How Do You Work "Hard"?

Here's the thing: When I'm doing any sort of manual labor, be it chopping the winter's wood, digging the horseshoe pit, building stuff, shoveling snow, moving things, etc., I kill it. I work hard and enjoy it....I like the pain and suffering and blistered hands, etc. But I just can't seem to get it to translate in the office. I mean, I work "hard" here, I guess. I surpass goals, do well, get raises, etc. but I don't feel like I'm working "hard". How do your work hard with your ass glued to a chair?

Pop some Viagra, and go to work with a raging mega-boner.

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Originally Posted by Alex P. Keaton

Pop some Viagra, and go to work with a raging mega-boner.

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and if anyone asks, blame it on the pleats

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Originally Posted by crashnburn'd

and if anyone asks, blame it on the pleats

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"No! These pants have an unusually large tent!"

In some cultures, working hard means breaking a sweat, having blisters on your hands, and maybe a little bit of blood.

In some cultures, working hard means having really good math skills, being under budget and ahead of schedule, and being worth the money the company spends on you.


I am like you. I'll clean the shit out of a garage on a saturday afternoon. And I'll powerwash the hell out of that deck. But I just can't seem to get excited about shuffling papers for the man. I have decided though, that if I were shuffling papers for myself, I would be a lot more intense.

Chopping wood, digging the horseshoe pit, building stuff and, shoveling snow are all things that you do for yourself. You get the satisfaction because you did the work AND are reaping the benefits. You would probably feel like you were working "hard" if you owned the company you worked for. Then you would be working AND reaping the benefits.

Answer: go into business for yourself.

It's a bit of a quandry for me as well. Sometimes, I bust a$$, working 12 hour, or more days, totally into my work. But then there are days where I'm posting here all the time (I used to post a lot on one of the USC boards, but I was banned there) or searchimng Ebay or Craig's for bike frames.

So, Rev, do you find your work boring? Do you enjoy it or do you need the physical element? For me, it comes down to the nature of the work at a given time. Sometimes, I have a big deal in the works or there's a problem that requires immediate and focused attention. When I get something that's really challenging, I tend to get pretty geeked up and give that project a singular regard.

make a lot of grunting noises as you lift papers.

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Originally Posted by Viva

It's a bit of a quandry for me as well. Sometimes, I bust a$$, working 12 hour, or more days, totally into my work. But then there are days where I'm posting here all the time (I used to post a lot on one of the USC boards, but I was banned there) or searchimng Ebay or Craig's for bike frames.

So, Rev, do you find your work boring? Do you enjoy it or do you need the physical element? For me, it comes down to the nature of the work at a given time. Sometimes, I have a big deal in the works or there's a problem that requires immediate and focused attention. When I get something that's really challenging, I tend to get pretty geeked up and give that project a singular regard.

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I'm pretty much the same way...(with the exception of the USC board banning)

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Originally Posted by jimmy page

make a lot of grunting noises as you lift papers.

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You keep your mouth shut!

I would definitely say that I work very hard at my desk job some times (other times not, obviously). Like Viva, I can get absorbed into what's in front of me, and very quickly lose 12-14 hours solving a problem. More often than not, however, what feels like I am working "hard" at this job is when I am firing on 10 or 15 different things at once, juggling 5 clients, 3 internal initiatives, and a CEO who mucks things up, in between two 4 day business trips spaced 3 days apart, with one guy out sick who I have to cover for in my spare time, etc, etc, etc. That's when I'm crazy in the head - there's simply so much to do that I barely have time to breathe or remember to snag lunch or return calls or emails. I find myself talking faster and moving faster physically when I'm on one of these runs. That's why sometimes I just vanish from the world for stretches - I literally don't have time to return a phone call from some chick, or an email from a friend.

Sounds awful actually, but the payoff in my case is a good salary, interesting clients, no real boss, and loads of flexibility when the work isn't there, giving me time to ski and goof off an awful lot for a "desk job."

Dunno if that answered your question or not...

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Originally Posted by Yossarian

I would definitely say that I work hard at my desk job some times (other times not, obviously). Like Viva, I can get absorbed into what it's in front of me, and very quickly lose 12-14 hours solving a problem. More often than not, however, what feels like I am working "hard" at this job is when I am firing on 10 or 15 different things at once, juggling 5 clients, 3 internal initiatives, and a CEO who mucks things up, in between two 4 day business trips spaced 3 days apart, with one guy out sick who I have to cover for in my spare time, etc, etc, etc. That's when I'm crazy in the head - there's simply so much to do that I barely have time to breathe or remember to snag lunch or return calls or emails. I find myself talking faster and moving faster physically when I'm on one of these runs. That's why sometimes I just vanish from the world for stretches - I literally don't have time to return a phone call from some chick, or an email from a friend.

Sounds awful actually, but the payoff in my case is a good salary, interesting clients, no real boss, and loads of flexibility when the work isn't there, giving me time to ski and goof off an awful lot for a "desk job."

Dunno if that answered your question or not...

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No. It just tells me why you don't call me anymore. :(

Ohh, boo hoo. I'm just putting in the hours now so we can go touring in a couple weeks. ;)

Kisses (but not...uh, for real),
Cletus

Beware: You can bust ass on those projects likely b/c they aren't what you do every day. Digging ditches is fun for a day but there's a reason why ditch diggers were the lowest form of manual labor 75 yrs ago. Viva la ditch witch. Doing something you love for work often means learning to hate that thing.

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Originally Posted by The Reverend Floater

But I just can't seem to get it to translate in the office. I mean, I work "hard" here, I guess. I surpass goals, do well, get raises, etc. but I don't feel like I'm working "hard". How do your work hard with your ass glued to a chair?

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You have this all wrong. The office is for downtime where you rest and recover from your meaningful activities. It's a good place to plan your next adventure too.

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Originally Posted by Snow Dog

You have this all wrong. The office is for downtime where you rest and recover from your meaningful activities. It's a good place to plan your next adventure too.

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I love this guy. This thread is now closed.

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Originally Posted by lemon boy

Beware: You can bust ass on those projects likely b/c they aren't what you do every day. Digging ditches is fun for a day but there's a reason why ditch diggers were the lowest form of manual labor 75 yrs ago. Viva la ditch witch. Doing something you love for work often means learning to hate that thing.

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I think a lot of people genuinely enjoy hard manual labor, even if it's what they do every day as their job. I've been digging ditches and moving rock for the past four summers and autumns and, though it can be tough, I'm much, much happier than I was when I worked a desk job. Most of my coworkers feel the same way-- there's something very rewarding about jobs that require lots of physical labor (and zero mental stress).

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Originally Posted by Lone Star

there's something very rewarding about jobs that require lots of physical labor (and zero mental stress).

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Ever consider a career in porn?

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Originally Posted by Viva

Ever consider a career in porn?

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thought about it, but my dick is too small.

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Originally Posted by Lone Star

thought about it, but my dick is too small.

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The camera adds 10 pounds.

How do I work hard? My job is basically divided into generating sales that make me money and doing other bullshit. The sales stuff never feels hard because I like it and it makes me money. The other bullshit sucks ass because it is stupid and does not make me money. I find that the majority of my motivation comes in the morning. I always start my day with a list of objectives. I generally rotate between the enjoyable and sucky tasks with a board peek inbetween. I seems to work for me. My thing is trying to figure out if I dislike my job or a just dislike any job that prevents me from doing whatever I want whenever I want.

*PMS induced bitchy rant, fueled by a weekend at work from Hell* Oh how I long for a job where I can sit at a desk, surf the 'net all day, sip on my coffee and not go home completely exhausted. But for now, I'll carry on being overworked, underpaid and very tired. *PMS induced bitchy rant, fueled by a weekend at work from Hell*