Would You Do Your Job for Nothing?
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
December 20, 2006 11:57am CST
When I was in Army Basic Training, one of our drill sergeants was talking to us about career choices (yes, close to the end they do a lot more than yell at you).
He gave the best advice I have ever heard.
"Whether you choose the Army as a career or not, choose something that you would do for free, if your financial situation allowed it".
In other words, work for yourself, not for your money.
So far, I've done that. Circumstances have caused me to change careers twice (and working on a third). I have done jobs I've hated, but I knew they were temporary situations while I worked towards what I wanted.
So, would you do your job for nothing? If not, what are you doing to get a career that you would do for nothing?
1 person likes this
55 responses
@mygreyparrot (1461)
• United States
20 Dec 06
I wouldn't do any career for nothing..couldn't live. If it was possible to live off $0 I would be a cop and do it for free. I'm a fulltime ebay seller right now, and I definately don't enjoy it enough to do it for nothing. I'll never be able to be a cop, so I gave up that dream long ago.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
21 Dec 06
I guess there comes a time in everyone's life when we realize some ships have sailed.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
21 Dec 06
So I guess the millions of hard working volunteers around the world are just loons. ;~D
My guess is, if you had of actually read more than the title, you wouldn't have come off sounding so lame.
@agrawalnakul (648)
• India
21 Dec 06
well i will only do a job
which will give me mental satisfaction..
thats it..
not for money only for peace
1 person likes this
@fieldy (24)
• United States
21 Dec 06
Well, that would mean I'd never need to earn money... so, I probably wouldn't work too much. I'd be my own boss, and work on my own schedule and pace... I'm currently in college studying environmental science. So, I'd probably want to travel around the world and do research.
@creationhub (3066)
• Malaysia
21 Dec 06
Para,
I can understand you perfectly. I too is ex-army. I have been working very hard ever since I left the uniform. Yes, with all my dedication and commitment polished in the army, only my boss is the happy man.
I do hope to change my working lifestyle. I decided not to work for others but for myself. That's why I am looking seriously at online businesses because that's the only way I will be able to achieve satisfaction for myself.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
21 Dec 06
If you are self employed, then you well know what it is like to work for no pay. ;~D
@amitavroy (4819)
• India
20 Dec 06
i dnt think so i am doing my job for learning and for earning i value my time and i wnt do the work for free the job i am doing will bring some income to my employer so he should share a part with me isnt it
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
21 Dec 06
True, most of us do need the money we earn at work, and you are right, our employers do make money off our labor, so we should too. However, many people do donate their time volunteering to what they consider a worthy cause. Sometimes that worthy cause is a non profit org, but often it is just to help a friend with their business.
I guess we all have to decide what is a worthy cause and what isn't.;~D
@samwilliams06 (946)
• United States
20 Dec 06
I am a dancer and i love my job so much that if i wasn getting paid for it I would still do it. It makes me hapy and it relieves my stress. I would definitley do it for free
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
21 Dec 06
I'm glad to hear that you found something you love so much and makes you happy. After all, happiness is much more important than income.
@JustSimplyLissa (547)
• United States
20 Dec 06
Would I do what I do for nothing? probably not. I don't have the financial backing to do what I wanna do. I do that for free.
1 person likes this
@Oontan (49)
• Malaysia
20 Dec 06
Whatever you do... no matter if it is paid or not, the most important criteria is Job Satisfaction. Of course, you need to get paid for a job in order for you to pay for the living expenses unless u r very wealthy.
Besides talking about monetary rewards, there are also non-monetary rewards...like kiss from the kids, hugs from your loved ones or respects from the public, etc.
So, if u could sustain the living without any income. By all means, it would be nice to do 'unpaid' job.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
21 Dec 06
Exactly! Anytime we look into a career we have to look at the trade offs. Is more time away from family and friends worth the extra income? That's a choice that can't be made for anyone.
@ibrahim9140 (36)
•
20 Dec 06
hmmmmmmm need tym to think lol their nothig call as a free lunch in this wrld :)
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
21 Dec 06
True, nothing is really free, in fact when we do volunteer our time is actually costs us... that is why volunteering is such an important decision to make.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
21 Dec 06
Not true, there are many people working volunteer jobs, or just to help out a friend who runs a business. However, most probably wouldn't.
@hezoid (2144)
•
19 Mar 07
No way!!! In fact, i don't really want to do the job i do for the crapy pay i currently get, but hopefully once i have an appraisal and go from temp to perm proper, plus get a pay rise, i might not feel so bad about it. I'm not sure there's any job i'd do for nothing, i mean i have to earn money to pay the bills, so it's not like i have the choice anyway!
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
22 Mar 07
That's why the part about "if your financial situation allowed it" is added. The point of the advise was to do something you love, not just work for the money.
@shyam4uall (1002)
• India
21 Dec 06
I wouldn't follow such rules..As u righty said
"Whether you choose the Army as a career or not, choose something that you would do for free, if your financial situation allowed it"
I would love to do the job freely but if my financial situation permits me.We do the job first to fullfill our three basic needs which are house,cloth and bread..After fulfilling this if I think that now I am financial sound then I would love to work for that company where I think I can develop myself other than developing my bank account..I would work such jobs where I feel the job is for me and not I for job...
@agoodfella (61)
• United States
21 Dec 06
no because i need to get my cash and get all the game systems i need them its a hobbie to play games.
