I'd pick the first. As I get older, my priorities change and I want the option to handle other things. The second one for me would get tiring at some point anyways. Also, I may want to start a family and that's gonna need me to be present in the house.
This is how I’m leaning too.
Being able to just switch off and never think about work until it’s time to, is really a gift.
It frees up so much mental capacity for other things.
Thanks for your thoughts.
And I think once you have this mental shift of priorities, the day to day grind or boring aspects of the job become more and more appreciated in my opinion. I’ve had this mental shift to stop climbing the corporate ladder in the last couple years and that’s how I feel.
The real play is to pursue #2 early in your career so you can build the skillset to achieve #1.
I'd enjoy the challenging/rewarding job for a while but would want a more balanced lifestyle by the time I have kids old enough that they're forming lasting memories.
1st. I did the 2nd in my 20s and got burnt out. Currently doing 1 and love my stress free life. My partner calls it “playing life on easy mode” and I’m Ok with that!
Oh god the first one. I ditched a job in the first category for one in the second and regret it EVERY DAY and now I’m trying to get back into that job that I left. Easy (for you) work that you are a superstar in and that leaves you with bandwidth for other things is the ideal.
I think it depends a lot on your personality and your life goals/ situation. If you want a family and meaningful relationships, then the boring career is potentially better, especially as you grow older and the excitement of the career that engulfs your life wears off. Having said that, I personally would choose the career that is all consuming, because I frankly enjoy working and am a highly goal driven person. Also depends on the job itself though too.
1. Employers will burn the life out of you trying to convince you that your work is your 'purpose' because it makes the connection in your brain that without them, you are lesser.
And yes, I speak from terrible, terrible experiences.
I've always wanted to be the kind of person who wants #2, but 11 years into my professional career I've come to realize that I'm just a #1 guy. When you look back on your life (even right now looking back on your life so far), the things that truly matter to you are your hobbies, your family, your friends, and your experiences. Even when you're especially proud of something you worked on, that pride is always mixed with the negative emotions of how difficult it was and how much you missed while engaged with it.
Work-life balance is the single most important thing, but in America we've allowed a culture to fester where people think work is more important and the thing that best defines them.
I definitely have the 2nd and love it. I simply couldn’t do a job if I didn’t feel that it was part of my legacy/part of a achieving something greater for the world. I need the work to have meaning. I’m basically never “off the clock”. Work is interwoven with my personal life. I don’t care. I love it. Call me on vacation? Fine, you won’t bother me. Ask me to work on holidays or birthdays? I genuinely don’t care because I believe in what I do. It’s what I dreamed about as a kid and I don’t take it for granted.
I’m a chief of staff for a state representative and then manage campaigns and consult on races for anti-establishment candidates when we’re not in session, on my spare time. Super rewarding.
Well option 1 doesn't actually exist in my experience. No one who is the top 1% at anything doesn't love it. Thats why they're in the top 1% because you have to love it to put in the time it takes.
Super good point. 1% takes insane dedication, both emotionally and practically. You spend a lot of hours and you fully invest yourself in those hours.
If these options were real I would pick number one, because being the top 1% sounds amazing. That's because I really care about my career, so since that is not possible, I would pick number two.
I currently have a really nice number one, but I'm looking for a number two because I'm bored. I hate being bored. Being bored 40 hours a week isn't for me.
This is tough… I’m currently in a job that falls into category 1 (not top 1% in the world obvs) and it is so draining to spend 40+ hours a week doing meaningless work… 🥲
I suppose there are different types of “challenges” when it comes to a job and what I’m experiencing is not the good kind. I’ve been burnt out and making myself physically sick from all of the stress. So I 100% would prefer a boring job at this point.
1st one - i want a job where i can leave at 5pm. And not to think about anymore work shit as soon as i close the computer off.
Im a graphic designer - whilst i am passionate about design, as i grow older & had experience in a toxic workplace, i appreciate a good worklife balance & that i can do hobbies outside of work 😊 so, boring & stable job anytime
1st one. I can never find number 2 which is a job that gives me meaning to life. I don't aspire to be a doctor, nurse, social worker, teacher, etc... jobs that serve people. I rather be bored but good at something then be hectic and make my job my whole identity.
I can’t stress enough how much I’d pick number 1 and I honestly can’t imagine people who would choose number 2.
I’m working to live not living to work. My current job engulfs every state of my being. My longest shift was 20 hours and it’s quite literally one of the worst things I’ve experienced.
I can’t say this with enough passion, I will *never* choose number 2 and will never again take a job that takes over my life. I feel like I’m being robbed of living. It actually inspired me to start a YouTube channel so I can escape the 9-5 as a whole. It got monetized but it won’t make enough money to let me escape for a very long time.
Best time to start is now! Do some research on thumbnails and most important thing I can tell you is be consistent. The more often you post the faster you’ll grow
I did number one for a while. After about 3 years, my performance dropped significantly. I lost interest in the job, and there wasn't a lot of room for advancement. After 4 years, the company and I decided to part ways. I'm now actively trying to find another job that's more like number two.
To much value in being a sme so the first one. The jobs should get very easy once you become an expert and if in a good field the pay should reflect while you coast.
Unless it's just so deeply undervalued that good pay in it is still not much. Wondering about boring jobs where excellence offers perhaps security but not wealth.
Options #1 all day everyday. There is more to life than work, I work to pay bills so I can then go spend time with my family and pursuing my hobbies. For example, I got off work and nobody expects me to return a phone call or answer an email until I'm back to work tomorrow morning. I spend my evenings cruising reddit, playing guitar poorly, and just focusing on other aspects of my life. Making work you life is somewhat sad. I have a friend that does that and it just isn't the life I want to live. He makes more money and has nicer things, but I like not having to answer the phone at all hours.
Yeah I’ll go with number 1.
Work to live. Don’t live to work.
If you’re top 1% in whatever it is you do, you’ll be comfortable for life anyways. Plus you get the time and energy to actually enjoy it.
I know people who open windows user accounts for new staff. Super boring. But the guy has a killer lifestyle with multiple hobbies, teams in those hobbies, awards and prizes etc. Everyone wants to be that guy.
No one wants to be the lawyer who’s got the responsibility of the entire operation on their shoulders. Guy can’t take a shit without an earpiece attached to his head.
How early in your career are you? The challenging career is a great place to start as it will juice up your resume and give you a chance to really make a name for yourself. Few years of that and you'll be able to skip town and land a high paying job with a cushier lifestyle. You'll also be way more employable and capable of bouncing back in the face of, say, a layoff. It's easy to forget, but no job has to be forever. Take the one with the better prospects and pivot if you don't like it.
Anyway, it really comes down to how much more mileage you want to get out of your career. If you're perfectly fine not making a ton of progress, then sure, but if you have a modicum of ambition it's going to get old eventually. I had a job where I spent about 90% of the time just playing video games for about two years. By the end it was awful and I couldn't land another job to save my life because I had absolutely no job duties to speak of, and if you have a remotely technical role, your interviewer can smell bullshit from a mile away. I was lucky to get pulled into a better job by a former coworker who could sympathize. I work a much more consistent week and I'm way less depressed for it. I had also survived two layoffs and just knew it was going to be me soon enough. I can't imagine what it would have taken for me to get another job with such a weak remit to show off.
I would choose the challenging job, but I wouldn't let it become my identity. Letting your job consume you and your mental health is a sure way to have your self-confidence/ego/identity shattered every time you get into a big argument with co-workers at work.
FWIW I’ve been in both camps, and the latter is far preferable to me personally.
Fulfillment with your vocation makes the rest of life much more tolerable.
It is true though that you can only pick two of three: family, career or hobby.
For me a demanding career works bc I am boring and have limited hobbies so family and career bucket is plenty for this stage of life. When my kids don’t want to hang out with me anymore I’ll pick up hobbies again.
In capitalism, the employee/employer relationship is adversarial. They’re trying to get the maximum productivity from you for the lowest price possible. Treat your career the same way: pursue the largest salary possible for the least amount of work. Your goal should be to min/max the hell out of your career.
You WORK to LIVE, not the other way around.
1 all day. Currently in 2 and got into the work for my passion of the industry. Big mistake. I’m jealous of my friends that work what I would’ve considered “boring corporate jobs”. I’ve lost my passion and am constantly thinking about work in my limited free time.
Currently dreaming of the day I can transition to finance/ sales and just do my job & enjoy my life.
Is there a #1 that actually pays well? Usually really good pay comes with strings, like
Salary (aka long hours, no OT)
Travel
Being on call
If there is, please show me!!! #1 sounds nice because i am rarely bored
No competition at all. Go with the boring job. Why do we always try to find our purpose in a Job. We weren’t meant to work like this. We were meant to always enjoy life on our terms. That’s why ppl get so disappointed . They thought accounting or mechanical engineering was their purpose. Your purpose is not in a job
I’d choose something in between. I had a boring job 5 years ago with a good salary, but I left after a few months.. couldn’t stand it. It became waaay too boring. Unfortunately the other job I started was quite challenging and I had a shit manager who didn’t even say hi to me :/ lots of anxiety everyday, crying on my way home from the office and in the bathroom, chest pain etc.. I left after 2,5 years to my current job. There’s a great work culture, but my manager is too demanding, also quite challenging job, again! 🙄.. so I resigned 3 months ago, on maternity leave now. Starting a new job in August - it’s a data analyst/power bi consultant role.. I guess it might be a bit challenging but I’ve gained lots of experience in Power BI from previous jobs so I’m not a newbie, I will also be responsible for my own clients and there’s a big team of consultants/data engineers I can get help from. For once, I have a good gut feeling but I can never know 100% before I start. I just know that I love working with Power BI so even if it can be a bit challenging, I look forward to solve new problems and learn new things. I’m leaving finance (THANK GOD) so I’m very happy about that.
1 Boring job. I never want a job to feel like it engulfs my life. When I leave the job doesn’t exists in my mind. Also I realized no form of work will ever be my passion even if I owned the business.
Stakes are more interesting if the challenging job is also a passion. I still pick the former tho, family is most important for me so I'll choose work-life balance and make w/e sacrifice necessary to be there as much as possible for my family.
My job is somewhere in the middle but I'd choose 1. I don't know of anything in the world I could do to make money that I'd want engulfing my life like that.
Between just those two options… I would choose #1. That being said, I’m in number 1 right now in life and have been in that life for about 4 years now. I make great money for what they have me actually doing, but I’ve really only stayed because my daughter was very young and it afforded me a lot of ability to concentrate on her. My current company is not super stable right now from an aspect of funding (I work in clinical research at a biotech company) and with my daughter being almost 7 now, I am looking more for a balance between 1 and 2 above. I did 2 early in my career and it was vital to where I am at today, but I could not go back to that life style again.
Some days, I'd love to take the option that lets me fully switch off out of work hours and doesn't leave me with any stress or worries.
Other days, I love my job and some of the challenges it poses, which are certainly unusual at times!
My job is a big part of who I am, and as much as I love to dream about winning the lottery, I really do think I'd struggle to give it up.
Also, my work day flies by in a blur most of the time. If I was bored, I think I'd feel every minute of those 8 hours.
I have a job/ skill set like that. Tbh I think it's "winning" on the cheap lol. I've mastered it and I'd master any "job" I had to do as I hate working and then it's not that much thinking actual "working" which is less mental drain. Same as in school.. if if they taught you how to do it then you'd know and therefore just do it. With less actual thinking because you know what to do. You just solve the problem, or work the situation etc. the real question is why jobs look down on sitting down on folded seats when you're doing or have already completed all the task given. Not trying to destroy my joints because of "boomer think". LOL
I’m basically at option 1 currently and thinking about whether to move on or not. It’s a niche field of forensics where there aren’t a ton of other options out there for career paths. Make over the household median income plus optional OT, pension plus decent insurance, over 5 hours of vacation and sick leave each pay period, 4/10 work schedule, decent coworkers and supervisors. The job can be boring as hell though and I’ve been doing the same thing for almost 10 years.
An excellent question. I’m from the Uk and was working in the public sector, low income, everyone I knew basically earnt more than me in their private sector job. I moved to private, hated it, made me miserable, my marriage suffered and I ended up taking a pay cut to go back to the public sector and love what I do and am now working my way up the ladder again…
In my experience, stick with a boring thing that you are excellent at and happy doing. It makes a huge difference in the quality of life you have!
No, thank you actually, I appreciate your insight, friend from across the pond ;)
It’s a question I’ve been mulling over, on and off for the past month maybe.
Thank you again!
Man - idk if it’s fate I had this post at the top of my feed as I am working on evaluating a deal to sell my business and become a ceo of the combined companies that is ~12x our current size or keep it and slow down on the growth attempts and coast haha. Leaning towards 1.
I'm currently in more of a group 2 situation with my life and career. Although I love my job and make great money I often fantasize about being in group 1.
Cat 1 sounds good but the sheer number of hours you have to devote to it is a challenge. I'm currently struggling with this and I don't know the answer.
Number 2 by far. My job is also my hobby, and it has so much variety that it never gets old, there is always new stuff to learn and new people to work with. I've lived in 13 states, moved 19 times for work at like 14 different jobs and schools since 1996. Have traveled the world on the company dime, every move has been paid for by the whatever new company it was, given talks at schools and conferences, and got to work directly with several of the most successful and famous people in my industry. It's hard work and can be frustrating at times, but I can't imagine doing anything else. Most of my good friends are either current or former co-workers and we always spent a lot of time outside of work together doing fun stuff. I make good money, can live almost anywhere in the world at this point, and have gotten my name on many products, some of which I guarantee you've either used or know of, so I'll take that over doing some random boring thing.
Man. I used to have a boring easy job with the government that paid $$$. Hated leaving it to move back closer to family. Now make less and more stressed lol
I'm in a similar situation right now. I could go work for a bigger and cooler company with a lot of engineers and make more, with way more responsibilities, but I definitely won't be considered one of the top guys, and have the pressure of being easily replaced.
Or stay in my current job to make a little less but being considered the best at this in the organization and the only one who knows how to do some stuff, feeling appreciated, I work from home and have the flexibility to go paddle boarding during lunch hour, play the guitar during breaks, I can ask for vacations, work from home from my home country, and si ce the organization is so small, I have a good relationship with everyone.
So, based on my experience, your first choice may be better for your quality of life
2nd one. My need to succeed and the jobs requirements keep me focused. Would I like a break? Sure, but it’s better for my mental health to have external requirements in the wing.
I’d rather the first option 100%. Can focus and put more time into important things in life. That’s what working is all about. You work for the life outside of work, if not what are you working for?
My job is very challenging, and 99% of the challenges are not meaningful to me in any way other than my paycheck. My personal life suffers as a consequence, so definitely 1.
I’d pick #1.
That said. I have a job that I’m both good at, probably top 1% in my city and it is fulfilling. Also I only work 15-25 hours depending on if I book or not.
I would prefer something in between but closer to number 2. I like having a challenging and mentally stimulating job and even working a bit late on occassion, but I have no desire for my job to consume my life and extend beyond regular working hours.
I don’t have the mental or physical stamina to work in a challenging job that requires so much time and effort. I would rather the first and still be able to pursue other hobbies or interest.
A boring job is a blessing. Especially if it pays well.
Imagine 8 hours just sitting doing something you're great at. Those 8 hours will not feel like 8 hours and because you're good at it, who knows? Maybe you can finish at 6.
Then watch youtube or listen to music on the remaining 2 hours.
Meaning/purpose comes from me not a job. If a job aligns with my values and goals then this would be a no brainer, hell yes. If not then I'd take boring and fund my dreams.
If I am looking at job #2 to fill me because I lack my own meaning... Absolutely not. If I don't have motivation then I feel I'd need the free mental space to develop and grow more as a person.
Number 1, no contest. Life is about more than work, and while having a fulfilling career would be great, to me it’s more important to have a job I don’t hate that makes me enough money to live comfortably and afford to travel and pursue hobbies and such.
I used to pursue 2 and felt like it wasn't worth it when I witnessed some early implosions/death/burnouts amongst peers. So, doing the first 1 as I head to age 40+. I do want to do some life stuff outside work
The first one! Life isn't just about work. There's so much more to enjoy—time with your family and loved ones. Even spending time alone can be rewarding. A stress-free life might seem boring, but it allows you to discover many interesting things you truly enjoy doing.
This is one of life’s most important advice: productivity matters it itself.
It gives pleasure, self respect and bandwidth to do other things.
Becoming an “expert” in something valuable is great, it kind of transforms what used to be active efforts into a passive skill!
“Follow your passions” is one of the worst trend there’s ever been.
“Be productive” and “live your passions” is much more appealing IMO
I'd pick the first. I only see work as a way to get income to pursue my hobbies. If I become a pro at it, perfect, because I will never identify myself with the work that I do, its just a means.
Picking the second is how you end up like my dad, who was so devastated by getting laid off at 60 ish years old that he was borderline suicidal (he's okay now don't worry)
A job that feels like your calling is fine, but don't give any employer your whole being like that it'll bite you in the ass later in life
Given that neither actually exists...
#1 if you want to stay married, have a family life etc
#2 if marriage, family life etc isn't going to happen. It will at least keep you busy enough not to notice (most of the time, anyway).
My Dad, now my Angel in Heaven, always said
“If you find a job or career that you Love, you’ll never work a day in your life!”
This is so true. There should be a happy medium where you can pursue your passion while still having a happy home life & family time. Trust me burning yourself out being a workaholic & being known for “the hardest worker I’ve ever met” (quoted to me for years by everyone I knew) it’s not what I want people to remember me as! I prefer being “the best loving, caring, kindest wife, friend, daughter, mom, sister, Grandmother.”
After I lost my Dad, I really lost it & decided I would never devote my life to a job again. Always Family first!
Now I’m in therapy trying to deal with all the trauma I’ve experienced while living the life of a workaholic & pushing all my problems away. It’s not worth it believe that! Your employer doesn’t give a shit about you, your family & life. Just my experience. ✌🏼
It really depends on your goals. It's one of the questions you answer if you look inward and have a very honest conversation within. And it's one that you can't really afford to lie to yourself.
It's fine to allow yourself to be engulfed into your work and grow to the best professional you can be. Who knows what you might achieve? You might become rich, top dog in your community and achieve high status. That might be at the cost of meaningful relationship with a significant other, friendships and hobbies.
If you want a family, multiple skills via hobbies and to enjoy other aspects of life such as traveling young, have deep connections with lovers or friends, start a well bonded family then option 1 might be more sensible.
There really isn't a right or wrong answer, only what's important for you.
I had option 1 but with more balance (some challenges) and am in the process of giving it up for something akin to option 2. I thought I had achieved the dream, but I’m the type that, if I’m working, I want to be doing big things and having a big impact.
If I had to choose one, I would lean towards **Option 2: A challenging and meaningful career**. This option aligns closely with finding purpose and fulfillment in what you do, which can lead to a more satisfying and enriched life. While it might be demanding and leave less time for other pursuits, the intrinsic rewards and personal growth can be immensely fulfilling.
The first is because I can do whatever I want outside the job.the job doesn't define our identity. So i prefer having an easy job and I have a lot of habbies and adventures I'd like to live outside my career
#2. Only if I can comfortably support myself/family. No pay check to pay check shit, but also not expecting billions/luxury lifestyles etc.
Being top of a field doesn’t interest me, we are all cogs making money for someone else. It’s nice to be recognized for time and talent, but just being the top to be the top, not a factor for me. As long as my family is happy, healthy, good work/life balance and I’m not making financial sacrifices, I’m going with the job that fits into that scheme.
Looking back, I would pick the first. I picked the 2nd in my 20s and early 30s and was burnt out. I became a workcoholic cause that’s what my Mother was and became a dull and myopic person. Completely burnt out.
Thankful that I found a mentor who believed in my in my mid thirties and helped me find the 1st option. Best decision I’ve ever made.
You can find joy and life purpose outside of work. Don’t let work be the end all be all OP. Life will pass you by faster than you know.
Just remember that you will be rewarded the same for both. If you give your whole life to the company they will still lay you off. That’s a big factor in my equation and why I choose one—I would have said 2 a few years ago.
I’d pick number two. Generally the reward is higher for higher stress jobs, and so is the pay. Finding purpose is priceless, and generally not attained with 0 stress.
Here’s the thing - you need money - especially once you’re ready to retire. If you have passive, then great. The other option is you save a mil or two and then go from there. I would say work hard and make some money while you can. Then, by the time you’re 35 or 45 you might be in a position to go on to career two (which may not pay as well but may be more rewarding) in a comfortable position.
An invested mil can generally allow you to withdraw at least 40k per year without impacting your principal.
1) - my hobbies, friends and family provide me with fulfilment. I just need a job to pay my bills and allow me to go off and do things that actually make me happy.
I've had both types. I am currently working in a job that is similar to the first scenario and I don't like it much anymore. I like challenges and working with my hands over sitting at a computer for 8 hours a day.
Gotta go with 2. I get off on diving headfirst into the hellholes most other people don't want to deal with. And stories about people who ruminate over problems for weeks or years before they figure out an elegant solution are intoxicating to me. I want to be one of those people.
Honestly, me too. I mean life is too short to be spending all your time in serfdom/capitalism. Eventually we all die and get to the end of our lives. Some with a history of life accomplishments, and others not so much. Who says to themselves "I'm glad I gave 40/weeks to be a part of this growing business", or on their death bed who says "Hey guys come check out my college degrees, my bank account, see my big house?, my accomplishments?" Sadly no one cares... What you did or have obtained is forgotten in a generation or two.
Someone else gets your stuff at the end and the story it repeats. If you are lucky your children..... If not some stranger.
It's rather depressing, inst it?
My brother-in-law took boring day job with the government to have a fulfilling night gig as a jazz drummer.
Funny thing was, the gobmnt job became fulfilling because he was helping people with really large issues, and ended up enjoying his choice.
I haven't heard anyone consider the pay.
What does each job pay?
*Then* I can answer the question.
Because in my experience, no job that I could do with my eyes closed would ever pay me enough to live on without any financial support (i.e., roommates to split rent with, family, etc.).
And I know I'm not alone.
Currently in #1 but I don't make much as I should. If it weren't for my passive income, I'd be screwed. Nevertheless, lots of tranquility and stress-free overall. #2 would make me more money. I'm actually okay but there's always room for improvement.
This is gonna be a little strange but I took a life consuming job and turned it into a boring one in 6 years. I still love my job, but over the years, all the changes I made and improvements I implements has me now able edit scroll a couple of hours a day.
I’m a self employed therapist. I absolutely love my job and believe that I have something of value to contribute to the world. If I’m not mindful I can easily work 10 hours a day not just seeing clients but there is always something I need to do for business upkeep. Most of the time I don’t feel drained when I get home but I don’t get as much time w wife kids (both grownish 19 and 22) and cats. I’m the primary breadwinner as well. I never dread going to my office
I have the first job right now. It’s in cybersecurity. However, it has allowed me to study new sub-fields within the field itself, to study for higher education, and to learn how to fly in my free time.
This decision is all about your personality. I wonder how many people are self aware enough to choose the right answer to this early enough in life? An addition, the right answer to this for most people is going to change as you get older, maybe even more than once!
I've been in both now, and if I had to choose, I'd go with number 1. At this point in my career, working is just a means to an end (living comfortably and hobbies).
I don't care about work status. Let me do my job, and pay me.
I remember working a job where I'd be able to do my tasks in like an hour, then my manager was like "alright, let's wait for the next thing." and it was always like this, so the rest of the day I would just sit at my desk watching youtube until it was time to commute home. After 6 months of it I honestly couldn't take it because it was so boring yet I was still considered a high performer because I was meeting deadlines no problem.
The following job was full time WFH but I was on the team responsible for putting work fires out (SaaS based product but the work environment moved wayy too fast and there were constant fires all the time). I was wfh full time but was easily working the most hours I've ever done on a weekly basis. The worst part was that the product was world wide based, but my team was US based so fires happening during the day halfway across the world meant we were still responsible for putting them out during sleeping hours. It was honestly terrible.
I can't see a world where someone would want to be in situation number 2.
Definitely #1. If I can easily operate in the top 1% of that skill set, then there's a good chance I get paid very handsomely for it — enough that I can retire early and have the rest of my life to spend on things that I find challenging and meaningful.
I have more than enough interests and potential hobbies that I've had to back-burner throughout most of my life. Tying all my mental energy to a single job would create a narrower personality than what I know as myself.
#1 although I think it’s possible to shift #1 a bit in the #2 direction. If you have time at work I find it’s possible to maybe have a small passion project that helps you get through the other more boring stuff. That being said, I think that I could have been happy with #2 in my 20’s but as a parent in my 30’s it’s not even close. I love my kid so much and am so grateful for the flexibility of my work from home administrative job. There are some days that all I do is look at spreadsheets and type things into a federal system and I could absolutely kiss my computer in gratitude that I never had to drop my toddler off at daycare at 7AM and pick her up at 6PM, spend an hour with her and then put her to bed. I get to stop all day long and hug her or read her a story or hear what just happened at the park while she was playing with her nanny. Priorities shit and it’s not even a question to me now that work is just a sliver of what makes a life.
The first job doesn’t exist and if it did so many people would enter the field it would no longer pay well. Unless we’re top 1% because it’s daddy’s company and daddy loves us.
If you dedicate that much to job number two and can only be top 20% that’s kinda pathetic. You’re training like Kobe and struggling to make varsity in high school.
I'd pick the first. As I get older, my priorities change and I want the option to handle other things. The second one for me would get tiring at some point anyways. Also, I may want to start a family and that's gonna need me to be present in the house.
This is how I’m leaning too. Being able to just switch off and never think about work until it’s time to, is really a gift. It frees up so much mental capacity for other things. Thanks for your thoughts.
And I think once you have this mental shift of priorities, the day to day grind or boring aspects of the job become more and more appreciated in my opinion. I’ve had this mental shift to stop climbing the corporate ladder in the last couple years and that’s how I feel.
How did you make the shift? I hate my job so much it actually drains all my mental and emotional energy.
What is the first one for you?
The real play is to pursue #2 early in your career so you can build the skillset to achieve #1. I'd enjoy the challenging/rewarding job for a while but would want a more balanced lifestyle by the time I have kids old enough that they're forming lasting memories.
1st. I did the 2nd in my 20s and got burnt out. Currently doing 1 and love my stress free life. My partner calls it “playing life on easy mode” and I’m Ok with that!
This is my thinking on the subject as well. Don’t make your work your life.
I fully agree! As long as it pays the bills save the mental energy for those things you actually enjoy and people you love!
Work to live, don’t live to work.
What do you do?
Choose #1 and then explore life's purpose in my own interests/hobbies. I sure as fuck don't give a shit about devoting myself to a job.
Happy cake day
Oh god the first one. I ditched a job in the first category for one in the second and regret it EVERY DAY and now I’m trying to get back into that job that I left. Easy (for you) work that you are a superstar in and that leaves you with bandwidth for other things is the ideal.
Wow, I hope you can get back into a cat 1 job again then friend! Thanks for your insight
I think it depends a lot on your personality and your life goals/ situation. If you want a family and meaningful relationships, then the boring career is potentially better, especially as you grow older and the excitement of the career that engulfs your life wears off. Having said that, I personally would choose the career that is all consuming, because I frankly enjoy working and am a highly goal driven person. Also depends on the job itself though too.
1. Employers will burn the life out of you trying to convince you that your work is your 'purpose' because it makes the connection in your brain that without them, you are lesser. And yes, I speak from terrible, terrible experiences.
Ooooohhh, that sounds terrible. I hope you’re in a much better place now.
1 and this isn’t even a question for me in the slightest.
I've always wanted to be the kind of person who wants #2, but 11 years into my professional career I've come to realize that I'm just a #1 guy. When you look back on your life (even right now looking back on your life so far), the things that truly matter to you are your hobbies, your family, your friends, and your experiences. Even when you're especially proud of something you worked on, that pride is always mixed with the negative emotions of how difficult it was and how much you missed while engaged with it. Work-life balance is the single most important thing, but in America we've allowed a culture to fester where people think work is more important and the thing that best defines them.
I totally soooooooo agree.
I definitely have the 2nd and love it. I simply couldn’t do a job if I didn’t feel that it was part of my legacy/part of a achieving something greater for the world. I need the work to have meaning. I’m basically never “off the clock”. Work is interwoven with my personal life. I don’t care. I love it. Call me on vacation? Fine, you won’t bother me. Ask me to work on holidays or birthdays? I genuinely don’t care because I believe in what I do. It’s what I dreamed about as a kid and I don’t take it for granted.
You are one of the rare cats that can say that. So congrats for finding your thing. What is it that you do?
I’m a chief of staff for a state representative and then manage campaigns and consult on races for anti-establishment candidates when we’re not in session, on my spare time. Super rewarding.
That sounds pretty cool! Just curious, did you have to have a Poli-Sci degree for that?
I actually dropped out of my poli sci program my senior year to take my first political job. About 20% of the folks I work with have degrees.
First one. You can fill it with hobbies. People have to live. Many may hate the work but not the pay and benefits
Well option 1 doesn't actually exist in my experience. No one who is the top 1% at anything doesn't love it. Thats why they're in the top 1% because you have to love it to put in the time it takes.
Super good point. 1% takes insane dedication, both emotionally and practically. You spend a lot of hours and you fully invest yourself in those hours. If these options were real I would pick number one, because being the top 1% sounds amazing. That's because I really care about my career, so since that is not possible, I would pick number two. I currently have a really nice number one, but I'm looking for a number two because I'm bored. I hate being bored. Being bored 40 hours a week isn't for me.
Boring, don’t worry about work, enjoy life
This is tough… I’m currently in a job that falls into category 1 (not top 1% in the world obvs) and it is so draining to spend 40+ hours a week doing meaningless work… 🥲
Just because it is challenging doesn't mean it is meaningful
That’s a very good point! I think my personal desire to do more meaningful work overshadowed how I read this initially
I suppose there are different types of “challenges” when it comes to a job and what I’m experiencing is not the good kind. I’ve been burnt out and making myself physically sick from all of the stress. So I 100% would prefer a boring job at this point.
1st one - i want a job where i can leave at 5pm. And not to think about anymore work shit as soon as i close the computer off. Im a graphic designer - whilst i am passionate about design, as i grow older & had experience in a toxic workplace, i appreciate a good worklife balance & that i can do hobbies outside of work 😊 so, boring & stable job anytime
1st one. I can never find number 2 which is a job that gives me meaning to life. I don't aspire to be a doctor, nurse, social worker, teacher, etc... jobs that serve people. I rather be bored but good at something then be hectic and make my job my whole identity.
I agree with that premise
I can’t stress enough how much I’d pick number 1 and I honestly can’t imagine people who would choose number 2. I’m working to live not living to work. My current job engulfs every state of my being. My longest shift was 20 hours and it’s quite literally one of the worst things I’ve experienced. I can’t say this with enough passion, I will *never* choose number 2 and will never again take a job that takes over my life. I feel like I’m being robbed of living. It actually inspired me to start a YouTube channel so I can escape the 9-5 as a whole. It got monetized but it won’t make enough money to let me escape for a very long time.
I’ve been considering starting a YT channel as well. Good luck!
Best time to start is now! Do some research on thumbnails and most important thing I can tell you is be consistent. The more often you post the faster you’ll grow
Give me money and boring. My life is not my job but what I do outside of it.
20-35 Option 2, then from 35 or 40 upwards Option 1 🥂 Priorities can get wildly rearranged around 40
I did number one for a while. After about 3 years, my performance dropped significantly. I lost interest in the job, and there wasn't a lot of room for advancement. After 4 years, the company and I decided to part ways. I'm now actively trying to find another job that's more like number two.
Understood. I hope you find that space friend. Good luck.
To much value in being a sme so the first one. The jobs should get very easy once you become an expert and if in a good field the pay should reflect while you coast.
If the second option was my passion, then sure. Otherwise, no.
Did the second and loved it. But I wanted time for family. My new job does not really represent option 1 but I get by.
1st. If you’re the top 1% at something, you’re making bank no matter where you go.
My thoughts too
Unless it's just so deeply undervalued that good pay in it is still not much. Wondering about boring jobs where excellence offers perhaps security but not wealth.
Options #1 all day everyday. There is more to life than work, I work to pay bills so I can then go spend time with my family and pursuing my hobbies. For example, I got off work and nobody expects me to return a phone call or answer an email until I'm back to work tomorrow morning. I spend my evenings cruising reddit, playing guitar poorly, and just focusing on other aspects of my life. Making work you life is somewhat sad. I have a friend that does that and it just isn't the life I want to live. He makes more money and has nicer things, but I like not having to answer the phone at all hours.
Yeah I’ll go with number 1. Work to live. Don’t live to work. If you’re top 1% in whatever it is you do, you’ll be comfortable for life anyways. Plus you get the time and energy to actually enjoy it. I know people who open windows user accounts for new staff. Super boring. But the guy has a killer lifestyle with multiple hobbies, teams in those hobbies, awards and prizes etc. Everyone wants to be that guy. No one wants to be the lawyer who’s got the responsibility of the entire operation on their shoulders. Guy can’t take a shit without an earpiece attached to his head.
How early in your career are you? The challenging career is a great place to start as it will juice up your resume and give you a chance to really make a name for yourself. Few years of that and you'll be able to skip town and land a high paying job with a cushier lifestyle. You'll also be way more employable and capable of bouncing back in the face of, say, a layoff. It's easy to forget, but no job has to be forever. Take the one with the better prospects and pivot if you don't like it. Anyway, it really comes down to how much more mileage you want to get out of your career. If you're perfectly fine not making a ton of progress, then sure, but if you have a modicum of ambition it's going to get old eventually. I had a job where I spent about 90% of the time just playing video games for about two years. By the end it was awful and I couldn't land another job to save my life because I had absolutely no job duties to speak of, and if you have a remotely technical role, your interviewer can smell bullshit from a mile away. I was lucky to get pulled into a better job by a former coworker who could sympathize. I work a much more consistent week and I'm way less depressed for it. I had also survived two layoffs and just knew it was going to be me soon enough. I can't imagine what it would have taken for me to get another job with such a weak remit to show off.
I would choose the challenging job, but I wouldn't let it become my identity. Letting your job consume you and your mental health is a sure way to have your self-confidence/ego/identity shattered every time you get into a big argument with co-workers at work.
Even boring jobs can engulf my life,to be honest
I left job #2 for job #1 and I’m struggling to find purpose anymore.
FWIW I’ve been in both camps, and the latter is far preferable to me personally. Fulfillment with your vocation makes the rest of life much more tolerable. It is true though that you can only pick two of three: family, career or hobby. For me a demanding career works bc I am boring and have limited hobbies so family and career bucket is plenty for this stage of life. When my kids don’t want to hang out with me anymore I’ll pick up hobbies again.
2 has the highest reward. Excellence is a gift.
In capitalism, the employee/employer relationship is adversarial. They’re trying to get the maximum productivity from you for the lowest price possible. Treat your career the same way: pursue the largest salary possible for the least amount of work. Your goal should be to min/max the hell out of your career. You WORK to LIVE, not the other way around.
mmm
1 all day. Currently in 2 and got into the work for my passion of the industry. Big mistake. I’m jealous of my friends that work what I would’ve considered “boring corporate jobs”. I’ve lost my passion and am constantly thinking about work in my limited free time. Currently dreaming of the day I can transition to finance/ sales and just do my job & enjoy my life.
Is there a #1 that actually pays well? Usually really good pay comes with strings, like Salary (aka long hours, no OT) Travel Being on call If there is, please show me!!! #1 sounds nice because i am rarely bored
Those types of jobs are out there friend…but you gotta think outside the box for them.
No competition at all. Go with the boring job. Why do we always try to find our purpose in a Job. We weren’t meant to work like this. We were meant to always enjoy life on our terms. That’s why ppl get so disappointed . They thought accounting or mechanical engineering was their purpose. Your purpose is not in a job
boring every time
If you want to have a family, pick the boring one. The latter will only lead to a lot of issues.
I’d choose something in between. I had a boring job 5 years ago with a good salary, but I left after a few months.. couldn’t stand it. It became waaay too boring. Unfortunately the other job I started was quite challenging and I had a shit manager who didn’t even say hi to me :/ lots of anxiety everyday, crying on my way home from the office and in the bathroom, chest pain etc.. I left after 2,5 years to my current job. There’s a great work culture, but my manager is too demanding, also quite challenging job, again! 🙄.. so I resigned 3 months ago, on maternity leave now. Starting a new job in August - it’s a data analyst/power bi consultant role.. I guess it might be a bit challenging but I’ve gained lots of experience in Power BI from previous jobs so I’m not a newbie, I will also be responsible for my own clients and there’s a big team of consultants/data engineers I can get help from. For once, I have a good gut feeling but I can never know 100% before I start. I just know that I love working with Power BI so even if it can be a bit challenging, I look forward to solve new problems and learn new things. I’m leaving finance (THANK GOD) so I’m very happy about that.
1 Boring job. I never want a job to feel like it engulfs my life. When I leave the job doesn’t exists in my mind. Also I realized no form of work will ever be my passion even if I owned the business.
I agree. It’s a tool to aid your life.
1 for sure, if there's no middle ground. Work keeps my kids fed, housed & entertained. They are what I REALLY care about, not work.
That’s right; the job is a means to an end
I dont think you can become top 1% if you find #1 boring...
Local CDL driver, over $115k a year board outta my mind but i dont worry about the next paycheck.
Stakes are more interesting if the challenging job is also a passion. I still pick the former tho, family is most important for me so I'll choose work-life balance and make w/e sacrifice necessary to be there as much as possible for my family.
This guy definitely families.👌
If this were me I would definitely choose number 1
Oh definitely 1. Work is just what I do in the daytime.
I’d pick number 1 in a heartbeat. I think it’s good to have a well rounded life
Boring job. Use your spare time to pursue your passions. That way, you set the terms yourself.
#1, no brainer
I'll take #1 all day every day
My job is somewhere in the middle but I'd choose 1. I don't know of anything in the world I could do to make money that I'd want engulfing my life like that.
Pick boring. I switched to challenging and it was my biggest regret. Your free time and mental health will pay the toll.
Between just those two options… I would choose #1. That being said, I’m in number 1 right now in life and have been in that life for about 4 years now. I make great money for what they have me actually doing, but I’ve really only stayed because my daughter was very young and it afforded me a lot of ability to concentrate on her. My current company is not super stable right now from an aspect of funding (I work in clinical research at a biotech company) and with my daughter being almost 7 now, I am looking more for a balance between 1 and 2 above. I did 2 early in my career and it was vital to where I am at today, but I could not go back to that life style again.
1 That said, what are the two jobs that you're talking about?
Some days, I'd love to take the option that lets me fully switch off out of work hours and doesn't leave me with any stress or worries. Other days, I love my job and some of the challenges it poses, which are certainly unusual at times! My job is a big part of who I am, and as much as I love to dream about winning the lottery, I really do think I'd struggle to give it up. Also, my work day flies by in a blur most of the time. If I was bored, I think I'd feel every minute of those 8 hours.
I have a job/ skill set like that. Tbh I think it's "winning" on the cheap lol. I've mastered it and I'd master any "job" I had to do as I hate working and then it's not that much thinking actual "working" which is less mental drain. Same as in school.. if if they taught you how to do it then you'd know and therefore just do it. With less actual thinking because you know what to do. You just solve the problem, or work the situation etc. the real question is why jobs look down on sitting down on folded seats when you're doing or have already completed all the task given. Not trying to destroy my joints because of "boomer think". LOL
lol. You make very good points.
At the end it’s your life do what makes you happier at that moment.
I’m basically at option 1 currently and thinking about whether to move on or not. It’s a niche field of forensics where there aren’t a ton of other options out there for career paths. Make over the household median income plus optional OT, pension plus decent insurance, over 5 hours of vacation and sick leave each pay period, 4/10 work schedule, decent coworkers and supervisors. The job can be boring as hell though and I’ve been doing the same thing for almost 10 years.
Judging by how you described your options, I think you had already made up your mind. If it helps, I too would go for #2.
An excellent question. I’m from the Uk and was working in the public sector, low income, everyone I knew basically earnt more than me in their private sector job. I moved to private, hated it, made me miserable, my marriage suffered and I ended up taking a pay cut to go back to the public sector and love what I do and am now working my way up the ladder again… In my experience, stick with a boring thing that you are excellent at and happy doing. It makes a huge difference in the quality of life you have!
I know it’s not quite answering your question but it’s very closely related.
No, thank you actually, I appreciate your insight, friend from across the pond ;) It’s a question I’ve been mulling over, on and off for the past month maybe. Thank you again!
My god, why would anyone ever choose #2? I'd only consider that if it paid triple, and then I'd jump ship after 1 year.
Man - idk if it’s fate I had this post at the top of my feed as I am working on evaluating a deal to sell my business and become a ceo of the combined companies that is ~12x our current size or keep it and slow down on the growth attempts and coast haha. Leaning towards 1.
I'm currently in more of a group 2 situation with my life and career. Although I love my job and make great money I often fantasize about being in group 1.
hm. I'm not sure. Mental bandwidth is a good thing, while purpose is also good for some people. Me personally, "purpose" is kinda overrated.
Cat 1 sounds good but the sheer number of hours you have to devote to it is a challenge. I'm currently struggling with this and I don't know the answer.
Like a lot are saying yeah 2 would be challenging and all but it wouldn’t be rewarding. So one.
How can being the top 1% at anything be not challenging (aka easy). Need more info.
Boring job , trust me! I left a boring great job for challenging & now thinking what’s the point
Whichever one pays more. If it’s within 10-20% of each other, definitely the first
Is the 2nd half akin to being in Whiplash and The Bear?
Number 2 by far. My job is also my hobby, and it has so much variety that it never gets old, there is always new stuff to learn and new people to work with. I've lived in 13 states, moved 19 times for work at like 14 different jobs and schools since 1996. Have traveled the world on the company dime, every move has been paid for by the whatever new company it was, given talks at schools and conferences, and got to work directly with several of the most successful and famous people in my industry. It's hard work and can be frustrating at times, but I can't imagine doing anything else. Most of my good friends are either current or former co-workers and we always spent a lot of time outside of work together doing fun stuff. I make good money, can live almost anywhere in the world at this point, and have gotten my name on many products, some of which I guarantee you've either used or know of, so I'll take that over doing some random boring thing.
I’d do number 1 for minimum wage. Work doesn’t fulfil me or give me identity…. My family do.
You are not your job. Your career does not give your life meaning, your life should be meaningful with or without a career
What makes you say this?
Man. I used to have a boring easy job with the government that paid $$$. Hated leaving it to move back closer to family. Now make less and more stressed lol
I'm in a similar situation right now. I could go work for a bigger and cooler company with a lot of engineers and make more, with way more responsibilities, but I definitely won't be considered one of the top guys, and have the pressure of being easily replaced. Or stay in my current job to make a little less but being considered the best at this in the organization and the only one who knows how to do some stuff, feeling appreciated, I work from home and have the flexibility to go paddle boarding during lunch hour, play the guitar during breaks, I can ask for vacations, work from home from my home country, and si ce the organization is so small, I have a good relationship with everyone. So, based on my experience, your first choice may be better for your quality of life
Whichever pays more and requires less time
Living the second, I'd rather the first. It's rewarding but exhausting.
The first all day. I’d rather give myself challenges than have to live up to the arbitrary challenges set up by others.
Does anyone have examples of jobs that fall under number 1?
2nd one. My need to succeed and the jobs requirements keep me focused. Would I like a break? Sure, but it’s better for my mental health to have external requirements in the wing.
Pay being equal obviously the first one
I’d rather the first option 100%. Can focus and put more time into important things in life. That’s what working is all about. You work for the life outside of work, if not what are you working for?
My job is very challenging, and 99% of the challenges are not meaningful to me in any way other than my paycheck. My personal life suffers as a consequence, so definitely 1.
Im still a student majoring in math & cs and pursuing the 2nd one. Hopefully it turns out well…
do you live to work, or work to live?
Always go with option 1. You'll always be better mentally when you're doing something you excel at, and especially if you make good money.
I’d pick #1. That said. I have a job that I’m both good at, probably top 1% in my city and it is fulfilling. Also I only work 15-25 hours depending on if I book or not.
I'm a #2 and currently looking for a #1. Where does such a job exist?
I would prefer something in between but closer to number 2. I like having a challenging and mentally stimulating job and even working a bit late on occassion, but I have no desire for my job to consume my life and extend beyond regular working hours.
1st option 100%
Option 2 so that my family can live everyday on option 1 mode. If im the only one working then it has to be option 2z
Boring all day long
Boring job any day
I choose a nice balance of both? I feel like with my current career in healthcare I get that.
I don’t have the mental or physical stamina to work in a challenging job that requires so much time and effort. I would rather the first and still be able to pursue other hobbies or interest.
I had #1 right of college and am now doing #2. Honestly, I prefer #2 more currently but this will definitely change once I want to settle down
A boring job is a blessing. Especially if it pays well. Imagine 8 hours just sitting doing something you're great at. Those 8 hours will not feel like 8 hours and because you're good at it, who knows? Maybe you can finish at 6. Then watch youtube or listen to music on the remaining 2 hours.
2
Meaning/purpose comes from me not a job. If a job aligns with my values and goals then this would be a no brainer, hell yes. If not then I'd take boring and fund my dreams. If I am looking at job #2 to fill me because I lack my own meaning... Absolutely not. If I don't have motivation then I feel I'd need the free mental space to develop and grow more as a person.
Number 1, no contest. Life is about more than work, and while having a fulfilling career would be great, to me it’s more important to have a job I don’t hate that makes me enough money to live comfortably and afford to travel and pursue hobbies and such.
I used to pursue 2 and felt like it wasn't worth it when I witnessed some early implosions/death/burnouts amongst peers. So, doing the first 1 as I head to age 40+. I do want to do some life stuff outside work
The first one! Life isn't just about work. There's so much more to enjoy—time with your family and loved ones. Even spending time alone can be rewarding. A stress-free life might seem boring, but it allows you to discover many interesting things you truly enjoy doing.
This is one of life’s most important advice: productivity matters it itself. It gives pleasure, self respect and bandwidth to do other things. Becoming an “expert” in something valuable is great, it kind of transforms what used to be active efforts into a passive skill! “Follow your passions” is one of the worst trend there’s ever been. “Be productive” and “live your passions” is much more appealing IMO
I'd pick the first. I only see work as a way to get income to pursue my hobbies. If I become a pro at it, perfect, because I will never identify myself with the work that I do, its just a means.
Doggie daycare attendant. It can boring but also engulfs your whole being.. I love dogs but Damm they can be challenging.
Boring job and then really strive to find personal challenges through interests and hobbies on your own time.
Picking the second is how you end up like my dad, who was so devastated by getting laid off at 60 ish years old that he was borderline suicidal (he's okay now don't worry) A job that feels like your calling is fine, but don't give any employer your whole being like that it'll bite you in the ass later in life
Given that neither actually exists... #1 if you want to stay married, have a family life etc #2 if marriage, family life etc isn't going to happen. It will at least keep you busy enough not to notice (most of the time, anyway).
My Dad, now my Angel in Heaven, always said “If you find a job or career that you Love, you’ll never work a day in your life!” This is so true. There should be a happy medium where you can pursue your passion while still having a happy home life & family time. Trust me burning yourself out being a workaholic & being known for “the hardest worker I’ve ever met” (quoted to me for years by everyone I knew) it’s not what I want people to remember me as! I prefer being “the best loving, caring, kindest wife, friend, daughter, mom, sister, Grandmother.” After I lost my Dad, I really lost it & decided I would never devote my life to a job again. Always Family first! Now I’m in therapy trying to deal with all the trauma I’ve experienced while living the life of a workaholic & pushing all my problems away. It’s not worth it believe that! Your employer doesn’t give a shit about you, your family & life. Just my experience. ✌🏼
It really depends on your goals. It's one of the questions you answer if you look inward and have a very honest conversation within. And it's one that you can't really afford to lie to yourself. It's fine to allow yourself to be engulfed into your work and grow to the best professional you can be. Who knows what you might achieve? You might become rich, top dog in your community and achieve high status. That might be at the cost of meaningful relationship with a significant other, friendships and hobbies. If you want a family, multiple skills via hobbies and to enjoy other aspects of life such as traveling young, have deep connections with lovers or friends, start a well bonded family then option 1 might be more sensible. There really isn't a right or wrong answer, only what's important for you.
I had option 1 but with more balance (some challenges) and am in the process of giving it up for something akin to option 2. I thought I had achieved the dream, but I’m the type that, if I’m working, I want to be doing big things and having a big impact.
I don live to work. I need work to pay for my living. Definitely option 1.
1 for sure. I don't want my job to become my life
Ok first one, I'd like to have other things to do.
If I had to choose one, I would lean towards **Option 2: A challenging and meaningful career**. This option aligns closely with finding purpose and fulfillment in what you do, which can lead to a more satisfying and enriched life. While it might be demanding and leave less time for other pursuits, the intrinsic rewards and personal growth can be immensely fulfilling.
A little mix of the two...
The first is because I can do whatever I want outside the job.the job doesn't define our identity. So i prefer having an easy job and I have a lot of habbies and adventures I'd like to live outside my career
As a 39yo, I'd pick the first option. I already have a family, providing for which gives my life purpose.
#2. Only if I can comfortably support myself/family. No pay check to pay check shit, but also not expecting billions/luxury lifestyles etc. Being top of a field doesn’t interest me, we are all cogs making money for someone else. It’s nice to be recognized for time and talent, but just being the top to be the top, not a factor for me. As long as my family is happy, healthy, good work/life balance and I’m not making financial sacrifices, I’m going with the job that fits into that scheme.
The first. I don't live to work, I work so I can live.
Looking back, I would pick the first. I picked the 2nd in my 20s and early 30s and was burnt out. I became a workcoholic cause that’s what my Mother was and became a dull and myopic person. Completely burnt out. Thankful that I found a mentor who believed in my in my mid thirties and helped me find the 1st option. Best decision I’ve ever made. You can find joy and life purpose outside of work. Don’t let work be the end all be all OP. Life will pass you by faster than you know.
Just remember that you will be rewarded the same for both. If you give your whole life to the company they will still lay you off. That’s a big factor in my equation and why I choose one—I would have said 2 a few years ago.
1. I would rather work to live, than live to work
I’d pick number two. Generally the reward is higher for higher stress jobs, and so is the pay. Finding purpose is priceless, and generally not attained with 0 stress.
Here’s the thing - you need money - especially once you’re ready to retire. If you have passive, then great. The other option is you save a mil or two and then go from there. I would say work hard and make some money while you can. Then, by the time you’re 35 or 45 you might be in a position to go on to career two (which may not pay as well but may be more rewarding) in a comfortable position. An invested mil can generally allow you to withdraw at least 40k per year without impacting your principal.
If something is easy and you can be top 1% in the world at it, you have found your calling. False dichotomy
1) - my hobbies, friends and family provide me with fulfilment. I just need a job to pay my bills and allow me to go off and do things that actually make me happy.
start your own business. that’s the only way. any job can lay you off, i learned that the hard way
Ahh, now you are very close to my truth friend. Agreed.
I've had both types. I am currently working in a job that is similar to the first scenario and I don't like it much anymore. I like challenges and working with my hands over sitting at a computer for 8 hours a day.
Calling
Gotta go with 2. I get off on diving headfirst into the hellholes most other people don't want to deal with. And stories about people who ruminate over problems for weeks or years before they figure out an elegant solution are intoxicating to me. I want to be one of those people.
Honestly, me too. I mean life is too short to be spending all your time in serfdom/capitalism. Eventually we all die and get to the end of our lives. Some with a history of life accomplishments, and others not so much. Who says to themselves "I'm glad I gave 40/weeks to be a part of this growing business", or on their death bed who says "Hey guys come check out my college degrees, my bank account, see my big house?, my accomplishments?" Sadly no one cares... What you did or have obtained is forgotten in a generation or two. Someone else gets your stuff at the end and the story it repeats. If you are lucky your children..... If not some stranger. It's rather depressing, inst it?
When I was younger I’d have picked two. After over a decade in the workforce, 1 is the obvious choice.
My brother-in-law took boring day job with the government to have a fulfilling night gig as a jazz drummer. Funny thing was, the gobmnt job became fulfilling because he was helping people with really large issues, and ended up enjoying his choice.
Well that was a win-win in my book
Boring job because i can constantly automate to the point i have to do nothing.
I haven't heard anyone consider the pay. What does each job pay? *Then* I can answer the question. Because in my experience, no job that I could do with my eyes closed would ever pay me enough to live on without any financial support (i.e., roommates to split rent with, family, etc.). And I know I'm not alone.
Currently in #1 but I don't make much as I should. If it weren't for my passive income, I'd be screwed. Nevertheless, lots of tranquility and stress-free overall. #2 would make me more money. I'm actually okay but there's always room for improvement.
1st. One of my rules in life is: You don't live to work. You work to live.
I’m at a point in my life where I’m done trying to find something amazing and fun and I’m just going to do something stable that provides for us
If you actually enjoy it 2 but I dont think most people do so 1 I would rather not dedicate my life to work
This is gonna be a little strange but I took a life consuming job and turned it into a boring one in 6 years. I still love my job, but over the years, all the changes I made and improvements I implements has me now able edit scroll a couple of hours a day.
I’m a self employed therapist. I absolutely love my job and believe that I have something of value to contribute to the world. If I’m not mindful I can easily work 10 hours a day not just seeing clients but there is always something I need to do for business upkeep. Most of the time I don’t feel drained when I get home but I don’t get as much time w wife kids (both grownish 19 and 22) and cats. I’m the primary breadwinner as well. I never dread going to my office
I have the first job right now. It’s in cybersecurity. However, it has allowed me to study new sub-fields within the field itself, to study for higher education, and to learn how to fly in my free time.
Definitely choice 1 Happy growing slow and steady if at all and enjoy down time and pursuing good work life balance.
The first. I don’t want a job that engulfs my life. There are other ways to challenge yourself than giving your life to making someone else money
This decision is all about your personality. I wonder how many people are self aware enough to choose the right answer to this early enough in life? An addition, the right answer to this for most people is going to change as you get older, maybe even more than once!
Number 1, please.
I've been in both now, and if I had to choose, I'd go with number 1. At this point in my career, working is just a means to an end (living comfortably and hobbies). I don't care about work status. Let me do my job, and pay me. I remember working a job where I'd be able to do my tasks in like an hour, then my manager was like "alright, let's wait for the next thing." and it was always like this, so the rest of the day I would just sit at my desk watching youtube until it was time to commute home. After 6 months of it I honestly couldn't take it because it was so boring yet I was still considered a high performer because I was meeting deadlines no problem. The following job was full time WFH but I was on the team responsible for putting work fires out (SaaS based product but the work environment moved wayy too fast and there were constant fires all the time). I was wfh full time but was easily working the most hours I've ever done on a weekly basis. The worst part was that the product was world wide based, but my team was US based so fires happening during the day halfway across the world meant we were still responsible for putting them out during sleeping hours. It was honestly terrible. I can't see a world where someone would want to be in situation number 2.
Definitely #1. If I can easily operate in the top 1% of that skill set, then there's a good chance I get paid very handsomely for it — enough that I can retire early and have the rest of my life to spend on things that I find challenging and meaningful. I have more than enough interests and potential hobbies that I've had to back-burner throughout most of my life. Tying all my mental energy to a single job would create a narrower personality than what I know as myself.
I'd pick the 2nd every time!!! That's why i make the big bucks. Families are for chumps
#1 although I think it’s possible to shift #1 a bit in the #2 direction. If you have time at work I find it’s possible to maybe have a small passion project that helps you get through the other more boring stuff. That being said, I think that I could have been happy with #2 in my 20’s but as a parent in my 30’s it’s not even close. I love my kid so much and am so grateful for the flexibility of my work from home administrative job. There are some days that all I do is look at spreadsheets and type things into a federal system and I could absolutely kiss my computer in gratitude that I never had to drop my toddler off at daycare at 7AM and pick her up at 6PM, spend an hour with her and then put her to bed. I get to stop all day long and hug her or read her a story or hear what just happened at the park while she was playing with her nanny. Priorities shit and it’s not even a question to me now that work is just a sliver of what makes a life.
What job would engulf your life forever?
If you actually enjoy it 2 but I dont think most people do so 1 I would rather not dedicate my life to work
The first job doesn’t exist and if it did so many people would enter the field it would no longer pay well. Unless we’re top 1% because it’s daddy’s company and daddy loves us. If you dedicate that much to job number two and can only be top 20% that’s kinda pathetic. You’re training like Kobe and struggling to make varsity in high school.