As I sit here in the middle of a pandemic lock-down, like many others, I look to the horizon for more positive times. What steps will I take as I journey into a new post-quarantine world? Why am I making them? And where do I hope they will take me?
Life in actual quarantine
What I’m contemplating, to any sensible observer is objectively foolish. I’m chomping-at-the-bit to step away from a relatively lucrative and steady career, that would see me through the most significant global health and economic crisis of modern times unscathed.
Yet, I know that the status-quo will not do for me in the post-pandemic world. I’m sure that I don’t want to “bunker down” and stay in a situation I’ve trapped myself in and on a path I’m not suited. No more life in living in metaphorical quarantine!
This is an opportunity to start fresh. I also know that like the global economy, the paradigm will, and must, now change. I must strike out now in my pursuit of happiness and a life well spent.
Life in metaphorical quarantine
I’ve run just enough of a career path (just duly ticked over a decade post-graduate) to establish a few things about my (former) profession and myself. There have been a few crystal clear “aha!” moments in my career and life outside work where I’ve consciously stopped and taken note. And at times I’ve also proffered well-meant life advice to friends and loved ones on the back of this, unfortunately however, I’m a hypocrite. I haven’t taken my own advice often and earnestly enough. While I was attuned sufficiently to make the notes, I often left them in the notebook and seldom put them into actions in my own life and career.
One of the most poignant was early on in my career. I believe it was a Friday, after a tough week or three, I looked around the busy office (lovely as it was) at approximately 5 pm at my wits end. I looked at the faces of those that mentored and bossed over me. These were, frankly all men, and were guys that I either looked up to or respected, a very few both. Some were at this point in time no older than I am now, maybe some younger. They had stable careers behind them and ahead. They were doing well financially (or at least should be) and most that wanted relationships and children had them. They owned beautiful homes and drove nice cars.
But what did I see? I saw in these faces and individuals nothing I could aspire. I didn’t want to “be” any of them. They were miserable. They were overworked, stressed and looking well beyond their years. I know not all, maybe just over half, are still active in the profession. They were worn out before their years. Some experienced the business collapsing, some I know have now been through that with three different employers. I narrowly missed such an experience twice, with two former employers going bankrupt within a year of my leaving. Good people lost money with wages and other entitlements either disappearing overnight or forced to fight for a fraction of it. Some lost their residency status, more than once! You can’t get back the hours and hours filling forms or time spent on the immigration office website just trying to decipher options. Not to mention the psychological toll that experience would take.
It’s a big bad world and a business where the hard and greedy thrive. Good guys finish last.
And fortunately, or unfortunately (depending on how you choose to look at it), I never have had a ruthless, competitive streak that has really enabled me to thrive in such an environment as others have. By nature I think and try to be a good guy. I do the best that I can and assume others will too.
I have at times also been willing and able and even happy to put in the “hard yards”, doing long hours. Working 11 hour days, six days, 60 hours a week on average (plus commuting time) for a good few years. However despite what people say, it was never enough. And rarely fully appreciated or rewarded. In the industry I describe above why would it be? It’s said that loyalty and effort are rewarded, but none of the businesses demonstrated that in their deeds. Certainly not in any fair, transparent manner. Although I’m fully aware, “mates” get looked after occasionally…
And although I ultimately moved into a more professional and corporate environment than I initially was, where the rhetoric of life-balance and integrity and putting staff first is strong and well-intentioned. The actions belie the words more often than not. It’s hard to teach old dogs new tricks. And old dogs run the show.
I simply no longer have the energy to give more hours of my limited life or more significant stress. It goes unrewarded and negatively affects the physical and mental health of not just myself but those I love and want to give my full and best self.
So in summary I’m not suited nor interested in applying myself in a way that would make me really successful in the industry in the traditional sense. What does this mean? What do I want?
See Part 2 for the answers.
Sean Braid | Drink and Food Entrepreneur 