Why are we constantly facing the message that unless you’re aiming for something that isn’t a ‘traditional’ working model, you’re not doing it right?

I’m not sure if it’s the content I consume on social media (my ‘likes’ generally consist of anything to do with kittens, puppies, travel and food) but some days it feels like I’m bombarded with ads and content about how to ‘escape my 9-5’. On some of my more cynical days, this really causes a burst of frustration to course through my veins.

I know I’m lucky. I stumbled upon a profession that I truly love. Without realising, my early career actually pulled a passion out of me that I didn’t know existed. I can sometimes be a bit hard on myself about the word ‘passion’ – it can be easy to associate passion with adrenaline-seeking hobbies or things that can be considered edgy or cool. But passions can be in the seemingly mundane too. Finding ways to make people’s lives easier is a passion of mine – sure, I’m not going to get a hot instagram post from that, but the feeling when I solve a problem that has been negatively impacting someone’s day is a very fulfilling experience for me.

I know that there are plenty of people who don’t like their jobs or their careers. I have personal close friends who would love to be working in their passion industry, but can’t for one reason or another – be it immigration restrictions or simply the dream role not paying enough to support a comfortable lifestyle in an incredibly expensive city.

But when did a ‘9-5’ become such a negative thing? Why are content creators making people feel like if they’re not chasing a dream that doesn’t involve working regular work hours or being sat in an office for a large chunk of the week that they’re in some way not exciting enough? When did it become ‘uncool’ to actually enjoy something that is consistently presented to you as a mundane ambition?

I’m a firm believer in ambition. I’ve always been drawn to people who want to further themselves in a variety of ways. But furthering yourself doesn’t mean you want to be a CEO or an entrepreneur. Hell it doesn’t even mean you want to be a manager or a leader. And that’s not a negative thing. Being the best you can be at whatever you enjoy doing the most is an incredibly positive aspiration.

I was recently in a Lyft on the way to the office early on a Sunday morning. My team were doing a significant data migration as part of a major business critical systems upgrade and I was going in to both provide moral support and help out with any crises as needed. I thoroughly enjoy bringing the spirit of a team up who are exhausted and running out of steam (I crack a LOT of bad jokes) so although I had been working long days, I was in no way dreading the day ahead. My Lyft driver was asking me what I was doing going into the office – and when I explained briefly, he continued to give a very long speech about how you should never work for someone else as when you are an employee you a just a number that no one cares about. He straight up told me that you cannot be happy in a job when you are working for someone else. On the way to dropping me at my very corporate office (which was in sight). After I told him I worked as part of a corporate structure.

It was such an unnecessary spiel from someone who knows nothing about me – my life, the things I enjoy, what I actually do at work and what I do in my spare time. And it got me thinking. Why do people feel the need to do this? Why are we constantly facing the message that unless you’re aiming for something that isn’t a ‘traditional’ working model, you’re not doing it right?

Does anyone else get annoyed by this or should I go and up my CBD intake and just stop reading things on the internet? Both are probably good ideas anyway to be honest. Interested in differing thoughts / opinions!

Catdog xx