Of all the feelings you can have about your
high-tech career, you should never feel despair. Too often, though,
this is exactly
what I hear in people’s voices -- a sense of despair. For whatever
reason, high-tech careers tend to generate these feelings far out of
proportion to other avenues of work. Many high-tech workers have concluded
that their work, and their lives, will never change, no matter how
hard they try. Let me say to them, and to you, this is sheer nonsense.
Even the smallest action can put you on the road to alleviating your
feelings of despair or avoiding them altogether.
Giving up
The deepest cause of career despair is the simple act of giving up. If you
have decided that nothing will ever change, you’re assuring your own
despair. There is always something you can do until you breathe your last
breath. Some wise sage once said, “Where there is life, there is hope." No
one can make you give up. This is a decision you come to all on your own.
You might not think about it, but over time, you simply stop trying. Instead
of taking new action, you avoid it. Instead of seeking out new challenges,
you focus on rote work you could do in your sleep. Worse still, you start
creating your own excuses for your despair. “They’ll never give
me a raise. I’m trapped in this dead-end job. No one cares about my
work.”
Thought and action, not complaints
I must admit that one of my pet peeves are those people who find endless energy
to complain about their fate, but dedicate none of this energy to finding
a way out. You need to see your unhappiness as a call to action, not a reason
to despair.
It is important to understand that alleviating your despair doesn't require
dramatic actions, such as quitting your job, divorcing your spouse or leaving
home -- although you might eventually do any or all of those things. Rather
it starts with the smallest action -- deciding not to give up.
Next, you need to do some hard thinking. Thinking about what gives you joy.
You probably already know what you dislike about your life, so dedicate some
thinking to the other side. What would you do if you could do anything? What
tools, knowledge or training do you need to get there?
Don't worry about how feasible it is to pursue these activities, just re-visit
them in your mind. You will find that you naturally start to think of ideas
about small ways you can engage in your favorite activities again. Take one
of these small steps and do it. This can place you back on track. Then, choose
another idea, and make it happen. Repeat as necessary. You’re not trying
to run a marathon, simply taking one step forward.
Now, look at your current job. Is there anything you can do about the problems
that have caused you to lose hope? Be honest with yourself. Are any of the
problems of your own making? Can you find a way around them? Are you truly
faced with intractable management issues? Is your manager abusive? Does the
company engage in criminal activities? Are they simply clueless? If you have
truly lost hope in your current company, your only choice may be to get out.
You may have convinced yourself, though, that all the companies in the world
are as messed up as your current one. Once again, this is nonsense. This
is simply something we tell ourselves to validate our despair. Don't fall
into this trap. I can guarantee that there are better places to work, even
if it might take you some time to find them.
Look around you. There are countless people who are willing and able to help
you, if you only rise up out of your despair and give them a chance. Instead
of complaining about your job, ask for their help. Instead, of falling into
despair, take an active role in making your life better.
When you feel that others have given up on you, it is often because you have
given up on yourself. If you want a better career, and a better life, you
cannot accept despair. You cannot, and should not, give up. The future of
your high-tech career lies in your own heart and mind and can be achieved
by taking one small step at a time.
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