Is Money The Be-All and End-All?
Is Money Everything in life?
Everyone wants to have enough money, so they don’t have to worry about money, but beyond that, how much good does it do? Is it the be-all and end-all? Does money mean everything?
When I worked in the banking world, and let’s be honest, my jobs were at the lowest level, it was common knowledge that banks grossly underpaid their employees. Each day, I managed tens of thousands of dollars, and in the money center during the holidays, we counted millions, yet my paycheck was never over $100 for a full 40-hour week. Granted, it was back in the 70s when the cost of living wasn’t like it is today, but still…
What’s The Main Benefit of Your Job?
We all want to feel that we’re getting paid what we’re worth, but the real benefit of working at the bank wasn’t the paycheck. About a year after we were married, my husband, Greg, and I were offered a small summer camp. After looking at it, we knew we could renovate it into a year-round home. Greg had the skill, and I was an eager helper. And because I was a bank employee, we were able to secure our first home mortgage. Right place, right time.
When is the Right Time to Jump Ship?
I liked my job at the bank – all the co-workers, customers, and the work itself - but the pay wasn’t great, so after a couple of years, I was encouraged to apply for an opening at a local manufacturing plant – Western Electric in North Andover. I had worked there during the summer between high school and college, so it was familiar. Greg was working there, as were my mother, my father, and my in-laws. The pay was excellent, and the benefits were exceptional, but one thing I didn’t remember from my previous summer stint was that during my shift I was unable to see out a window. No sunlight. No trees. No fresh air. The department was a huge cubicle filled with workstations. Walls within walls. And the only light was fluorescent.
For Once, Logical Jean Did Not Win!
After a couple of years, I felt myself starting to wilt. My logical mind told me to stay. Great pay. Amazing benefits. A pension. A secure future. Everyone told me I was crazy to leave, but I was miserable. The work was fine, but everything about the atmosphere wasn’t. The physical environment was depressing and so was the culture. It was a union shop, so job upgrades happened in a specific way. If someone was lucky enough to get one, co-workers often seemed disgruntled and threats to challenge the promotion via the union usually followed.
I grew up in a union household. For 25 years, my dad drove for Whiting’s Milk Company and held office in his local Teamsters union. And my mother was a longtime employee of Western Electric. I understood the reasons why unions came into existence and the benefits of belonging to one, but the disgruntled atmosphere felt disheartening because I love to see people succeed. Work hard, rise up, and become who and what they want to be. Messages of congratulations are important.
Time to Discover The Next Chapter
During a work break, I visited my husband’s department and asked, “What would you say if I told you I wanted to quit?” He looked at me, shrugged, and said, “Go ahead!” To this day, I don’t think he thought I was serious. But I was, so right after my break, I went to my boss, gave my two-week notice, and saw the light at the end of the tunnel. It was the first and only time that I, The Strategic Chicken, jumped without a safety net! But I was so miserable that I didn’t care.
Are you ready for a change? Can you see your light at the end of the tunnel? Don’t resist. Embrace it.
Until next time,
Jean AKA The Strategic Chicken - Making life’s journey one strategic step at a time
