Pushing the elevator's button for 37 years
I worked for a short period in a factory, in Ukraine. I met there a person who did the same job for 37 years. She was the lady who transported, up and down, with her elevator, all the people who needed to go from one floor to another.
I remember Marcus1978's blog What are the best and worst jobs you've ever done? and I think I would become nuts doing the same thing for so many years.
The Ukrainian lady didn't. In fact, she had an excellent mental health.
Maybe she had kids, no husband and needed a secure paycheck, maybe she had no imagination, but for sure she found a way to overcome the tediousness.
I do not judge her. I only say I couldn't do it.
However, she taught me one thing, about perseverance!
Doing the same thing/job/task for a long time, till you reach your goal/dream seem difficult, but having the right mindset, you can do it.
Could you do the same thing for so many years?
Please leave your comments below. I appreciate a lot your involvement!
Cristina
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I took a student summer holiday job in a biscuit factory. I sat on a conveyor line with others, as a box of biscuits passed I has to place the 3 types of biscuits I was responsible for in the correct location.
As the team improved the belt moved faster. I did this for a month.
I realised that anyone performing this type of repetitive tasks first has to build the muscular and dexterity skills required. Once mastered your brain is free. Provided you have a fertile mind you may become a philosopher.
Einstein had a mundane job at the patent office (apparently he was not very good). and he did quite well.
To answer your question - defiantly not!
Keith, it was an interesting experience, true? After doing it, you can say if you want to continue, or you want a change.
Each way is good. It's up to you!
Christina,
for me the job was mind numbing and the final day of the job was like the end of a prison sentence. However, the job was for extra money. If I had minimal education with little or no chance of anything better my mindset would be completely different.
For the button pushing lady, you had speculated why she may have stayed in the job so long. Here is an example of someone happy with his lot.
Back in the old days I worked for a consultancy in central London. One day I was struggling with a fairly simple crossword. The janitor asked if he could help and promptly completed the whole thing without pausing.
It turned out that he compiled the Times newspaper crosswords (very difficult). He was obviously a very clever individual. It turned out that he was happy with his situation, no ambition to join the corporate rat race and only required accommodation and food.
So I think this comes down to personality and mindset.
I know I am like you Cristina. I could not do the same thing for that many years. I know people who have been like that elevator lady, but I need to be challenged, I need to be able to learn new things, I need to be able to expect new things, I need change every now and then. I have always viewed a job as a stepping stone and not as an end-to-all-ends.
That is the nice thing about what we are doing. If we get bored with a particular website, there is a solution - start a new niche site. It involves change, challenge, learning new information and research, exploring new ways of new doing, because every website is going to be different and you can make each one as unique as you like.
Each one of us can be one type or another. It's not a bad thing to be constant, and to do the same job if you love it!
Thank you for your comment, Stephanie!
I worked as a chef for over FIFTY years and loved it. I would still be doing it of my legs allowed. I raised 9 kids on that chef's salary.
Ian, if you do what you love, passionately, it's a good thing.
As I read on your website, you were a caring person. You found each day ways to help someone. That's not bothering at all.
Thank you for your comment, have a pleasant day!
A very interesting story Christina. During my career I had one main philosophy, which was when I stopped learning something new and was moving horizontal in terms of experience, then it was time to look for a new position. That said however, unless we are in someone else's shoes we do not know why they would stay in the same job for 37 years.
Congratulations, Harvey, for being an active learner.
In fact, if we want, we can learn all our life. It depends on us.
If we want to grow, as human beings, we have to learn.
Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
Thank you, Christina. The truth is that we have to change our mindset regarding our job. What is a job, how can a job bring us satisfaction. All the best to you.
All the best to you as well, Diana.
Thank you for leaving a comment.
By the way, how are you today? Better?
that is a greay story - yes we all do the same thing for many years because we have no other choice. Sometimes we have to look elsewhere because things change and so we have to make changes in order to survive - thats why many of us are here at WA
Paul, I appreciate a lot your input. I know you are here because of the downsizing of the oil industry, and I guess you are a fighter!
Wow, definitely food for thought there Cristina, no way could I have done that for 37 years but it sure does tell us about perseverance.
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There are many people like that elevator lady for many reasons. I don't criticize them. I could not do the same thing for a long time.
We must challenge ourselves, learn new skills, make new activities, this helps to give meaning to our lives. I want to share a Brian Herbert's quote: "The capacity to learn is a gift; The ability to learn is a skill; The willingness to learn is a choice". Choosing makes the difference.
Rosa, thank you for sharing your thoughts. Have an amazing evening/day (I never know which time is it for most of the WA-ers, because we are spread across the globe).
Cristina, don't worry about time. For me, the WA-ers comments are so very welcome!