No Soul. No Joy. No Reason. That Is How Today's Workers Feel.

Because I have no soul, no joy, no reason to maintain this equilibrium anymore.

~Worker Living in California

Today, find your soul, find your joy and find your reason for being.

Another Work Monday On Your Current Job...Two Down...50 More To Go...

I’ve survived in an incredibly difficult and low paying job that’s affecting my health, has left me filled with rage and depression for the past two years, and shows every sign of getting worse.

The people I work for have proven to be distrust-worthy on more than one occasion. They constantly employ bad business ethics and bully anyone who stands up to them. For instance: it is routine to deny minimum wage workers legal overtime pay for many overtime hours worked on a WEEKLY BASIS. I am in a management position, and have tried to curtail these practices with every plea–short of filing a federal wage claim (which I was also bullied about)–to no avail.

My family has pleaded for me to leave this job because it has left me completely isolated, emotionally and physically unwell, beyond stressed, and very angry to be unable to stop corrupt business practices.

Also, did I mention I’m working in the food services industry?

Oh, and I’m also barely making above minimum wage myself.  I’m uncompensated for overtime hours worked, and I’m not allowed my basic benefits or raises at all because apparently “the franchise doesn’t have money”.

I’m also no longer able to work a set schedule, and I’m never allowed to request a day off for illness, family matters, or otherwise, in two years of work–which makes scheduling an interview difficult. 

~Worker Living in Arizona

You can make decisions that are right for you and right for others. 

You can make decisions that you feel good about. 

You cannot control everything that is happening on this job that is wrong, but you can document it.  If you want to you could take it up as a cause and start a non-profit.  

You can do anything that you put my mind to…can’t you?

P.S.

This year work your “Just Quit” Plan so that the next 50 Monday’s aren’t like last years 52 Monday’s…enough already….forget feeling stuck and hopeless…PLAN, PLAN, PLAN

YOLO - You Only Live Once & Then You DIE...In Memory of Connie

I hate it.

I feel like I’m wasting my life.

There are so many things I want to do, but I don’t have the time or energy because of my job.

What if I only live once?

~Worker Living in Ohio

 

This is a plaque I made to remind myself to live each day fully…it’s a quote by Thich Nhat Hanh

This is the only life that we are SURE that we will have.

We are living it right now…our lives…we need to PRETEND like we will only live once.

Now, what will you do today if this is it…all there is…this life…right now?

P.S.

I few years ago I texted my friend Connie to make sure she was okay.  She wasn’t. She was dying. I remember talking to her friends and family who were at her bedside and they told me that she wasn’t expected to make it through the weekend.  

Death is real.  It is coming for each of us. Each and every day that we wake up and “pretend” all of the crap in our lives is important.   It’s not.  We know it’s not, but we keep on pretending. 

As I reminisce about my long-time friend Connie and how much she taught me by how she lived her life FULLY…FULL OUT…nothing stopped her…nothing…nothing…nothing. Honestly I don’t even know if her dying from cancer really STOPPED her because of the impact she made on my life and many other lives.  

We have all had Connie’s in our lives…teachers, mentors, big brother, big sister, showing us the way, giving us advice, asking about our progress, cheering us on, showing us the possibilities, being our true friends in this life…you know the type of people who you know you were destined to meet along your journey…those are the Connie’s… 

…So…Connie is gone and one day so will I and so will you. That is real. As real as life will ever get. 

So Live Fully…FULL OUT

P.P.S.

As my reminder at 2:14 p.m. EST on January 11, 2015 I got the call from Connie’s husband that she had died that morning. 

 

What Is The Point Of Faking Happiness When You Can "Be" Happy?

I’ve reached a point in my life where I’m not happy every day. I don’t enjoy going to work. I’m my happiest when I’m not at work.

I’m tired of being other people’s crutch to do whatever they want me to do. I need to be my own person.

What’s the point of faking happiness when there’s real happiness to be found and experienced? I need to be out of my comfort zone for once to kick myself in the *ss to do something for myself professionally.

~Worker Living in Canada

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

Today, ask yourself if you can ever be happy in this job.  

Not, are you faking happiness and making others BELIEVE that you are happy; but are you really happy or could you be? 

If the answer is no; then you need to get out of your comfort zone and take some actions TODAY.

Lose and Find Yourself In The Things That You Love

I am miserable every day.

I hate going to work on Monday’s.

I hate that I never see my husband.

I hate my hours and I hate my customers.

~Worker Living in Pennsylvania

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

Naming what we hate helps us determine what we love.

If you hate that you never see your spouse; then you know you need a job or opportunity that will allow you to be with them.

Don’t stop at just “hating”; balance it out with what you love.  Naming what you love will lead you to a lifestyle that includes what you love.

It's Time To Get Back To A Normal Life

The job is poisoning every aspect of my life and makes it impossible to live a normal life let alone look for another job.

~Worker Living in Canada

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

If  you feel like your job is poisoning every aspect of your life and you can’t live a normal life you will have to figure out EXACTLY what the poison pill is. 

Is it the job itself, your manager, the politics, the industry, the commute, the workload, or the hours? 

In order for you to get the poison out of your system you need to know EXACTLY what you are dealing with.  Once you have determined the poison then, you need to find a way to remedy it.

How do you get back to a normal life if things are out of whack?

See Things Differently...Look For The Possibilities...

I would like to have the chance to explore independent consultancy with more flexibility and a chance to work on more varied projects.

~Worker Living in Nigeria

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

Today, is there any space and time for you to work on some other projects that interest you — even if they aren’t currently assigned to you? 

Can you take a project that you’re working on to the next level or in a different direction? 

If those opportunities aren’t there in this job, do you have enough energy during your time off to explore freelance opportunities – no matter how small they might be – just to give you some different types of projects to work on?

P.S.

Google Freelance Opportunities…at a minimum you need to have or develop the skills to be ABLE to work freelance gigs.