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At some point, most of us have to work a job that we hate. It’s just part of the deal. It has to be because paying bills is a reality and working your dream job is, well, I don’t want to say unrealistic, but often doesn’t come right away. Getting to a dream job usually means working several nightmare jobs on the way up. Add to that the fact that many people don’t know, for a long time, what they want to do for a living (that’s perfectly okay), and in the interim, they need to do something to pay the bills. It’s no wonder so many people complain about work. I’m lucky enough (so lucky!) to love what I do, but I haven’t always. And I have compassion for those working jobs they hate. I don’t judge them for complaining about it—a girl’s gotta vent! I don’t see them as people who just like to complain—they’re probably just doing what they need to do until they get to work their dream job. That being said, it can be hard to find the motivation to do a stellar job at a job you don’t like. Sure, you’ll do a good enough job such that you don’t get fired—but an outstanding job? That is something you see as more appropriate for those who love their job. If you’re not even currently working in the industry you someday hope to work in, you could really struggle to understand why you need to be a star employee. You plan on leaving this whole world behind one day. You hope to never have to see these colleagues or bosses again! But, not so fast. Life’s rarely ever that clean or simple. There are very good reasons to do an outstanding job, even at a job you hate. And you never know, maybe you’ll fall in love with your work afterall.
First, you do need a job
First off, you do need a job—any job. You need an income. And the job market is such today that there are a hundred applicants waiting in line to take your place if you leave. Your boss knows that, too. So only those who are really good at their jobs get to keep their jobs. Don’t think you get to do a mediocre job because nobody else would do a better job—they would. Somebody out there wants your job right now.
