Is the Grind worth it?
In recent months I have posted about the importance of following your passion and also about avoiding the trap of a job that does not provide fulfilment. Isn’t there a huge personal risk in letting that happen?
I received a response to one of these posts that really moved me and it did make me think long and hard about the grind of working for yourself.
Interesting sentiments Greg. Having always run my own businesses and taken risks from the perspective “you’ll regret what you didn’t do” this is something I’ve reflected upon a lot – At one stage I left a very cushy public sector job and we then went through very tough times as the recession hit.
It’s very hard to comfortably make a good living in Ireland now – fair play to anyone who can make more than they could in the corporate world once all salaries, outgoings etc. are paid. I’ve gone back into the corporate world and am making more than I did at my business at the peak of the boom- with none of the recent stress.
At the end of the day all that matters is your ability to educate your children and give them a decent lifestyle. I would guess that that guy at Guinness slept easy at night and his kids have never wanted for anything.
If you have a true vocation it makes sense to do what you do best – and follow that path. However most small business and startups are struggling – I see people grind away for years, barely surviving – and this is not a good place to be over the long term.
When I read this I started to feel a little guilty that maybe I am being a little disrespectful with my blog posts to all of those who have tried their utmost and despite everything it just still has not worked out for them.
I’ve been reflecting on this ..
If you find a better life working for someone else then well done to you – I hope that in Fuzion we are giving our team a good life.
If you find yourself without work then I would encourage you to take control of the situation and try to start off something for yourself. It is hard but it can be great fun (and yes…very worrying and stressful at times).
But, someone somewhere always has to be the starter..
If you try and it doesn’t work … well done, at least it was your grind.
What do you think?
Greg Canty is a partner of Fuzion
