Constantly comparing my earnings with other people

LegacyUser

Lately ive been feeling completely burned out in my job. I started almost 3 years ago in this role, and have gained a huge amount of experience.

I went from a 9-5 job in a big company where i was very unhappy, to being a consultant in a small company. I had huge stress getting to grips with dealing with customers, going to client sites and being confident even if i was dealing with a situation/area i hadnt dealt with previously.

Ive enjoyed getting to where i am, but lately i learned that I can get a better paying job with less travel pretty easily by moving back to a large company.
ive chatted to my boss, and they increased my salary slightly, but not close to what i could be making.

Ive become almost possessed with the fact that i can make more money elsewhere easier, and its making me hate everything about my current job, even the little things that shouldnt bother me. its causing me to burnout, be stressed and irritable all the time.

Worse, when i go on a client site, i always think they are all getting paid more for a lot less effort.

This is not my normal state of mind, and i was wondering if anyone has gone thorough this before, and how i might get over it?

I am considering leaving my current job but would like to see if i can fix my state of mind before doing something so drastic.

Thanks for listening to my first world problems and any help you can provide.

R.D. aka MR.D

Would it being going back to the 9-5 that you didn't like to make the extra money?

if it is then i would draw up a list of pros and cons of each job and that might help you decide.

thefeatheredcat

Bruce_The_Beard wrote: »

I went from a 9-5 job in a big company where i was very unhappy

Bruce_The_Beard wrote: »

Ive become almost possessed with the fact that i can make more money elsewhere easier, and its making me hate everything about my current job, even the little things that shouldnt bother me. its causing me to burnout, be stressed and irritable all the time.

In both situations you're unhappy. What was the reason why you were unhappy with the big company?

Are you generally happy with stuff in your life?

You might think that others - for example when visiting client sites - are getting paid more for a lot less effort..... but you're not considering whatever baggage or headaches come with that job. The pay may be less that what you'd think, because really it is you placing a value on their work, rather than knowing what the actual value/remuneration is for their work. It sounds to me an underlying unhappiness in your life, that is a bit beyond more than pay or feeling burned out and instead of focusing on the real issue that's making you unhappy you're looking at money, earnings and the outcome of a job as a distraction from dealing with the real issue.

I could be completely wrong, but there was a reason why you were unhappy in the big company, unhappy in the smaller company and even been given that bit extra .... but you're still unhappy.

I think that if you're unhappy, then you must be honest with yourself and list out why you're unhappy. If none of it is to do with your pay, then look at your work load. If none of it has anything to do with your work generally, then you must dig away at why you're unhappy, identify the reason and do something positive about it. Perhaps in a way you might be feeling that you have a greater potential than your current employment allows, that you've reached all you can in the role you are in and need / want to move upwards but are somehow seeing it as an easier job but with more money?

As I said I could be completely wrong, but it is worth having an honest exploration of yourself and why you are unhappy.

LegacyUser

With regard to an underlying unhappiness, i think there may be something to that, I think im just tired of the technology industry. Its not what i love doing any-more.

I have two big passions, playing music and taking photographs.
Im a competent photographer, and have considered going professional (i.e trying to make a living from it). I have talked with a number of pro photographers and it is exceptionally difficult to make any kind of living from it.

But not to be a quitter, I have decided to do it on the side for a while, portraits, newborn & family shoots, and other bits and pieces. I have enough requests for this kind of work to at least get me some good experience in the photo business.

I also am arranging to start playing some music with some friends in the evenings again.
Overall idea is not to let work dominate my life. its a necessary evil.

Overall, i need to become more positive about it in my thinking, but also start to peruse some of my passions, do enjoyable things and live life instead of dwelling on negatives.

Thanks for the advise and being a sounding board for my relatively small first world problems!

thefeatheredcat

Well definitely then you should pursue some of your passions OP. Achieving a positive work-life balance isn't easy but it is possible. Perhaps a book like "Search Inside Yourself" by Chade-Meng Tan (google's jolly good fellow) might be of benefit to you?

You could explore within photography beyond portraits.... one news item from months ago on the bbc news site that has stuck in my head was a project undertaken in going around parts of rural China and having portraits of the family members with their possessions. You'd probably have to dig that out, but always interesting. And more recently was the project "the other hundred" a photo story book from submissions around the world in 159 countries telling another side of the various lists you get in the media.... an idea by the CEO for Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT). It was on CNN's website 10th October, but there was an interview on NHK World Friday 18th, on the Asia this week programme.

Even whatever unhappiness you have been feeling you can explore through photography, tell your own story through it and many will be able to relate. Push yourself a bit in a different direction, pursue what makes you happy and do try and make a balance in your life. There's working to live and living to work, make sure you know which side of which you are on.

gugleguy

OP re ur photography why not consider registering on Flickr? I mean just for fun to start off with. I'm into photography a bit , nothing serious and have an account there. Perhaps compare photos from other snappers you see on Flickr instead?