I am content to be average at my job

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Age matters bc at leAst in fed govt, the older people are often less motivated than the younger ones.

I am less motivated bc I realize I am prob not going to reach the goals I set for myself when I was younger. Due to the economy, I also had some periods of underemployment during which time I had to accept major ego hits and developed an attitude that I should not tie my self worth to my job.

Feds D level work. State/DC D-/F level work.

[Anonymous]

I love this post! I am a mom of a toddler. I always had big career aspirations. I used to have a job that I valued and thought I was "leaning in." But I changed for a more challenging job and realize that I'm not all that interested in my career or leaning in. I wouldn't say I am content to be average, but I'm content to do a good job rather than a fabulous job. I love my evenings and weekend with my kid, and feel my work will only value me if I give those up. My kid is worth so much more than to me! I just want a 9 to 5, or 9 to 6 job that is 'interesting enough' and leave me evenings and weekends, and enough vacation a year.
'

[Anonymous]

I don't have kids, but I imagine it's quite difficult to prioritize kids and job equally. It seems natural that career ambition would take a back seat to young children.

[Anonymous]

I am so happy to know I'm not alone in this! Truly, once our kids came along I had so much less interest in staying late, being seen, pleasing the boss. I've hung in there but really so much more enjoy my family than I ever enjoyed my job. And my kids are teens! Living in this DC bubble does at times make me feel a bit guilty about not wanting to achieve more in the workplace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are on the older side, I think a lot of people just don't give a F about being #1 as far as their careers go after a certain age. They probably have seen that their job is not their identity and there are other things they try to excel at.

This is me. I reached a point where I realized work would never fulfill me the way I thought when I was younger. Now I grow more disillusioned with the work world by the day. I don't have the same desire to achieve as I once did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a distinction between not worrying too much or caring if you get ahead, on the one hand, versus not doing the best job possible at your current job. Deciding you don't need to push yourself to hard to get ahead is fine - but doing "c" work at your current job means you have a poor work ethic.

Good post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you okay with your kids getting Cs?

OP here. Actually, yes. I have no problem if my kids get Cs. I was pushed by well-meaning parents to excel as a child and all it did was keep me inside studying while I should have been enjoying my childhood. I will encourage my kids to skip the homework and have fun instead.

That is quite fascinating. I was raised by well meaning parents who were often absent, because they worked a lot and lived very social lives (local government, bridge, drinks with co-workers, etc.). I was also the youngest. I did well in school until high school, when you had to start trying. Basically my older sister was a brain, and (this is esp relevant if you read last Sunday's Parade article on siblings), I felt like the academic thing had already been done in my family. I got no pressure, other than to simply attend college somewhere. So I really lived it up at a young age. I have always been street smart and have a very hard time dealing with precious snowflakes in the work force. I guess I am successful, but feel like I would be be more so in a less academic, bureaucratic town. I became very driven as an adult, despite years of semi-delinquency. So, I guess I agree with you about not pushing your kid. Some of my happiest memories are of being a free wheeling teenager who regularly came to school fucked up.

+1

This is me exactly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a distinction between not worrying too much or caring if you get ahead, on the one hand, versus not doing the best job possible at your current job. Deciding you don't need to push yourself to hard to get ahead is fine - but doing "c" work at your current job means you have a poor work ethic.

Good post.

I agree. C level work is very different than just not wanting to advance. You owe your employer more than that- an probably yourself too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a distinction between not worrying too much or caring if you get ahead, on the one hand, versus not doing the best job possible at your current job. Deciding you don't need to push yourself to hard to get ahead is fine - but doing "c" work at your current job means you have a poor work ethic.

Good post.

I disagree. C means you are average...you are getting the job done...not spectacular, but not poor. Many DCUM posters have been bred to be superstars, but most employees in the workforce probably fall around a C.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a distinction between not worrying too much or caring if you get ahead, on the one hand, versus not doing the best job possible at your current job. Deciding you don't need to push yourself to hard to get ahead is fine - but doing "c" work at your current job means you have a poor work ethic.

Good post.

I agree. C level work is very different than just not wanting to advance. You owe your employer more than that- an probably yourself too.

I don't know about you, but I never stood in a church and swore a solemn vow that I would forever owe them my best efforts.

They pay for my work, and for what I'm paid, they get a pretty fair shake.

[Anonymous]

+1

[Anonymous]

I don't owe my employer much - they've shown me that excellent work gets me the same (lack of) recognition as average work. So...eventually, you burn out.

This op/ed in the NY Times really explained me well:
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/checking-out/?_r=0

[Anonymous]

Agree, PP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love this post! I am a mom of a toddler. I always had big career aspirations. I used to have a job that I valued and thought I was "leaning in." But I changed for a more challenging job and realize that I'm not all that interested in my career or leaning in. I wouldn't say I am content to be average, but I'm content to do a good job rather than a fabulous job. I love my evenings and weekend with my kid, and feel my work will only value me if I give those up. My kid is worth so much more than to me! I just want a 9 to 5, or 9 to 6 job that is 'interesting enough' and leave me evenings and weekends, and enough vacation a year.
'

I think most of us do, I would think if you can easily sacrifice your weekends and evenings for your career, then it makes no sense to have kids. Nobody is frowning these days upon women who decide to stay single or childless to live a different lifestyle or concentrate on career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - have you thought about transferring to a new job? I had a new position when I returned from maternity leave and the newness really motivated me to kick ass at my work. My old place had been under utilizing me and it wasn't challenging enough so I just settled into being mediocre, but with the new job, new responsibilities, and a boss who thought I had potential, I've really caught fire again and I love what I do. Being excited about my career makes me a happier person - happier wife, and I believe a happier mother. I love being a mom but being a stay at home mom is not my calling in life and I feel so thrilled to come home to DD after a long day of hard work I can be proud of. Maybe you've outgrown your current position and need to change it up.

How did you get a new position when you returned from maternity leave? I noticed that after becoming pg, I was pushed aside and ignored and had my staff pulled from under me and allocated to another manager. This tends to discourage you greatly, I feel hopeless. I cannot look for another position in my condition as nobody would want to put me on their important projects right now and I see their point, since I am not even confident myself I could physically withstand more demanding job and hours in 3rd trimester, given I also have a toddler at home. Did you just start looking upon returning from your leave? How did you manage increased responsibilities at a new position and a newborn? Or was this not something that required extra hours and more demanding schedule?