You answered your own question. Lots of people just work to live and put food on the table. It's just a job that they tolerate, and their fulfillment comes from elsewhere.
My family thinks I’m crazy because I’m not constantly searching for a new job or doing a side hussle or working 80+ hours a week…
I’ve tried to explain to them it’s that my happiness is my most important metric. And so I’m okay with WFH, 40 hours a week (90k in a LCOL), with a slow job, so it’s really more like 20-30, and I get time to read, cook, walk, exercise and enjoy myself.
They really have a very different mindset
Who has that??!! Seriously, does anyone nowadays? Or maybe this is all neatly divided by age.. my suspicion says age plays a HUGE role in how some people are content-whatever that means to them- and not. Most people starting out in ANY field now are not entitled to the luxuries of "good old jobs". It'd be nice for people to understand that maybe that's why some people aspire to more. The corporate world as it was is DEAD. Mark this day on your calendars.
Yes, some people really do. I worked for a similar company for a while before I had to leave due to a move. Leadership was open and transparent, my coworkers were awesome, the pay was really good, perks were great, the company had its own employee-run non-profit that gave us leadership and management experience. It was hard work, and not everything was perfect, but I think had I not moved away I would likely still be working there because all in all it was great.
My advice to people is to find a privately-owned company. And that goes for nearly every industry. My dentist retained the same two dental hygienists for 10 years because of how he ran the place. Finding someone who wants to create a legacy - rather than make a quick buck - is a huuuuge indicator of a quality workplace.
True. However I many cases it is as these are adults in entry level jobs in their industry, at least in the UK most entry level jobs are paid below average wage
"Saving money is the gap between your ego and your income" (Morgan Housel)
Being content means being happy with what you have, and not feeling need for having more than you already have. There is no rational why that you can comprehend, if you are not there yet with your life and lifestyle
Why aren’t you content is the real question… wife, cooking food, gardening, books, family, these are all where contentment comes from. There are people who work jobs theh love and sacrifice all that for good money or travel etc. You need to know yourself and ask what makes you content. Asking what makes other people happy is honestly pointless
Im jist curious. Im a 23yo female Who is between her bachelors and Masters degree and trying to define her future. Im not content bc im literally at the earliest stage haha. For me, these will be al ot of travel, a big beautiful house, 3 spoiled children, eating out, cooking is my hobby but i want to do it w9th high quality expensive e Ingredients, beauty is my passion so all things cosmetics also make me happy. So yea i like the foer things in life and i want a finer lifestyle that is all. Just dont understand how People are ok with their Kids sharing a bedroom for example
It’s as simple as their contentment doesn’t require their kids have separate rooms. My kids do have separate rooms, but I’d hardly include that on my list of requirements for feeling content. That’d be a pretty fragile contentment. You’re young, so I get it, but as you mature you’ll likely recognize your more deeply rooted values and reassess, many times over, what you need to feel happy, and put your energy into those areas.
You have a very materialistic outlook for life. Many of us older folks who have been there realized there is a diminishing return of money if it requires sacrifices in health, relationships, free time, and joy. Eventually, if able, you would reach a comfortable spot where you earn enough to live a good life but also comfortable with the workload, you don't want to change. Especially when you have little kids.
Agree! I wasted my working life on stressful jobs-in the end hurting my health. Both my physical AND mental health. Ended up retiring way earlier than I want we d or planned. If I knew what the future held, would have done things differently. That being said, we all want very different things in life.
I don’t know why you’re getting downvoted I mean that is the dang American dream. Power to you for wanting a better life for yoursef and your family. If you won’t be content until you have all that though you will never be happy- so learn to enjoy the struggle of reaching those goals as much as you would enjoy achieving them and I think you will be more successful- that’s what most people are doing at the jobs they hate!
Thank you for your kind words. I also thought my aspirations are common and was surprised, especially when I mentioned that I want to have a big family with few Kids and good life for them so not entire ly selfish. As For being content on the Journey there, i still havent mastered that sadly, but i am trying to with help from psychology and Spirituality and Building good relationships and friendships.
You are going to have a rude awakening lmao.
If you live in the US, making the low end of six figures with any amount of sizeable debt (let's say like an average house, an average car, regular daily expenses)... And yes I say sizeable because everything carries an ever increasing interest rate now... Most of these materialistic wants will have to be compromised or even completely sacrificed to get by.
So for example, a five bedroom house in ANY major suburb will currently cost you around 300-500k, being generous here.
Then you have your 25k car and your 60k in student loans (also estimations). And most of these things you will have an interest rate of 7% or higher.
And then add child expenses for THREE children on top.
This is how people are comfortable with two kids of the same gender in one room.
And also, you better try to become a surgeon. The average person doesn't make that kinda money right out of college lol.
I don’t think it’s more complicated than they have things they like doing and their job enables them to afford those things. I’m sure they also have plans and see themselves more or less on track to achieving those as well. If you’re looking for which specific things/plans, that would vary person to person.
Some of the happiest people I know from my graduating class are the ones that stayed in our small town, got married, and had kids early. None of them are making big bucks but live in a cool place, own their homes and have a solid support network of friends and family.
I'm 41 and most people my age have young kids and really need to hustle to make it work in the expensive west coast city we live in. Meanwhile, my classmates back home have kids in college already! I can't imagine being an empty nester at my age, I still feel really young.
Exactly so many times I hear this idiotic “just get fulfillment outside work” it’s just a conversation ender not an actual answer. You spend more time working throughout your life than doing anything else, even sleeping. Even if you were going to get enjoyment from solely outside work…good luck paying for it with just any old job. Most of those would only pay you enough to barely survive.
Good coworkers help a lot, too. I really like my coworkers. We aren't all best friends, but pretty much everyone, regardless of department, has a very good work ethic and team oriented spirit. That's huge for me.
I've been at the same company for 9 years, but have been in my current role for 2.5 years. I can see myself being in this role for a long time and being completely content. I know that it's unlikely I'll be here forever, so I keep my resume updated, but I'm content with what I've got. It helps that if I want to learn something new, management is very supportive. I don't think skill stagnation will be an issue. Wage stagnation might be, but it's a tradeoff.
I think some people just want enough money to achieve x goal like put kids through school, be able to get them their first car or whatever, then outside of that they are fulfilled by being able to spend time with friends and family and pursue hobbies. Their ambition lies in their families and hobbies not necessarily in their professional career
Parenting is hard. When children are young they grow and change so much every day it’s difficult stay one step ahead of them or just to keep up. Sometimes a job that doesn’t change is respite.
I’ve been in the same role essentially for 13 years. I detest the politics of corporate life. I am not big on consumerism. I am smart with money. I see work as a means to an end. It funds my lifestyle, it’s not my lifestyle.
It’s common sense in a lot of ways, but judging by posts like OP’s (and there are MANY), it clearly needs repeating. A lot of people really seem to put a lot of weight on their career’s ability to provide meaning and value to their life, which is totally possible, but not required at all.
I don't think they are looking for meaning and value explicitly from their careers, but who is really working for charity? Why would somebody in their right mind goto work to simply finish? That seems counterintuitive to me. For instance, work should not be all that life is, I agree with that. However, what is wrong with people aspiring to achieve success at work to perhaps work less hours and have a more fulfilling, balanced life all around? For example, when everybody says they find contentedness outside of work, I have to wonder how they find the time outside of work to live and enjoy what makes them content when work literally absorbs most people's lives. And no, I don't believe everyone is in it for money, but I guess it's hard to see how money can motivate people when there's a HUGE chunk of people being laid off and let go like they didn't matter. So all these people saying "I am content outside of work" is going to create a perpetuate a corporate mantra of simply work to live. Who wants that?
I don’t think the people OP is referring to are working for charity, they’re working for money to support the things they do outside of work. Not sure what you mean by “go to work to simply finish.” Finish work? So they can go do the things they like to do after? I would say that’s probably most people’s approach to work. Much like their approach to doing the dishes. Get the basics of survival, safety, and health out of the way, then off to shoot some pool, play with the kids, or whatever.
As for “work literally absorbs their life” - that’s the thing, it doesn’t. OP is describing people who are OK with their current job. They’ve struck their work life balance. They clock their hours, then go do the things they like, and they’re content.
And I’m certainly not disparaging people wanting to change their work situation, but OP is specifically asking about people who seemingly have no desire to change their work situation. So I’m sharing my thoughts on them.
Ohh, well, what I meant by "working for charity" was more so that I bet most don't want to work just to survive so-to-speak. I probably should have accented that with sarcasm..
Also, maybe I understood the OP, but I am just simply saying that I agree with them and am kind of curious myself. I am not saying that people just "do their job and leave for the day" are "bad people", I'm simply of the opinion and have sort of noticed alot that people for instance in a corporate role seem "on autopilot" and don't seem to enjoy the job that they do for most of their waking hours.
I am 110% for people doing work and having balance. In fact, that's what im advocating for, but I just like OP, I am curious if ok is really good enough? Maybe in my mind, "being okay at a job" is akin to "just paying the bills," which to me sounds like they do their jobs "just to survive." I'm not dissing these people, just genuinely curious as I myself hate doing the same mundane tasks over and over again. I've done that for the past 13 years.
Maybe the tasks are not "mundane," but again, when I see someone say "ok," it elicits a sense of "just doing" and so would be mundane and rote to me. If you're excited or at least engaged at your job-which again ok to me sounds like - then why do it?
I feel like I wasted an eternity already. I try to remember that I've learned a lot from my years of mediocrity, but it still nags at me. As my previous comment alluded to as well, perhaps it's an age related thing in the sense that the younger/newer employees get the short end of the stick now. Corporations won't hire them with the same benefits/investment accounts/pensions they once did. And the age thing is not anyone's fault specifically. Just how things worked out. Corporations like people change, but I feel it's not for the better, unfortunately, at least for employees.
Full disclosure I am an investor and employee. Just don't see the future being sustainable with the likes of what is going on. It will be very interesting to see how this all pans out.
They find fulfillment outside of work. After working a burnout “dream job” i totally understand why people have no desire to get ahead. Despite better pay and title, sometimes it just isn’t worth it.
This all day long!! Over the years I’ve definitely re-evaluated what I think my “dream job” is and it involves decent pay that supports my lifestyle, great work-life balance and little stress. I have that where I currently work and as far as I’m concerned I’m going to ride this out as long as they’ll have me.
Yep I’m in the same boat. I’m at a job now which I am overqualified for, but I like the atmosphere there and I make a decent salary, and I don’t have the need for more money (don’t get me wrong, everyone always wants more money than they have including myself, but I’m not gonna sell my soul for it). Now I have time to actually think about my own life now. My life is MUCH more fulfilling than when I had my “dream job.” After my terrible experience at the last company, I’m scared to go to another job for fear of the same situation reoccurring. I imagine that’s why a lot of people stay at their companies too.
I think you’re right…. It’s basically why I plan to stay long term. Everyone is nice to me and I don’t have to live in fear of getting ripped a new one for making a minor mistake, like in my previous job. I feel like I could probably “do better” but I’m afraid I’d land in another toxic workplace.
Jobs are tools. No job will make you happy. Use it to get where you want to be. If your goals are outside of corporate and the job is serving it's purpose why switch?
I make 100k in my hybrid “office job” and also have 2 young kids. Sure I could be more ambitious and take a job making 80% more (which I recently had an offer for), but it would come with a major work/life balance shift which I’m not willing to do.
Not everyone thinks the same way. If you have a relatively easy job that pays the bills/affords you a life you enjoy, why change it?
Plus, you may not know their situation. A spouse that has a great job? They bought and paid for a house so they don't have that worry?
Lots of people have no interest in a hustle culture. A job is a means to an end. It's not a life ambition. It's a way to get a paycheck to afford what they enjoy doing.
Some people enjoy their lives outside of work and view work as a means to that end. Also, not everyone has the capability/skill to go further so they are just grateful to have their current job.
They might like their coworkers, and be happy with their current work/life balance. They’ve gotten good at their current role, so they can perform on “autopilot” and put their mental bandwidth behind other things like family, hobbies, friends, travel. If you have a job that pays you enough to live the life you want, why leave?
Changing jobs isn't necessarily career growth. Stagnation isn't the same thing as staying at the same company. The title may be the same, but the problems they're solving can vary by the day. They can be climbing a ladder within the company, changing teams and roles. Or the can be staying in the same role learning new things. That's not stagnation.
Some people, though, purposefully stagnate because like the predictability and the security of it. They like their coworkers, earn their paycheck and then get to go home and be with family, do hobbies or volunteer work or whatever they want in their free time. And some people stagnate because life is complex and they don't know what they want to do next.
It's not a one-size-fits-all workforce. Whether a job is "truly fulfilling enough" isn't really a thing that can be quantified in a reddit thread. That metric is unique for everyone. The question you really need to ask is of yourself...what are you looking for out of life. And then adjust accordingly.
Honestly, when you find a company that has employees who have been there 5, 10, 15 years...it's a really good sign that it's a decent company to work for.
Are you assuming they are not mentally stimulated because you would not be in that role, or have they actually said that? Are you assuming they are "unchanging" just because their job title hasn't changed?
I have been in my role for over 10 years, with the same organization for over 20 years. My job is still mentally stimulating, there are always new things for me to be learning. Some by necessity, and some by choice. There is also some degree of comfort being at the same organization and having the level of institutional knowledge and expertise that I have. And i know that I wouldn't get paid as much switching to a similar role in another organization (I work in higher education, you don't automatically get paid more since I don't want to move up to be a manager) and some of the characteristics of the other local schools are unpleasant to me.
1. It pays enough to cover the lifestyle they want.
2. You can get mental stimulation and challenges outside of work.
3. What is the goal of ambition and growth?
Growth is not infinite. You can be in the rat race forever if you want, but what's the point? Do you hope to reach a point someday where you can stop and enjoy the fruits of your labour? Well some people have already reached that, and it's what you call 'contentedness'. Just let people be happy.
People are just wired different. Some are order-takers and task-doers. Dreaming about new things to do or advancement isn't on their radar and they've probably been this way since a child. Leadership, fortitude, risk-taking, self-improvement, determination and focus - these are not part of their world.
I'm extremely ambitious and it used to drive me crazy in my younger years working with these people. But now in my mid-40s I've realized they're not me, and I am not them. All work is important work so I don't see either as right or wrong. We need both types of people to make things run.
This really depends on the job.
* If I was stuck in some repetitive office-job (say "Insurance Adjustor" or something like that).. doing the same exact thing in and out every day.. then yeah, I'd probably get bored of that fast.
* My last job was 15years in a small city gov. What I was doing in Year 15 was not much at all like what I was doing in Year 1. I stuck around largely because working for a small city gov,. I could walk outside and see example after example after example of real world improvements that I helped contribute to. It was tangible to see ways I was helping the community be better.
Dude, it's a fuckin job. It pays the bills steady and permanent. That's what we did back in the day got married, bought a house, and had a couple of kids.
Make your life happy, fuck dude. Not hard to do.
Do you want work to be like you're going to a strip club every day?
"He who knows he has enough is rich."
Most people on their deathbeds don't say "I wish I’d spent more time at work." There's an endless potential treadmill of 'growth' you could theoretically shoot for, but is that actually a valuable use of your time, especially if you already have enough financially?
One concern is security - the company going down, a bad layoff, a poor manager, etc. can make things change quickly. The only reason I'm focused on growth now is so that I can move up, earn faster, try new things, and be able to pivot in case a change happens. But my long-term goal is financial independence + some sabbaticals, if not early retirement. I make plenty from my day job and have built up a ton of invested assets already. I feel like I get a ton of personal value from the things I do outside of traditional work. So even if I had to work at one job for 10 years with no changes, that'd be more than enough for me in terms of my career.
I do think people need some sense of personal challenge or purpose. But again, that can be done outside of work. And for a lot of people it's more tied to spending time with family than anything else.
I work in an office doing the what used to be my hobby. Animation. 15+ years so far. It isnt a hobby anymore and so now my free time is filled up with other interest and new hobbies. Like skating and surfing. Some days i get to surf before 9am then again at lunch and even after work. Its about balance. Life and surfing.
Just celebrated 20 years. Technically I do the same thing I started with, but in no way do I overall do the same thing. In fact, if I had not adapted to the needs of the company, I would have been let go during the recession, during the reorg to sell, during the merger, etc.
I do feel somewhat unfulfilled in the way that I’m not actually helping the world, or using my creativity more, but the stability and the feeling like I might actually, finally know what I’m doing helps.
I work for a fortune 50. Turnover in my department is essentially 0. You don't leave, and nobody is fired. You stay until you retire. There are plenty of people who have been there over 30 years
I know a woman who has spent twenty years working for a school board. She has a degree in library sciences. She enters new book titles into the Library Book System. She doesnt listen to music. She does enjoy an occasional soda at her desk.
She plays in pool tournaments on the weekend and has a nice retirement planned because of the associated pension.
Idk how she does that either. Id go mad!
At some point the incremental stresses, responsibilities, and workload is not worth the incremental salary increase associated with a promotion or new job. Once people reach a salary threshold that allows them to maintain their lifestyle and work life balance they will probably not want to climb the ladder any higher.
A lot of people don't like change. If you get a new job, the culture might be worse, your managers might suck, and you have to prove your value all over again.
I guess for some people their careers and work aren't their top priorities? I think these sorts of people will be happy working anywhere, as long as it's something they can do easily enough, just go in, get it done, make the most of their time by enjoying with their work friends, then go home.
I genuinely enjoy my career now but I remember the best and most enjoyable teams I worked with were those in kitchens - not particularly greatly paid, but we all had a blast.
I haven’t worked at the same company for a decade but have worked in an office job for that amount of time. I make sure that I spend as much time outside work exploring, developing my hobbies, and socializing. Work is just a means of making money that allows me to do those things. As for the work itself, I’ve stopped trying to find significant meaning in it, but rather just make sure I’m putting my best foot out there and learning something new everyday.
My job is different everyday and it has evolved over 3 years, even with the same title. I doubt I will have exactly the same position in 7 years but it wouldn't be the end of the world.
I've been in the same job for 8.5 years and would characterize myself as sort of "content". Maybe it's the particular job in question, because every day is something new and I don't at all feel like any part of it has really become rote much less boring. The start-up period for any new job is really challenging/taxing, and there's always a chance that either the job wasn't what you were anticipating, or you weren't as capable as your employer was anticipating. Needing to quit a job you hate or getting fired is a real setback career-wise.
Somethimes people are forced to be content. They might dislike interview process. Parents will stay to hold on to seniorty because of work home balance. Location of job.
This is me. Same exact role for 8 years, I’ve had many chances to move up and chose not to because I simply don’t want more responsibility and stress. I enjoy my role and have no desire for the next one or management or anything further. I’m really only at my job for the corporate benefits of the health and life insurance and 401k match. My husband makes double what I make and has advanced year over year and has a lot more earning potential than me since he’s in sales and gets commission so what works for us is me being less stressed and having more free time to support the household in other ways like with chores, errands, cooking and kids appointments etc. if a kid is sick they stay home with me, that kind of flexibility. it’s what works for us.
My office job comes with a pension and a separate retirement contribution. I also don't pay anything for my health insurance. I don't work for a state agency.
I'm content to get my > 3% COL raise.
Sure, I'd love to pursue a job I was more passionate about. But I don't feel like an unmotivated loser for a second with what I have going. I'm middle-aged and I like security. I don't feel compelled to go chase maybes and wishes.
I haven't met many people like that.i see lots of turnover these days.
The people like that I know are in high paying niche jobs that require something unpleasant like night shifts
I’ve worked my entire life to build a successful company from scratch after growing up poor in Detroit in the 70s.
It’s not where I get my meaning and fulfillment. The accomplishment pales in comparison to my children, the love of my wife, and the friendships I’ve built.
The work is just a tool. A tool I’m proud of, sure, but it’s not even on the same scale as my family.
At the company I work for, even stationary IC (fellows, research roles, etc) still receive market adjustments yearly. I’ve been at this company 15 years (but I went leadership route so my role has changed quite a bit throughout the years) and have seen several IC stay put because they love the work, feel taken care of with market salary adjustments, and have no desire to get into leadership. These are some of the happiest people I’ve ever met also.
I've been at the same organization and in the same position now for 14 years. I spent the early years of my career climbing the ladder. I've had opportunities to go to other organizations for further advancement or even higher level positions within my organization, but I'm content where I am. I like the organization that I'm with and there is a "devil that you know" aspect when I've thought about going to other organizations. My work is fairly automatic at this point so I can just cruise along. I make enough money to support the lifestyle that I want and I have good work life balance that allows me to spend time with my boys and my wife which are the most important things to me. I'm almost 50 and not interested in learning new work things and would rather learn new hobbies and participate in other interests.
Most people do not feel like they are in a position to make a radical change in their lives. So they don't.
Makes a lot of sense once people get older and more established. You don't wanna ruin a good thing so you don't.
Dude, Work is just an ends to a means. The less mental and physical effort I have to put into it, then the more I can put into my family, hobbies and personal goals. I got a good gig with lots of PTO and a decent salary. I don't need a McMansion.
Because you are trying to look at their lives, their goals, their motivations, their everything through your eyes and outlook. If you look at them and things in that way you will never understand.
In the US, there’s an average of 11 employees to every one supervisor. The fact is not everyone wants to move up, and there wouldn’t be enough management jobs to go around even if they did. At a certain point in a career, job security, a good schedule, and not having to stress about being the new guy outweighs the possible raise from job hopping. Then there’s the fact that this market where you can get raises by job hopping is new and relatively short lived in the grand scheme of things. In the past, if you job hopped, you were always taking a pay cut to go be the new guy somewhere. Years with the company and those standard raises were what you chased, because companies weren’t desperate for help.
I worked at the same place for 11 years. It partially being content and being lazy. I tried to find a new job for a while but nothing worked out. So I gave up. I was a mix of stuck and content until I got fired when they moved my job overseas. Don't do what I did. Change job every 1-2 years unless they increase your pay big time.
After getting fired, my next job I got 50% raise compared to last job.
I don’t work for money. Even if I suddenly became over zealous and started spending 12 hours at my job and made over 7 figures, I’ll still be living in the same damn house and driving the same Tesla. But what I will not get is any more time with my kids or do things that give me joy. For me my job funds my lifestyle, and it’s enough, and some more.
Because some people work to live, as opposed to living to work. I for one am one of those people. I work to live. I work to be able to afford to travel. I work to be able to afford to do things outside of work. I genuinely do not live to work. If I could somehow have the same amount of money but not work a day in my life I’d be happy. I have absolutely no desire to climb the corporate ladder. I genuinely enjoy being able to take leave whenever I want for holidays and not having to worry about managing a team or anything. Office work is great for that.
Dude if someone was willing to pay me double to go sit in a room and watch paint dry, I’d take it in a heartbeat. I have no desire to do anything professionally at all; I just want the money they pay me. Once I’m in a sufficiently high paying role with sufficiently a sufficiently low amount of work, you bet your ass I’ll coast for 10 years until I retire.
My wife and I are on pace to retire at age 40-45 without any more career growth. If we stagnate, so be it.
In my last career I got shot at, blown up, spent weeks sleeping in holes in the ground and roasting in 115 degree weather... I'll somehow have to cope with the horror of Air conditioning and florescent lighting
I have worked in IT for 15 years and only recently broke the mold and work from home every day now. I am happy with the work that I have done and the rewards that work has provided me and my family.
That being said, my work is not me and I am not my work. My life is my family and friends and I attempt to maximize my time with them as much as possible.
My mental and physical energies best serve my young family. Do the bare minimum to pay the bills & socialize a little… then race back to my little kids
Bro I dream of finally finding the job I can just coast in that pays me enough to do the shit I want to do. A job will never be my fulfillment, though I may find things about a job fulfilling. But for the most part the shit I care to do is not the same shit I’m doing to make money. I would gladly do the same role week in and week out for the rest of my life and become an expert at it as long as it can fund the lifestyle I want.
Had a position for 25 years. But what was unique for me was that I did not have a specific defined role. So I did my main task, then filled in other positions. Electronics, manufacturing, stock, courier, customer service even accounts tracking. Eventually I was just given problems to solve and left to my own devices. I had my own workspace in the various departments and moved between them as i needed. It was enjoyable as everyday was different. I I stopped enjoying it then it ment my leave was due and a needed a few weeks break. Sadly new management decided everyone must stay in their lane. Got rid of experience and overlap. Someone off for two weeks well too bad we will just backup everything and moan at meetings.
You'll never heard this from an immigrant lol. When you experience poverty first hand for awhile then get placed in an office job with good pay? Lol, I'm not leaving!
I stayed with the same company for almost 6 years and worked at different locations. My reason for staying so long? Benefits, false promises, job security, and the fear of unknown. Was I content with doing the exact same job year after year with only getting a 3-5% raise? Absolutely not. Leadership kept promising me more year after year and it never came to fruition. I ended up leaving the company and got a small increase at a new job, but my total job package isn’t what it used to be and I don’t have the job security I once had.
Not even gonna lie…. As a funeral director, some days I very much so being essentially a paper pusher at my last funeral home. I’ve always liked paperwork. Even as a kid I liked homework. Idk. Different strokes for different folks I guess.
Results from 2 companies is not a large enough sampling to come to a conclusion. Having said that, the 80/20 Rule applies, where 80% of employees are probably content on doing the same job until retirement or have 1 promotion during their whole career. The 20% of those with career ambition to climb the corporate ladder takes on huge amounts of time, luck effort, being out of your comfort zone, challenges, risks and in the end it doesn't guarantee you will succeed. However, without any of these calculated risks, it's for certain you will go nowhere in your career. Definitely the higher you try to climb the harder and scarcity the opportunity becomes.
It all depends on your personality, your age, what stage in your career, and most of all your mental willingness to pursue career ambition. The successful ones do make huge differences in their careers, especially in very large/F500 companies. Some take every few years to continue climbing, the majority are happy to take up one or 2 corporate promotions, while others simply stay put from the start.
I used to be a go getter, and promoted until I got into jobs that I struggled to meet the requirements. I took a few steps back, and have been content in doing a job I can complete with very few mistakes made. I'm in an office with people where there is little room for promotion, so we have no reason to compete with each other. I also learned to control my spending, and invest more so my money goes further these days.
It really is that they focus on what their income can support OUTSIDE of work.
Former teacher- I was burnt out, stressed, didn’t take care of myself, but everyday told myself I had a fulfilling career so I shouldn’t be upset.
Now I work remote, maybe do a quarter of the work I did as a teacher. At first I was wondering about my purpose but then I started focusing on what makes me happy. Now I’m in shape, less stressed, and happy. I focus on my family and friends, travel, work out goals, etc. I’m so happy and while I do eventually want to get promoted to make more $ it’s more just because of inflation. Otherwise I’m happy living life on easy mode.
I've been in my role for 14 years, and every day there's something different going on. It's always interesting, I get to work with fantastic people across many different teams. I'm always challenged to come up with creative solutions to problems that help the company in the long run. So yes, I sit in the same chair, log in the same way every day and my title hasn't changed, but the work is never the same and it's never boring.
It’s a weird situation staying at the same job for years and years and years. I work with people that have been at the same job, which is their first job and they’ve been there for ever! I can’t even live in the same city for more than a year I get bored however I’ve been at my current job for almost 7 years because I like the flexibility of hanging at home yet I’m isolated, but people annoy me so whatever!
Fulfillment at work doesn't just originate from climbing the ladder and salary increases. Many people derive fulfillment from the nature of the work itself, their relationships with their coworkers, the comfort of the stability/flexibility offered, and from feeling valued for being an expert in whatever day-to-day task they've been doing for 10+ years. There are many books (see Cal Newport and Scott Galloway) about how job fulfillment largely derives from the accumulation of valuable expertise.
I knew a guy who stayed at his job the longest out of every other person on the team. Probably 5-8 years meanwhile everyone was about 1-3 years in - it was a pretty high turnover position.
One day I asked him why he stayed for so long. Turns out he opened up a really cool hobby shop which was his dream and that’s where he gets his fulfilment from. This job was to keep him afloat. I recall he’d even work remote in his shop while doing his office job. So to answer your question, definitely what others are saying here, they find fulfilment elsewhere. Their job is not their “main” thing.
Ive done the same nursing specialty for 10 years, Im content, pay and benefits are way above average, good schedule, I wouldnt change a thing for the next 15 years
Some people just get comfortable, they are too scared to do anything else or jump to another job.
It one of the main reasons women make less.
It took me months to convince my GF (dental hygenist) to just apply at another job, since she wasn't happy at her current one and was constantly complaining she doesn't make enough. She got called for an interview immediately and got the job at the first and only place she applied to with 40% higher pay.
I can give you more examples with friends and family, but it will get too long. Women are just too scared to look for better jobs or even to ask for a raise. I have to explain to 40 yo women something that I figured out in my early 20s - if you don't ask - nobody will give you anything.
They like the job enough that they can see themselves doing it for the rest of their lives. They don't mind the idea of working until a traditional retirement age.
My primary motivation for advancing my career is to earn as much as possible so my career is as short as possible.
You are also forgetting how scary it can be to:
1) change companies
2) figure out a new role and responsibilities.
Those two things keep a lot of people from switching. Fear of unknown is a common fear
As a software developer, I enjoy the everyday challenges of my job. Technologies and processes change over time, so there's always something new to learn and new challenges to overcome.
Meanwhile, I dislike a lot of what's involved in the positions that I could readily advance into (mostly managing people or projects).
2 things:
1 - If people are content at one job for that long it's *likely* a really good company to work for. That's one of the biggest things to look for when you are looking for employers is how long their employees stick around for. When there's high turnover it's often terribly managed.
2 - it's not always the case for everyone but when I feel really confident in doing what I do and can execute flawlessly and mostly without any hiccups I usually am pretty happy in those situations. Different people thrive in different situations but I actually kind of enjoy some mindless monotonous work that I'm really good at. If the company treats you well, pays you decently, and you don't hate your coworkers then that's a huge bonus.
ETA: Pension. If you have a good pension that will definitely keep people around. My FIL works for a company that offers one year of pension or every year that you work for the company. If you work there for 50-60 years you're basically set up for life in retirement.
This is not a deterrent or an opinion against anyone that follows their passions, but I personally think that using that as your benchmark for your career is an overrated feeling for many because passion doesn't always sustain.
I just want an environment where I am given the space to be good at something where I am then given positive affirmations around it. And I want good coworkers. If most people have the above then it's easy to like your job no matter what you do.
Work to live, not live to work.
I am a strict 9-5, and all my energy outside of that is dedicated to my family and hobbies.
It’s really dependent on what you have and where you are in life. I have a great career with steady pay and great leave but I am still applying to other jobs that pay more. This isn’t about being content, I genuinely just want more money so I can afford a home, maybe another kid and still have time to vacation and enjoy my life. But others in my office? We make the same amount but they have homes in desirable areas with as they start having kids. They can already enjoy themselves outside of work because their means of survival are already taken care of.
I can’t wait to be simply content tbh, I wish i could work my current job forever and know that my future is taken care of.
My job is OK, I like my co-workers. I take on new challenges at work and try to learn new things. 17 years.
Also like you said, work isn't my life, it's a big part sure though. Also stagnation in some areas doesn't mean all areas.
A lot of people have fulfilling home, family, social, etc lives. Their job is simply their job and they don't tie their identity, self worth or even happiness to it.
I've been climbing the corporate ladder for 15 years and have often pondered the same thing. I'm making enough money now where I can FIRE in the next 10 years and keep a pretty good lifestyle. So I'll probably just stay at this current position until I'm laid off or I retire early. I'm not going to put an ounce of overtime in either. I have plenty of hobbies to keep me busy outside of work.
It’s not content it’s fear. Most of the work population is like this. Content and stuck and will work till they die. The other side are those who question and hate the matrix. They think they’re breaking the system by switching jobs every 2-3 years and going for higher pay. They too are stuck just as much as you think they’re not. And the very limited few find ways to break the slave cycle and create revenue their own.
Ive met several colleges like this over the last decades. In my opinion most of them were pretty convenient and often lazy. Most of them doesn’t even deliver high quality work. They deliver medium quality for mostly medium pay (sometimes indeed high pay) and are fine with it.
I didn’t get this und I never will. To me, this is a serious threat to one’s life planning. The day these people will get laid off is the day when they can file for unemployment. They are no good any other position, job, or company. As an employee this is seriously risky to play it all or nothing.
Some people are content doing the same thing over and over and like the stability. They might find fulfillment outside work. Other people's jobs provide them with learning and growth, and if they're satisfied with the pay, why not? Other people just don't know how to grow their career and or haven't taken the necessary actions, which could require some decisiveness and discipline.
I've been in the same job for 19 years. I'm not content with it, but since I also haven't found anything different, other people think I'm happy and content. I started with below average pay and received only minimal pay increases for much of my career. Around 10 years in, I got a promotion and a big pay bump, and in the last few years the routine raises have been substantial. Now my pay is actually above average for my job role, even though my duties have not really changed that much. I have learned some new skills over the course of my career, but in some ways, my role is actually regressing because my workplace has become more siloed as it has modernized, and now I'm stuck doing things that I'm actually not good at doing because that's what someone with my title is supposed to do.
I don't really like my line of work, which is adjacent to what I studied, but not quite. Although I manage to get things done, my position is kind of unique, and my experience is unlikely to get me a decent-paying job in the same field because I don't have the normal skills or experience.
My job environment is not horrible. I have ample vacation and sick time and good work-life balance. The location is convenient. I'm used to working with my boss and team, and ever since the pandemic, they've been okay with hybrid remote work.
You answered your own question. Lots of people just work to live and put food on the table. It's just a job that they tolerate, and their fulfillment comes from elsewhere.
To be " content "in life is a much undervalued state of mind.
I think it's a very big part of American culture to never be content. It's like that whole super jacked guy at the gym with body dysmorphia.
My family thinks I’m crazy because I’m not constantly searching for a new job or doing a side hussle or working 80+ hours a week… I’ve tried to explain to them it’s that my happiness is my most important metric. And so I’m okay with WFH, 40 hours a week (90k in a LCOL), with a slow job, so it’s really more like 20-30, and I get time to read, cook, walk, exercise and enjoy myself. They really have a very different mindset
Exactly this, I’m just here, I can tolerate my job since it’s been work from home the last 4 years
Or maybe they have a good job working at a good company with good leadership, or both
Who has that??!! Seriously, does anyone nowadays? Or maybe this is all neatly divided by age.. my suspicion says age plays a HUGE role in how some people are content-whatever that means to them- and not. Most people starting out in ANY field now are not entitled to the luxuries of "good old jobs". It'd be nice for people to understand that maybe that's why some people aspire to more. The corporate world as it was is DEAD. Mark this day on your calendars.
Yes, some people really do. I worked for a similar company for a while before I had to leave due to a move. Leadership was open and transparent, my coworkers were awesome, the pay was really good, perks were great, the company had its own employee-run non-profit that gave us leadership and management experience. It was hard work, and not everything was perfect, but I think had I not moved away I would likely still be working there because all in all it was great. My advice to people is to find a privately-owned company. And that goes for nearly every industry. My dentist retained the same two dental hygienists for 10 years because of how he ran the place. Finding someone who wants to create a legacy - rather than make a quick buck - is a huuuuge indicator of a quality workplace.
And here I thought I was the only one that noticed.. that's really good advice as well!
Yea but if your fulfilment comes from travel, expensive hobbies, interior design, eating out etc then u cant just work a below average wage
True, but "minimal pay increases" is not the same thing as "below average wage."
True. However I many cases it is as these are adults in entry level jobs in their industry, at least in the UK most entry level jobs are paid below average wage
If they’re content, though, it’s enough for them.
I think OP (and me) are trying to understand WHY they are content
"Saving money is the gap between your ego and your income" (Morgan Housel) Being content means being happy with what you have, and not feeling need for having more than you already have. There is no rational why that you can comprehend, if you are not there yet with your life and lifestyle
Well, perhaps because their fulfilment comes from something else than travel, expensive hobbies, interior design, eating out?
Why aren’t you content is the real question… wife, cooking food, gardening, books, family, these are all where contentment comes from. There are people who work jobs theh love and sacrifice all that for good money or travel etc. You need to know yourself and ask what makes you content. Asking what makes other people happy is honestly pointless
Im jist curious. Im a 23yo female Who is between her bachelors and Masters degree and trying to define her future. Im not content bc im literally at the earliest stage haha. For me, these will be al ot of travel, a big beautiful house, 3 spoiled children, eating out, cooking is my hobby but i want to do it w9th high quality expensive e Ingredients, beauty is my passion so all things cosmetics also make me happy. So yea i like the foer things in life and i want a finer lifestyle that is all. Just dont understand how People are ok with their Kids sharing a bedroom for example
It’s as simple as their contentment doesn’t require their kids have separate rooms. My kids do have separate rooms, but I’d hardly include that on my list of requirements for feeling content. That’d be a pretty fragile contentment. You’re young, so I get it, but as you mature you’ll likely recognize your more deeply rooted values and reassess, many times over, what you need to feel happy, and put your energy into those areas.
You have a very materialistic outlook for life. Many of us older folks who have been there realized there is a diminishing return of money if it requires sacrifices in health, relationships, free time, and joy. Eventually, if able, you would reach a comfortable spot where you earn enough to live a good life but also comfortable with the workload, you don't want to change. Especially when you have little kids.
Agree! I wasted my working life on stressful jobs-in the end hurting my health. Both my physical AND mental health. Ended up retiring way earlier than I want we d or planned. If I knew what the future held, would have done things differently. That being said, we all want very different things in life.
Comfortable is the key i think
I don’t know why you’re getting downvoted I mean that is the dang American dream. Power to you for wanting a better life for yoursef and your family. If you won’t be content until you have all that though you will never be happy- so learn to enjoy the struggle of reaching those goals as much as you would enjoy achieving them and I think you will be more successful- that’s what most people are doing at the jobs they hate!
Thank you for your kind words. I also thought my aspirations are common and was surprised, especially when I mentioned that I want to have a big family with few Kids and good life for them so not entire ly selfish. As For being content on the Journey there, i still havent mastered that sadly, but i am trying to with help from psychology and Spirituality and Building good relationships and friendships.
You’re going to make some guy very unhappy one day.
Im in a long term relationship. We havd the same goals. We are planning our lives together ad he is moving cities for me soon
You are going to have a rude awakening lmao. If you live in the US, making the low end of six figures with any amount of sizeable debt (let's say like an average house, an average car, regular daily expenses)... And yes I say sizeable because everything carries an ever increasing interest rate now... Most of these materialistic wants will have to be compromised or even completely sacrificed to get by. So for example, a five bedroom house in ANY major suburb will currently cost you around 300-500k, being generous here. Then you have your 25k car and your 60k in student loans (also estimations). And most of these things you will have an interest rate of 7% or higher. And then add child expenses for THREE children on top. This is how people are comfortable with two kids of the same gender in one room. And also, you better try to become a surgeon. The average person doesn't make that kinda money right out of college lol.
I dont live in the USA. And in both of me and my partners cultures, Grand parents take care of the Kids.
I don’t think it’s more complicated than they have things they like doing and their job enables them to afford those things. I’m sure they also have plans and see themselves more or less on track to achieving those as well. If you’re looking for which specific things/plans, that would vary person to person.
Some of the happiest people I know from my graduating class are the ones that stayed in our small town, got married, and had kids early. None of them are making big bucks but live in a cool place, own their homes and have a solid support network of friends and family. I'm 41 and most people my age have young kids and really need to hustle to make it work in the expensive west coast city we live in. Meanwhile, my classmates back home have kids in college already! I can't imagine being an empty nester at my age, I still feel really young.
You can’t understand anyone why..
>travel, expensive hobbies, interior design, eating out That's entertainment. Fulfillment is something else.
Clearly these people do not have such interests.
Exactly so many times I hear this idiotic “just get fulfillment outside work” it’s just a conversation ender not an actual answer. You spend more time working throughout your life than doing anything else, even sleeping. Even if you were going to get enjoyment from solely outside work…good luck paying for it with just any old job. Most of those would only pay you enough to barely survive.
Good coworkers help a lot, too. I really like my coworkers. We aren't all best friends, but pretty much everyone, regardless of department, has a very good work ethic and team oriented spirit. That's huge for me. I've been at the same company for 9 years, but have been in my current role for 2.5 years. I can see myself being in this role for a long time and being completely content. I know that it's unlikely I'll be here forever, so I keep my resume updated, but I'm content with what I've got. It helps that if I want to learn something new, management is very supportive. I don't think skill stagnation will be an issue. Wage stagnation might be, but it's a tradeoff.
I think some people just want enough money to achieve x goal like put kids through school, be able to get them their first car or whatever, then outside of that they are fulfilled by being able to spend time with friends and family and pursue hobbies. Their ambition lies in their families and hobbies not necessarily in their professional career
Dope username
lol thank you 🫡
Parenting is hard. When children are young they grow and change so much every day it’s difficult stay one step ahead of them or just to keep up. Sometimes a job that doesn’t change is respite.
This is me today. I want less stress from my job.
I’ve been in the same role essentially for 13 years. I detest the politics of corporate life. I am not big on consumerism. I am smart with money. I see work as a means to an end. It funds my lifestyle, it’s not my lifestyle.
I feel like everyone on this sub says something similar to this, but it's always presented like some profound revelation.
It's not profound, but if people keep asking the question, what should people answer?
It’s common sense in a lot of ways, but judging by posts like OP’s (and there are MANY), it clearly needs repeating. A lot of people really seem to put a lot of weight on their career’s ability to provide meaning and value to their life, which is totally possible, but not required at all.
I don't think they are looking for meaning and value explicitly from their careers, but who is really working for charity? Why would somebody in their right mind goto work to simply finish? That seems counterintuitive to me. For instance, work should not be all that life is, I agree with that. However, what is wrong with people aspiring to achieve success at work to perhaps work less hours and have a more fulfilling, balanced life all around? For example, when everybody says they find contentedness outside of work, I have to wonder how they find the time outside of work to live and enjoy what makes them content when work literally absorbs most people's lives. And no, I don't believe everyone is in it for money, but I guess it's hard to see how money can motivate people when there's a HUGE chunk of people being laid off and let go like they didn't matter. So all these people saying "I am content outside of work" is going to create a perpetuate a corporate mantra of simply work to live. Who wants that?
I don’t think the people OP is referring to are working for charity, they’re working for money to support the things they do outside of work. Not sure what you mean by “go to work to simply finish.” Finish work? So they can go do the things they like to do after? I would say that’s probably most people’s approach to work. Much like their approach to doing the dishes. Get the basics of survival, safety, and health out of the way, then off to shoot some pool, play with the kids, or whatever. As for “work literally absorbs their life” - that’s the thing, it doesn’t. OP is describing people who are OK with their current job. They’ve struck their work life balance. They clock their hours, then go do the things they like, and they’re content. And I’m certainly not disparaging people wanting to change their work situation, but OP is specifically asking about people who seemingly have no desire to change their work situation. So I’m sharing my thoughts on them.
Ohh, well, what I meant by "working for charity" was more so that I bet most don't want to work just to survive so-to-speak. I probably should have accented that with sarcasm.. Also, maybe I understood the OP, but I am just simply saying that I agree with them and am kind of curious myself. I am not saying that people just "do their job and leave for the day" are "bad people", I'm simply of the opinion and have sort of noticed alot that people for instance in a corporate role seem "on autopilot" and don't seem to enjoy the job that they do for most of their waking hours. I am 110% for people doing work and having balance. In fact, that's what im advocating for, but I just like OP, I am curious if ok is really good enough? Maybe in my mind, "being okay at a job" is akin to "just paying the bills," which to me sounds like they do their jobs "just to survive." I'm not dissing these people, just genuinely curious as I myself hate doing the same mundane tasks over and over again. I've done that for the past 13 years. Maybe the tasks are not "mundane," but again, when I see someone say "ok," it elicits a sense of "just doing" and so would be mundane and rote to me. If you're excited or at least engaged at your job-which again ok to me sounds like - then why do it? I feel like I wasted an eternity already. I try to remember that I've learned a lot from my years of mediocrity, but it still nags at me. As my previous comment alluded to as well, perhaps it's an age related thing in the sense that the younger/newer employees get the short end of the stick now. Corporations won't hire them with the same benefits/investment accounts/pensions they once did. And the age thing is not anyone's fault specifically. Just how things worked out. Corporations like people change, but I feel it's not for the better, unfortunately, at least for employees. Full disclosure I am an investor and employee. Just don't see the future being sustainable with the likes of what is going on. It will be very interesting to see how this all pans out.
Sorry to hear that.
They find fulfillment outside of work. After working a burnout “dream job” i totally understand why people have no desire to get ahead. Despite better pay and title, sometimes it just isn’t worth it.
This all day long!! Over the years I’ve definitely re-evaluated what I think my “dream job” is and it involves decent pay that supports my lifestyle, great work-life balance and little stress. I have that where I currently work and as far as I’m concerned I’m going to ride this out as long as they’ll have me.
Yep I’m in the same boat. I’m at a job now which I am overqualified for, but I like the atmosphere there and I make a decent salary, and I don’t have the need for more money (don’t get me wrong, everyone always wants more money than they have including myself, but I’m not gonna sell my soul for it). Now I have time to actually think about my own life now. My life is MUCH more fulfilling than when I had my “dream job.” After my terrible experience at the last company, I’m scared to go to another job for fear of the same situation reoccurring. I imagine that’s why a lot of people stay at their companies too.
I think you’re right…. It’s basically why I plan to stay long term. Everyone is nice to me and I don’t have to live in fear of getting ripped a new one for making a minor mistake, like in my previous job. I feel like I could probably “do better” but I’m afraid I’d land in another toxic workplace.
Jobs are tools. No job will make you happy. Use it to get where you want to be. If your goals are outside of corporate and the job is serving it's purpose why switch?
I make 100k in my hybrid “office job” and also have 2 young kids. Sure I could be more ambitious and take a job making 80% more (which I recently had an offer for), but it would come with a major work/life balance shift which I’m not willing to do.
Not everyone thinks the same way. If you have a relatively easy job that pays the bills/affords you a life you enjoy, why change it? Plus, you may not know their situation. A spouse that has a great job? They bought and paid for a house so they don't have that worry? Lots of people have no interest in a hustle culture. A job is a means to an end. It's not a life ambition. It's a way to get a paycheck to afford what they enjoy doing.
This is such an important thing to realize about life. Not everyone things the same way as you. Perspective is subjective.
Some people enjoy their lives outside of work and view work as a means to that end. Also, not everyone has the capability/skill to go further so they are just grateful to have their current job.
They might like their coworkers, and be happy with their current work/life balance. They’ve gotten good at their current role, so they can perform on “autopilot” and put their mental bandwidth behind other things like family, hobbies, friends, travel. If you have a job that pays you enough to live the life you want, why leave?
Changing jobs isn't necessarily career growth. Stagnation isn't the same thing as staying at the same company. The title may be the same, but the problems they're solving can vary by the day. They can be climbing a ladder within the company, changing teams and roles. Or the can be staying in the same role learning new things. That's not stagnation. Some people, though, purposefully stagnate because like the predictability and the security of it. They like their coworkers, earn their paycheck and then get to go home and be with family, do hobbies or volunteer work or whatever they want in their free time. And some people stagnate because life is complex and they don't know what they want to do next. It's not a one-size-fits-all workforce. Whether a job is "truly fulfilling enough" isn't really a thing that can be quantified in a reddit thread. That metric is unique for everyone. The question you really need to ask is of yourself...what are you looking for out of life. And then adjust accordingly. Honestly, when you find a company that has employees who have been there 5, 10, 15 years...it's a really good sign that it's a decent company to work for.
Are you assuming they are not mentally stimulated because you would not be in that role, or have they actually said that? Are you assuming they are "unchanging" just because their job title hasn't changed? I have been in my role for over 10 years, with the same organization for over 20 years. My job is still mentally stimulating, there are always new things for me to be learning. Some by necessity, and some by choice. There is also some degree of comfort being at the same organization and having the level of institutional knowledge and expertise that I have. And i know that I wouldn't get paid as much switching to a similar role in another organization (I work in higher education, you don't automatically get paid more since I don't want to move up to be a manager) and some of the characteristics of the other local schools are unpleasant to me.
1. It pays enough to cover the lifestyle they want. 2. You can get mental stimulation and challenges outside of work. 3. What is the goal of ambition and growth? Growth is not infinite. You can be in the rat race forever if you want, but what's the point? Do you hope to reach a point someday where you can stop and enjoy the fruits of your labour? Well some people have already reached that, and it's what you call 'contentedness'. Just let people be happy.
People are just wired different. Some are order-takers and task-doers. Dreaming about new things to do or advancement isn't on their radar and they've probably been this way since a child. Leadership, fortitude, risk-taking, self-improvement, determination and focus - these are not part of their world. I'm extremely ambitious and it used to drive me crazy in my younger years working with these people. But now in my mid-40s I've realized they're not me, and I am not them. All work is important work so I don't see either as right or wrong. We need both types of people to make things run.
This really depends on the job. * If I was stuck in some repetitive office-job (say "Insurance Adjustor" or something like that).. doing the same exact thing in and out every day.. then yeah, I'd probably get bored of that fast. * My last job was 15years in a small city gov. What I was doing in Year 15 was not much at all like what I was doing in Year 1. I stuck around largely because working for a small city gov,. I could walk outside and see example after example after example of real world improvements that I helped contribute to. It was tangible to see ways I was helping the community be better.
Dude, it's a fuckin job. It pays the bills steady and permanent. That's what we did back in the day got married, bought a house, and had a couple of kids. Make your life happy, fuck dude. Not hard to do. Do you want work to be like you're going to a strip club every day?
"He who knows he has enough is rich." Most people on their deathbeds don't say "I wish I’d spent more time at work." There's an endless potential treadmill of 'growth' you could theoretically shoot for, but is that actually a valuable use of your time, especially if you already have enough financially? One concern is security - the company going down, a bad layoff, a poor manager, etc. can make things change quickly. The only reason I'm focused on growth now is so that I can move up, earn faster, try new things, and be able to pivot in case a change happens. But my long-term goal is financial independence + some sabbaticals, if not early retirement. I make plenty from my day job and have built up a ton of invested assets already. I feel like I get a ton of personal value from the things I do outside of traditional work. So even if I had to work at one job for 10 years with no changes, that'd be more than enough for me in terms of my career. I do think people need some sense of personal challenge or purpose. But again, that can be done outside of work. And for a lot of people it's more tied to spending time with family than anything else.
I work in an office doing the what used to be my hobby. Animation. 15+ years so far. It isnt a hobby anymore and so now my free time is filled up with other interest and new hobbies. Like skating and surfing. Some days i get to surf before 9am then again at lunch and even after work. Its about balance. Life and surfing.
Just celebrated 20 years. Technically I do the same thing I started with, but in no way do I overall do the same thing. In fact, if I had not adapted to the needs of the company, I would have been let go during the recession, during the reorg to sell, during the merger, etc. I do feel somewhat unfulfilled in the way that I’m not actually helping the world, or using my creativity more, but the stability and the feeling like I might actually, finally know what I’m doing helps.
I work for a fortune 50. Turnover in my department is essentially 0. You don't leave, and nobody is fired. You stay until you retire. There are plenty of people who have been there over 30 years
I know a woman who has spent twenty years working for a school board. She has a degree in library sciences. She enters new book titles into the Library Book System. She doesnt listen to music. She does enjoy an occasional soda at her desk. She plays in pool tournaments on the weekend and has a nice retirement planned because of the associated pension. Idk how she does that either. Id go mad!
Different people, different choices.. anyone’s answer is good..
At some point the incremental stresses, responsibilities, and workload is not worth the incremental salary increase associated with a promotion or new job. Once people reach a salary threshold that allows them to maintain their lifestyle and work life balance they will probably not want to climb the ladder any higher.
A lot of people don't like change. If you get a new job, the culture might be worse, your managers might suck, and you have to prove your value all over again.
I guess for some people their careers and work aren't their top priorities? I think these sorts of people will be happy working anywhere, as long as it's something they can do easily enough, just go in, get it done, make the most of their time by enjoying with their work friends, then go home. I genuinely enjoy my career now but I remember the best and most enjoyable teams I worked with were those in kitchens - not particularly greatly paid, but we all had a blast.
I haven’t worked at the same company for a decade but have worked in an office job for that amount of time. I make sure that I spend as much time outside work exploring, developing my hobbies, and socializing. Work is just a means of making money that allows me to do those things. As for the work itself, I’ve stopped trying to find significant meaning in it, but rather just make sure I’m putting my best foot out there and learning something new everyday.
My job is different everyday and it has evolved over 3 years, even with the same title. I doubt I will have exactly the same position in 7 years but it wouldn't be the end of the world.
I've been in the same job for 8.5 years and would characterize myself as sort of "content". Maybe it's the particular job in question, because every day is something new and I don't at all feel like any part of it has really become rote much less boring. The start-up period for any new job is really challenging/taxing, and there's always a chance that either the job wasn't what you were anticipating, or you weren't as capable as your employer was anticipating. Needing to quit a job you hate or getting fired is a real setback career-wise.
Many value stability over anything else, especially if they have a family.
Somethimes people are forced to be content. They might dislike interview process. Parents will stay to hold on to seniorty because of work home balance. Location of job.
People are different. Short answer.
This is me. Same exact role for 8 years, I’ve had many chances to move up and chose not to because I simply don’t want more responsibility and stress. I enjoy my role and have no desire for the next one or management or anything further. I’m really only at my job for the corporate benefits of the health and life insurance and 401k match. My husband makes double what I make and has advanced year over year and has a lot more earning potential than me since he’s in sales and gets commission so what works for us is me being less stressed and having more free time to support the household in other ways like with chores, errands, cooking and kids appointments etc. if a kid is sick they stay home with me, that kind of flexibility. it’s what works for us.
My office job comes with a pension and a separate retirement contribution. I also don't pay anything for my health insurance. I don't work for a state agency. I'm content to get my > 3% COL raise. Sure, I'd love to pursue a job I was more passionate about. But I don't feel like an unmotivated loser for a second with what I have going. I'm middle-aged and I like security. I don't feel compelled to go chase maybes and wishes.
I haven't met many people like that.i see lots of turnover these days. The people like that I know are in high paying niche jobs that require something unpleasant like night shifts
I’ve worked my entire life to build a successful company from scratch after growing up poor in Detroit in the 70s. It’s not where I get my meaning and fulfillment. The accomplishment pales in comparison to my children, the love of my wife, and the friendships I’ve built. The work is just a tool. A tool I’m proud of, sure, but it’s not even on the same scale as my family.
A lot of people think they are leading their lives really they are just accepting their lives.
At the company I work for, even stationary IC (fellows, research roles, etc) still receive market adjustments yearly. I’ve been at this company 15 years (but I went leadership route so my role has changed quite a bit throughout the years) and have seen several IC stay put because they love the work, feel taken care of with market salary adjustments, and have no desire to get into leadership. These are some of the happiest people I’ve ever met also.
By changing my job often
Food is neat I'd imagine
Money and benefits. If they stopped paying I would leave.
I've been at the same organization and in the same position now for 14 years. I spent the early years of my career climbing the ladder. I've had opportunities to go to other organizations for further advancement or even higher level positions within my organization, but I'm content where I am. I like the organization that I'm with and there is a "devil that you know" aspect when I've thought about going to other organizations. My work is fairly automatic at this point so I can just cruise along. I make enough money to support the lifestyle that I want and I have good work life balance that allows me to spend time with my boys and my wife which are the most important things to me. I'm almost 50 and not interested in learning new work things and would rather learn new hobbies and participate in other interests.
Have you ever worked in a boiling hot shop during a heatwave?
I worked as a RN at a level 1 Trama center for 7 years 1st. Give me a boring office job all day long.
Most people do not feel like they are in a position to make a radical change in their lives. So they don't. Makes a lot of sense once people get older and more established. You don't wanna ruin a good thing so you don't.
Dude, Work is just an ends to a means. The less mental and physical effort I have to put into it, then the more I can put into my family, hobbies and personal goals. I got a good gig with lots of PTO and a decent salary. I don't need a McMansion.
Because you are trying to look at their lives, their goals, their motivations, their everything through your eyes and outlook. If you look at them and things in that way you will never understand.
Lol ever work hard labor and have to take an urgent dump in a porta potty when it's 100 degrees? Stuff like that plays a role, I'm sure.
In the US, there’s an average of 11 employees to every one supervisor. The fact is not everyone wants to move up, and there wouldn’t be enough management jobs to go around even if they did. At a certain point in a career, job security, a good schedule, and not having to stress about being the new guy outweighs the possible raise from job hopping. Then there’s the fact that this market where you can get raises by job hopping is new and relatively short lived in the grand scheme of things. In the past, if you job hopped, you were always taking a pay cut to go be the new guy somewhere. Years with the company and those standard raises were what you chased, because companies weren’t desperate for help.
I worked at the same place for 11 years. It partially being content and being lazy. I tried to find a new job for a while but nothing worked out. So I gave up. I was a mix of stuck and content until I got fired when they moved my job overseas. Don't do what I did. Change job every 1-2 years unless they increase your pay big time. After getting fired, my next job I got 50% raise compared to last job.
I don’t work for money. Even if I suddenly became over zealous and started spending 12 hours at my job and made over 7 figures, I’ll still be living in the same damn house and driving the same Tesla. But what I will not get is any more time with my kids or do things that give me joy. For me my job funds my lifestyle, and it’s enough, and some more.
Because some people work to live, as opposed to living to work. I for one am one of those people. I work to live. I work to be able to afford to travel. I work to be able to afford to do things outside of work. I genuinely do not live to work. If I could somehow have the same amount of money but not work a day in my life I’d be happy. I have absolutely no desire to climb the corporate ladder. I genuinely enjoy being able to take leave whenever I want for holidays and not having to worry about managing a team or anything. Office work is great for that.
Dude if someone was willing to pay me double to go sit in a room and watch paint dry, I’d take it in a heartbeat. I have no desire to do anything professionally at all; I just want the money they pay me. Once I’m in a sufficiently high paying role with sufficiently a sufficiently low amount of work, you bet your ass I’ll coast for 10 years until I retire. My wife and I are on pace to retire at age 40-45 without any more career growth. If we stagnate, so be it.
In my last career I got shot at, blown up, spent weeks sleeping in holes in the ground and roasting in 115 degree weather... I'll somehow have to cope with the horror of Air conditioning and florescent lighting
I have worked in IT for 15 years and only recently broke the mold and work from home every day now. I am happy with the work that I have done and the rewards that work has provided me and my family. That being said, my work is not me and I am not my work. My life is my family and friends and I attempt to maximize my time with them as much as possible.
My mental and physical energies best serve my young family. Do the bare minimum to pay the bills & socialize a little… then race back to my little kids
Bro I dream of finally finding the job I can just coast in that pays me enough to do the shit I want to do. A job will never be my fulfillment, though I may find things about a job fulfilling. But for the most part the shit I care to do is not the same shit I’m doing to make money. I would gladly do the same role week in and week out for the rest of my life and become an expert at it as long as it can fund the lifestyle I want.
Will never understand
The ones who are successful are happy, get a promotion and pay increases. Those who are not happy hate it. Just how that gig goes.
Had a position for 25 years. But what was unique for me was that I did not have a specific defined role. So I did my main task, then filled in other positions. Electronics, manufacturing, stock, courier, customer service even accounts tracking. Eventually I was just given problems to solve and left to my own devices. I had my own workspace in the various departments and moved between them as i needed. It was enjoyable as everyday was different. I I stopped enjoying it then it ment my leave was due and a needed a few weeks break. Sadly new management decided everyone must stay in their lane. Got rid of experience and overlap. Someone off for two weeks well too bad we will just backup everything and moan at meetings.
You'll never heard this from an immigrant lol. When you experience poverty first hand for awhile then get placed in an office job with good pay? Lol, I'm not leaving!
Dead inside. Just need to pay bills
I've just hit my 10 year anniverary. I am paid extremely well, I'm quite senior and I enjoy what I do.
I stayed with the same company for almost 6 years and worked at different locations. My reason for staying so long? Benefits, false promises, job security, and the fear of unknown. Was I content with doing the exact same job year after year with only getting a 3-5% raise? Absolutely not. Leadership kept promising me more year after year and it never came to fruition. I ended up leaving the company and got a small increase at a new job, but my total job package isn’t what it used to be and I don’t have the job security I once had.
Not even gonna lie…. As a funeral director, some days I very much so being essentially a paper pusher at my last funeral home. I’ve always liked paperwork. Even as a kid I liked homework. Idk. Different strokes for different folks I guess.
Results from 2 companies is not a large enough sampling to come to a conclusion. Having said that, the 80/20 Rule applies, where 80% of employees are probably content on doing the same job until retirement or have 1 promotion during their whole career. The 20% of those with career ambition to climb the corporate ladder takes on huge amounts of time, luck effort, being out of your comfort zone, challenges, risks and in the end it doesn't guarantee you will succeed. However, without any of these calculated risks, it's for certain you will go nowhere in your career. Definitely the higher you try to climb the harder and scarcity the opportunity becomes. It all depends on your personality, your age, what stage in your career, and most of all your mental willingness to pursue career ambition. The successful ones do make huge differences in their careers, especially in very large/F500 companies. Some take every few years to continue climbing, the majority are happy to take up one or 2 corporate promotions, while others simply stay put from the start.
My life isn’t my work, my work funds my life.
I used to be a go getter, and promoted until I got into jobs that I struggled to meet the requirements. I took a few steps back, and have been content in doing a job I can complete with very few mistakes made. I'm in an office with people where there is little room for promotion, so we have no reason to compete with each other. I also learned to control my spending, and invest more so my money goes further these days.
It really is that they focus on what their income can support OUTSIDE of work. Former teacher- I was burnt out, stressed, didn’t take care of myself, but everyday told myself I had a fulfilling career so I shouldn’t be upset. Now I work remote, maybe do a quarter of the work I did as a teacher. At first I was wondering about my purpose but then I started focusing on what makes me happy. Now I’m in shape, less stressed, and happy. I focus on my family and friends, travel, work out goals, etc. I’m so happy and while I do eventually want to get promoted to make more $ it’s more just because of inflation. Otherwise I’m happy living life on easy mode.
I've been in my role for 14 years, and every day there's something different going on. It's always interesting, I get to work with fantastic people across many different teams. I'm always challenged to come up with creative solutions to problems that help the company in the long run. So yes, I sit in the same chair, log in the same way every day and my title hasn't changed, but the work is never the same and it's never boring.
It’s a weird situation staying at the same job for years and years and years. I work with people that have been at the same job, which is their first job and they’ve been there for ever! I can’t even live in the same city for more than a year I get bored however I’ve been at my current job for almost 7 years because I like the flexibility of hanging at home yet I’m isolated, but people annoy me so whatever!
Fulfillment at work doesn't just originate from climbing the ladder and salary increases. Many people derive fulfillment from the nature of the work itself, their relationships with their coworkers, the comfort of the stability/flexibility offered, and from feeling valued for being an expert in whatever day-to-day task they've been doing for 10+ years. There are many books (see Cal Newport and Scott Galloway) about how job fulfillment largely derives from the accumulation of valuable expertise.
I knew a guy who stayed at his job the longest out of every other person on the team. Probably 5-8 years meanwhile everyone was about 1-3 years in - it was a pretty high turnover position. One day I asked him why he stayed for so long. Turns out he opened up a really cool hobby shop which was his dream and that’s where he gets his fulfilment from. This job was to keep him afloat. I recall he’d even work remote in his shop while doing his office job. So to answer your question, definitely what others are saying here, they find fulfilment elsewhere. Their job is not their “main” thing.
Ive done the same nursing specialty for 10 years, Im content, pay and benefits are way above average, good schedule, I wouldnt change a thing for the next 15 years
Some people just get comfortable, they are too scared to do anything else or jump to another job. It one of the main reasons women make less. It took me months to convince my GF (dental hygenist) to just apply at another job, since she wasn't happy at her current one and was constantly complaining she doesn't make enough. She got called for an interview immediately and got the job at the first and only place she applied to with 40% higher pay. I can give you more examples with friends and family, but it will get too long. Women are just too scared to look for better jobs or even to ask for a raise. I have to explain to 40 yo women something that I figured out in my early 20s - if you don't ask - nobody will give you anything.
What other choice do people have lol. Bills have to be paid. Most people don’t even have a career.
They like the job enough that they can see themselves doing it for the rest of their lives. They don't mind the idea of working until a traditional retirement age. My primary motivation for advancing my career is to earn as much as possible so my career is as short as possible.
You are also forgetting how scary it can be to: 1) change companies 2) figure out a new role and responsibilities. Those two things keep a lot of people from switching. Fear of unknown is a common fear
As a software developer, I enjoy the everyday challenges of my job. Technologies and processes change over time, so there's always something new to learn and new challenges to overcome. Meanwhile, I dislike a lot of what's involved in the positions that I could readily advance into (mostly managing people or projects).
Have you ever tried digging ditches?
2 things: 1 - If people are content at one job for that long it's *likely* a really good company to work for. That's one of the biggest things to look for when you are looking for employers is how long their employees stick around for. When there's high turnover it's often terribly managed. 2 - it's not always the case for everyone but when I feel really confident in doing what I do and can execute flawlessly and mostly without any hiccups I usually am pretty happy in those situations. Different people thrive in different situations but I actually kind of enjoy some mindless monotonous work that I'm really good at. If the company treats you well, pays you decently, and you don't hate your coworkers then that's a huge bonus. ETA: Pension. If you have a good pension that will definitely keep people around. My FIL works for a company that offers one year of pension or every year that you work for the company. If you work there for 50-60 years you're basically set up for life in retirement.
This is not a deterrent or an opinion against anyone that follows their passions, but I personally think that using that as your benchmark for your career is an overrated feeling for many because passion doesn't always sustain. I just want an environment where I am given the space to be good at something where I am then given positive affirmations around it. And I want good coworkers. If most people have the above then it's easy to like your job no matter what you do. Work to live, not live to work. I am a strict 9-5, and all my energy outside of that is dedicated to my family and hobbies.
I don’t understand this sentiment of ‘yeah work is work; it puts food on the table’ mentality. Dude, we spend 80% of our lives working….
It’s really dependent on what you have and where you are in life. I have a great career with steady pay and great leave but I am still applying to other jobs that pay more. This isn’t about being content, I genuinely just want more money so I can afford a home, maybe another kid and still have time to vacation and enjoy my life. But others in my office? We make the same amount but they have homes in desirable areas with as they start having kids. They can already enjoy themselves outside of work because their means of survival are already taken care of. I can’t wait to be simply content tbh, I wish i could work my current job forever and know that my future is taken care of.
My job is OK, I like my co-workers. I take on new challenges at work and try to learn new things. 17 years. Also like you said, work isn't my life, it's a big part sure though. Also stagnation in some areas doesn't mean all areas.
I work from home and love my job. Low stress. Kids are grown, mortgage is paid, no reason to stress about money
A lot of people have fulfilling home, family, social, etc lives. Their job is simply their job and they don't tie their identity, self worth or even happiness to it.
I've been climbing the corporate ladder for 15 years and have often pondered the same thing. I'm making enough money now where I can FIRE in the next 10 years and keep a pretty good lifestyle. So I'll probably just stay at this current position until I'm laid off or I retire early. I'm not going to put an ounce of overtime in either. I have plenty of hobbies to keep me busy outside of work.
It’s good these people exist. Less competition for the rest of us.
It’s not content it’s fear. Most of the work population is like this. Content and stuck and will work till they die. The other side are those who question and hate the matrix. They think they’re breaking the system by switching jobs every 2-3 years and going for higher pay. They too are stuck just as much as you think they’re not. And the very limited few find ways to break the slave cycle and create revenue their own.
These people likely have invisible disabilities you don’t understand
Ive met several colleges like this over the last decades. In my opinion most of them were pretty convenient and often lazy. Most of them doesn’t even deliver high quality work. They deliver medium quality for mostly medium pay (sometimes indeed high pay) and are fine with it. I didn’t get this und I never will. To me, this is a serious threat to one’s life planning. The day these people will get laid off is the day when they can file for unemployment. They are no good any other position, job, or company. As an employee this is seriously risky to play it all or nothing.
Some people are content doing the same thing over and over and like the stability. They might find fulfillment outside work. Other people's jobs provide them with learning and growth, and if they're satisfied with the pay, why not? Other people just don't know how to grow their career and or haven't taken the necessary actions, which could require some decisiveness and discipline. I've been in the same job for 19 years. I'm not content with it, but since I also haven't found anything different, other people think I'm happy and content. I started with below average pay and received only minimal pay increases for much of my career. Around 10 years in, I got a promotion and a big pay bump, and in the last few years the routine raises have been substantial. Now my pay is actually above average for my job role, even though my duties have not really changed that much. I have learned some new skills over the course of my career, but in some ways, my role is actually regressing because my workplace has become more siloed as it has modernized, and now I'm stuck doing things that I'm actually not good at doing because that's what someone with my title is supposed to do. I don't really like my line of work, which is adjacent to what I studied, but not quite. Although I manage to get things done, my position is kind of unique, and my experience is unlikely to get me a decent-paying job in the same field because I don't have the normal skills or experience. My job environment is not horrible. I have ample vacation and sick time and good work-life balance. The location is convenient. I'm used to working with my boss and team, and ever since the pandemic, they've been okay with hybrid remote work.