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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by christophrejmc on May 9, 2002, at 1:59:19
tell me what to do, please. I can go door-to-building, handing thick manilla folders to lawyers in suits--three pieces. Nice tie, Chris. Thank you Mr...? King.Mr.King.K.I.N.G. See you later. Replace lawyer with ad exec--I'm told this is the life a "runner." (Oh, and you need to wear a tie, Chris.) Not the worst job... my bro-il suggested it. Make some money. I just skipped my final. TOTALLY F\/C|<E|). Money. I need that. How do you get the green without killing your creativity? A Brave New World -- like flowers? ZAP. I've done hard shit. I've done it well. But I've lost the American Dream instruction manual. And the BoBo's have gone. Do you struggle for your dreams, childhood hopes? Or do you cubiclise Father's Good Advice? I guess "summer job" is not "life career," but, who knows? sorry, didn't want to get too dramatic. Do any of you hire for lower-end jobs? Would you throw me out on my second-hand Birkenstock-esques? I have some nice qualities (BOF CV), but also some... strangeness. Not strange, but not normal. anti-normal maybe. Bookstore maybe. Selling books. Talking to costumers. I could do that. I have wonderfully lousy people skills. They are a joy until someone gets to close to 1 or 2 ... n. I can play ignorant easy, but not about things that are important to me. Should I give up my "youthfull idealism" and just wish for cancer, or is there such a thing as loving your work? At this point, I'm setting my sights low, very low. Can panhandling cover 90 protriptyline a month? Why did I come back from SF to Michigan? blech. This sleeping pill ain't working... Side Effect: incoherent babble posts.
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Posted by beardedlady on May 9, 2002, at 9:23:19
In reply to selling out to the new bourgeoisie, posted by christophrejmc on May 9, 2002, at 1:59:19
(This is long, and some of it's about me, so you can skip over that part to get to your advice.)
You ask some tough questions, but I think the most important one is how to get money without stifling your creativity. If you are creative, that shouldn't be a problem—unless your job wears you down and out.
I worked for an ad agency, a graphic design company, a school, or even a non-profit organziation as a secretary. Oh, how I long for a job like that sometimes--but it requires working with and for people.
I decided a long time ago that I didn't like people bossing me around unless they were smarter than I. I just couldn't respect anyone who wasn't and was in a position of power over me. (I'm sure others will argue about this, but it's one of my personality traits.) So I started my own company, got the papers and everything. (Actually, I started two companies; one was a new magazine that was on the local market for about a year and a half.) It's a graphic design/copywriting company, but I do whatever I can--for money! So I did a little house painting, office painting, wallpaper hanging, decorating, mosaics--in addition to my graphics and writing work.
If I were going to get a job today, I would probably work in a bookstore. (I don't like to dress up either, though I sometimes have meetings with corporate clients, and I have to put on something nice.)
And you know? I don't ever feel like a sell out--even when I'm writing newsletters for a famous office coffee-service company or ads for the local grocery store. I just try to do my best and make everything I do fun. And when I'm inspired, which is often these days, I write poetry and articles and stories.
You can do it, Chris. You can do it without a tie. You may not make a lot of money in a bookstore, but those folks have lots of fun. Think of all the places you like to hang out. Think of the places that inspire you. And apply for a job there. It doesn't even have to be the kind of thing you consider a "summer job."
But don't go for a cubicle. Don't get cancer. And, by all means, don't play ignorant. People may want it, but no one respects it! It's all in your attitude. You can do anything creatively--and with fun--if you don't take the job too seriously and don't let it stress you out. Most important, though, is not to treat yourself as if you are selling out.
I knew a great artist who was working for about a decade at the supermarket ringing groceries. He wanted to be a full-time artist, of course, but while he was at work, he was making contacts for sales. So many of his paintings went to people he knew from the store. And he had a job that didn't give him stress or overload his brain, so he had plenty of time and energy to paint. Eventually, he quit, as his commissions were becoming more involved. But those commissions were commercial things like murals for the airport, etc., where he had to do what a client told him to do.
Where do you think he was more happy? Where do you think he felt like a sell out? (Two different answers!)
I had to take a sleeping pill last night, so my paragraph transitions and organization have suffered. Sorry for the less-than-coherent essay.
Good luck. Keep me posted on your search for job and self.
beardy : )>
Posted by Ritch on May 9, 2002, at 10:09:23
In reply to selling out to the new bourgeoisie, posted by christophrejmc on May 9, 2002, at 1:59:19
Chris,
I think if there is a way to work two (2) part-time jobs that are completely different during the week-that would be ideal. All *tasks* nowadays are defined, measured, and x-rayed to death. The result is jobs which require more than 6th grade language and math skills (sometimes a lot more), but you feel like you may as well be harvesting sugarcane or making toothpicks out of logs (Sammy Hagar). Help, we have become data slaves with *far worse* burnout than sugarcane harvesters (they had backaches). Your brain's left hemisphere gets wound up into a big clock spring. If you could just put a clothespin on your nose and do the left-brained (nobrain) stuff just 2-3 days, and then have a right-brained "people" job for a day or two and still get the benefits?? FWIW, I was reading something a few weeks ago about managers of cubicles farms who are trying to deal with depression and burnout from their employees.. anyhow it mentioned that this type of structured work environment will have to change to keep people around.
Mitch
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