You clearly haven't paid attention around here. He only got into Harvard and became editor of law review because he's black.

Flambeur · Apr 1, 2009

Originally Posted by zbromer

You clearly haven't paid attention around here. He only got into Harvard and became editor of law review because he's black.

oh yeah sorry lolz!

but seriously this is not about the messiah.

this is about lazy entitled kids

zalb916 · Apr 1, 2009

Originally Posted by Flambeur

oh yeah sorry lolz!

but seriously this is not about the messiah.

this is about lazy entitled kids

Except that all that is wrong in the world, well, at least the country, is a direct result of Obama. Okay, I'll stop my derail. On with your thread ...

Flambeur · Apr 1, 2009

One example of the stupidity I am talking about is teaching. When you say I want to become a teacher, people rarely question you or your worth or the hours you work.

Yet I know teachers who work 60-80 hours a week, are completely miserable, and hate their work/kids/etc. I've seen more politics bullshit, unprofessionalism, backstabbing at high schools than at any company (two serious girlfriend were both HS teachers + a few friends). But it's not something people questions or discuss.

millionaire75 · Apr 1, 2009

Originally Posted by Flambeur

One example of the stupidity I am talking about is teaching. When you say I want to become a teacher, people rarely question you or your worth or the hours you work.

Yet I know teachers who work 60-80 hours a week, are completely miserable, and hate their work/kids/etc. I've seen more politics bullshit, unprofessionalism, backstabbing at high schools than at any company (two serious girlfriend were both HS teachers + a few friends). But it's not something people questions or discuss.

My wife is a teacher and her old school she worked at was just as you described. She is much happier now at her new school.

I work at one of the large investment banks and we were given a handout before the summer interns arrived saying that we need to treat them differently because this generation expects more, wants to be challenged, etc. I almost vomited on the handout.

jrsmith · Apr 1, 2009

Working in DC on the Hill does not suggest that I value "free time" or "a good salary" as highly as some of my peers. But I do see some of the what the original forum poster talked about as I wrapped up undergrad last year.

Fuuma · Apr 1, 2009

Ok, so flambeur made it to old age and gained the accompanying anger directed at young people with the usual ready-made bourgeois-value comments. Let's hope his old age is not 30 as it's sad to be nearing death so young.

Flambeur · Apr 1, 2009

Originally Posted by Fuuma

Ok, so flambeur made it to old age and gained the accompanying anger directed at young people with the usual ready-made bourgeois-value comments. Let's hope his old age is not 30 as it's sad to be nearing death so young.

Hey hey I am still young. Just wise beyond my years.

For what it's worth I enjoy living to the fullest (I know, cliche, but..) I am just a little bit more pragmatic now than I used to be.

Paying your dues, laziness, and the work-life balance...

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