Comments on: Landmark Gallup Survey Asks: Who is Happiest With Their Jobs?

By: Annie

Annie — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:51:03 +0000

After two previous careers, one in teaching and one in the mortgage business, I finally found I am happiest as a receptionist . I do believe work does affect wellbeing. As a teacher, I had no time for me, was always in meetings after school and always planning. Those who think teachers have it easy cause they get summers and vacations off are nuts! In actuality, most teachers maybe get off a week during the year. On those other off days, they are planning ahead, writing reports, preparing for teacher meetings, etc. Because the job started taking over not only my life but also my families, I moved on in to the mortgage business.
This move taught me a lot about finances. I can now read and understand a Good Faith Estimate!! However, the stress was ENORMOUS!! After a while, I started dreaming about work and once the mortgage balloon burst, my top boss was threatening our jobs. Not a good situation AT ALL. Then I moved to being a receptionist.
Very little stress, get to make people laugh, everyday is filled with different tasks and I have time for me and my family as well as I don’t dream about my job at all. Happy? Extremely so! Glad for the past jobs? YEP! Because without the experience there, I would not be where I am today.

By: Business Competition Can Be an Arms Race of Goodness

Business Competition Can Be an Arms Race of Goodness — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:24:44 +0000

[...] the reality of competition and deceit and genuine human meanness. I’m expecting people like Bradley Moore and Glynn Young to push me back on this. But darn it, why can’t we just do good [...]

By: Todd Waller

Todd Waller — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 01:55:17 +0000

Brad,

Being one of those “slavish” entrepreneurs, I think David is on to something. While I still have qualms about thinking/saying I can control, or even dent, the direction of my destiny, I can’t deny that it is nice to *not* have to put up with someone breathing down my neck to meet a deadline or performance guideline…other than ones that “I” set for myself.

At least from my experience, I can state that I am wired differently than most and that I am simply aiming for the next step in His will for my life. Oddly enough, that means I get to practice my gifts (from Him) in an arena (He put me there) that has the potential to pay handsomely.

“despite earnest Christian efforts towards modesty in trying to downplay financial ambitions…” And if He so chooses to bless those in His will with “financial ambitions,” isn’t even more expected? (Luke 12:48)

There is a gentlemen in my city that has made it his life’s mission to out-give God! The man is clearly nuts, but his single aim has introduced and/or reinforced God’s love to so many in our community that you can’t help BUT cheer on his business successes!

Ultimately, this discussion comes down to two things, in my opinion:
1 – God’s will and predestination (whole can o’ worms by itself)
2 – Personal responsibility in what we’ve been blessed with

Thanks for helping blow the dust off some little used synapses, as of late…

By: Cindy Hanson

Cindy Hanson — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:07:11 +0000

Hehe… let me apologize for coming across the skeptic… All the world is a veil!!

None the less, I love my job, I am HAPPY there… which also by Gallup polls is listed as one of the most stressful jobs in the US… and I JUST want to add…

I’m as happy at making more than double what I started at, than I was at making less than half of what I am now.
Confusing. Let me state this more clearly, perhaps, what my income is a reflection of my happiness???

Yes, I am pretty sure that’s how things happened for me… perhaps happy people are drawn to certain careers and industries??? this is what fascinates me…

I’m not trying to antagonize you, I am merely pushing the line further, trying to wrap my head around something a little bigger…. thank you for the post! I enjoy my time here.

By: Anne Lang Bundy

Anne Lang Bundy — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:37:43 +0000

(1) Finding and utilizing your God-given strengths, (2) Treating people with respect and dignity, and (3) Creating an open and trusting atmosphere of, well, love. Brad, if that's not a formula for business success, I don't know what is.

By: shrinkingthecamel

shrinkingthecamel — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:09:32 +0000

Cindy ? Skeptical? of Gallup? Come on, now.
I guess we should take all of this with a grain of thought, although it is interesting to explore these ideas. Like Marcus says, they are also very stressful at times. But some of us like a little stress to mix things up, keep the challenges in front of us, right? Otherwise we’d be bored?

David – you brought up that destiny word again. I want to write about that some time. What is our career destiny? Is that even real? Does God predestine those kinds of things? Ok, that is so over my head.

Don, as always, good thoughts on happiness vs. joy. You are right, but joy is probably harder to measure in a Gallup poll.

By: Cindy Hanson

Cindy Hanson — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:51:01 +0000

I’m with you…
However, Gallup never called me,
or anyone in my periphery… hmmm. I know a lot of business owners that might answer those questions differently with a trusted friend than a poll. Just sayin’.

Both my husband and I work in the corporate world and love it. but we’ve been very blessed to work for strong companies… I pray it stays that way.

As for the 333′s…. LOVE the number three, it IS my favorite! but I’m not sure on the statistical data on a great wives tale!!!

By: Marcus Goodyear

Marcus Goodyear — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:53:37 +0000

Yup. Oddly enough those very same professions are often listed as the most stressful. I guess stress and happiness aren’t really opposed.

To the idea of payment, I’d actually say empowerment is more important, once a certain threshold of pay is reached. Of course, in our economy, empowerment and high pay often go hand in hand.

David has a good point too. More than just empowerment, it is a matter of the direct connection between our hard work and the reward we receive. When we know our work results in clear and tangible benefits, we work harder. Go figure.

By: David

David — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:39:54 +0000

BJM

Interesting that those who are most satisfied are those who own their own businesses…. Of course they put in the most hours and although they may have more money in the end, their hourly wage is downright slavish in comparison.

But destiny seems to be a real kicker. We want to call the shots and be our man or woman. We dont want the man telling us what to do. And when he backs off, we are happy.

I wonder how much pride fits into our “sense” of happiness?

David
http://www.redletterbelievers.com

By: donkimrey

donkimrey — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 05:42:31 +0000

Oops! Sorry, I got distracted and sent the message winging before I’d completed my thought. Continuing were I was off stride… created by any circumstances. It comes from well within which Jesus said would not ever dry up. Happy goes up and down, depending on the wind, the weather, the ever changing tides of circumstances. Joy is fixed. It comes from a faith and confidence that can sing in the storms, or feel peace when the battle outside is raging. I like being happy. But for the long haul, I much prefer joy.

As always, good job!