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Admitting that you have no ambition?

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Comments

  • #32
    Nody
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,649 CMod ✭✭✭✭Nody


    sozbox wrote: »
    Thanks for the detail. One last question, I've started buying stocks and have the house deposit almost ready but something that eats into my money is the transaction and account fees that come with the online brokers. What did you use?
    //MOD

    Investment forum over there so let's keep the thread on the original topic.

    //MOD


  • #33
    Wanderer2010
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,743 ✭✭✭Wanderer2010


    davo10 wrote: »
    Should someone who works the minimum required be considered for promotion? And if they are not promoted, should they be entitled to criticise the people who do put in the extra effort and get rewarded? I have no problem with those that are happy with their lot and do not begrudge others when they advance, but employers look for the three A's, aptitude, attitude and ambition, if you do the bare minimum and accept the status quo, don't denigrate others who reap the rewards of a better work ethic.

    Would you consider a person who does twelve hour days someone who has a better work ethic than somebody who does what's required of them in eight hours ?


  • #34
    dudara
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 33,518 ✭✭✭✭dudara


    There's a big difference between someone who maintains a sensible work life balance and someone who thinks the company employs "licka@@". Having little/no ambition is one thing (lots of people are comfortable where they are), but to sit there with negative thoughts towards your co-workers and employer is damaging. The OP's attitude is probably partially the reason for their own dissatisfaction. Ultimately it becomes a self-fulfilling destiny.

    If you don't enjoy working for the company, and you don't like the atmosphere there, then you should consider finding another employer.


  • #35
    fly_agaric
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,722 ✭✭✭fly_agaric


    Wanderer2010 wrote: »
    I told my boss last year when he suggested a senior role that I'm not interested as the wrong people always get the job and now I feel that recently I have been set up for failure by being assigned harder jobs with tighter deadlines.

    That could be your problem rather than lack of go-getting being frowned on etc.
    "They" generally do not like to receive that sort of feedback from their minions (even if it's true).
    You should have said you were "too busy", have "other stuff going on in my life", "promotion is not for me right now" etc - not I don't bother because the promotion procedures are a joke!


  • #36
    davo10
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,926 ✭✭✭davo10


    Wanderer2010 wrote: »
    Would you consider a person who does twelve hour days someone who has a better work ethic than somebody who does what's required of them in eight hours ?

    "So I now do the bare minimum at work" . Your words. Yes is the answer to your question if the person does more in the twelve hours than the other does in eight. You can argue that you are more organised and efficient and can do more in eight than someone else does in twelve but that does not tick the attitude and ambition boxes, it reads as you typed it, you will do the bare minimum and bitch about those who do more and are promoted, of course they must be arse lickers or less talented than you, or maybe they just go that bit further to be noticed.

    Have you posted a similar thread before?


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  • #37
    hawkwind23
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,189 ✭✭✭hawkwind23


    Nice to read some of the comments on here , hope for the younger generations yet :)

    You only get one life so do what makes you happy.

    I can understand how once your in a career you love that you dedicate yourself to it.

    A lot of jobs are just to make money for a board , no real job satisfaction other than purring and stroking your ego for making the company money, why would anyone dedicate their existence for that?

    If you do make sure and save the money , what you thought was cool and unique in your 20's and 30's becomes cringable in your 40's and you will start wanting out.

    My main advice to someone who starts thinking for themselves is to sort out expenditure , once you get that sorted then money isnt really a concern anymore and you can do jobs that you like and enjoy rather than to match a lifestyle you bought into


  • #38
    La Fenetre
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 736 ✭✭✭La Fenetre


    Wanderer2010 wrote: »
    I'm in my job just over 8 years now and over the years I have seen opportunities for senior roles and promotion come up and frankly the wrong people have secured them and by that I mean company pole climbers who would cut your throat for an extra euro or else yes men/women who suck up to the boss.

    Quite a few Irish workplaces have gone toxic and dysfunctional over the years due to poor management skills, and they end up getting more of the management they deserve, and they reap what they sow. A lot of Irish workplaces don't release the value of morale and motivation. You'll realise the huge difference in the quality of management, morale and motivation when you land in a good workplace.


  • #39
    davo10
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,926 ✭✭✭davo10


    hawkwind23 wrote: »
    Nice to read some of the comments on here , hope for the younger generations yet :)

    You only get one life so do what makes you happy.

    I can understand how once your in a career you love that you dedicate yourself to it.

    A lot of jobs are just to make money for a board , no real job satisfaction other than purring and stroking your ego for making the company money, why would anyone dedicate their existence for that?

    If you do make sure and save the money , what you thought was cool and unique in your 20's and 30's becomes cringable in your 40's and you will start wanting out.

    My main advice to someone who starts thinking for themselves is to sort out expenditure , once you get that sorted then money isnt really a concern anymore and you can do jobs that you like and enjoy rather than to match a lifestyle you bought into

    Yip, if you live in a shoebox and dumpster dive, you only have to work one day a month. Of course for the rest of us who have family's to support and mortgages to pay, every wage increase and promotion is important.


  • #40
    Ursus Horribilis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,168 ✭✭✭Ursus Horribilis


    It depends on the person's attitude. One of the people I manage is a woman who views her job as something that puts money in her pocket so she can enjoy her life outside of work. She's not interested in promotions or anything like that. But she is also an absolute pleasure to work with. She comes into work, does everything that's asked of her and sometimes more, is nice to everyone and doesn't cause any problems at all. Someone like that is an asset to a workplace in my opinion. There's nothing worse than having to deal with someone who has an attitude problem. I've had those too and they can be a right headache.


  • #41
    hawkwind23
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,189 ✭✭✭hawkwind23


    davo10 wrote: »
    Yip, if you live in a shoebox and dumpster dive, you only have to work one day a month. Of course for the rest of us who have family's to support and mortgages to pay, every wage increase and promotion is important.

    Good rise on tonight ;)

    Ah i could be cutting but the poster maybe needs a hug instead of another person trampling all over them.

    For the record and benefit of the thread.

    Most people have mortgages and families to support.

    The crude definition of where one habituates depends on whether its referred to as a home , a lot of houses and apartments all over ireland.

    How did the old saying go?

    All fur coat and no knickers


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  • #42
    Wanderer78
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,437 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    this thread is kicking up some very important things though. i think we re heading in the wrong direction on many levels. in order for people to gain financial stability so that they can afford the necessities in life, many have to work incredibly long hours and endure very stressful working environments to do so. somethings going wrong folks.


  • #43
    La Fenetre
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 736 ✭✭✭La Fenetre


    Odus fell down wrote: »
    It depends on the person's attitude. One of the people I manage is a woman who views her job as something that puts money in her pocket so she can enjoy her life outside of work. She's not interested in promotions or anything like that. But she is also an absolute pleasure to work with. She comes into work, does everything that's asked of her and sometimes more, is nice to everyone and doesn't cause any problems at all. Someone like that is an asset to a workplace in my opinion. There's nothing worse than having to deal with someone who has an attitude problem. I've had those too and they can be a right headache.

    No business can be successful in the long term without supporting employees like this. They are also the first to move on when management goes toxic and ignores morale and personal development.


  • #44
    Jaketherake
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 91 ✭✭Jaketherake


    Wanderer78 wrote: »
    this thread is kicking up some very important things though. i think we re heading in the wrong direction on many levels. in order for people to gain financial stability so that they can afford the necessities in life, many have to work incredibly long hours and endure very stressful working environments to do so. somethings going wrong folks.

    This.
    And these days it takes two members of a household working like slaves to make a living too. Not easy. It also takes two working to buy a house now too.


  • #45
    Wanderer78
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,437 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    Jaketherake wrote: »
    This.
    And these days it takes two members of a household working like slaves to make a living too. Not easy. It also takes two working to buy a house now too.

    and this is why theres something going seriously wrong. we ve taken a wrong turn somewhere and this needs to be rectified asap or there will be serious trouble ahead


  • #46
    Heroditas
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,202 ✭✭✭✭Heroditas


    La Fenetre wrote: »
    Quite a few Irish workplaces have gone toxic and dysfunctional over the years due to poor management skills, and they end up getting more of the management they deserve, and they reap what they sow. A lot of Irish workplaces don't release the value of moral and motivation. You'll realise the huge difference in the quality of management, moral and motivation when you land in a good workplace.


    I'd completely agree with this. I've ended up in a position in the last year where I've started managing people. I absolutely love it but was really delighted to be sent on a brief management course in the IMI.
    If more workplaces sent people on courses like it, they'd end up with far more competent managers who could connect with their teams and everyone can achieve what is required of them.


  • #47
    Elessar
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,260 ✭✭✭Elessar


    You may not want a promotion for those reasons OP but you went about it the wrong way. As someone else pointed out you should have been more professional about it ("I'm too busy outside of work right now, it's not the right time etc"). By all means bring your concerns up regarding promotions with your manager but make it professional and without appropriating blame directly. Anyway it sounds like you're unhappy there so it seems like it's time to look for a new job.

    I'd agree with the other posters who spoke about work life balance. It is absolutely insane to be working regular long hours that are not paid. I'm lucky enough in that where I work there is no expectation of this, and it's highly unionised anyway so it wouldn't fly. However I've a friend working as a software developer who also puts in 18 hour days, for a relatively low salary. I find this absolutely mind-boggling. Working in IT I understand that there is a certain expectation to do this to get work done but anyone who does this regularly needs their head examined.This is not the type of workplace you want to work. Personally I plan to move into contracting eventually, not just for the money, but for the set hours, and guaranteed overtime pay (i.e. if you're not paid, you don't work).


  • #48
    Icepick
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,453 ✭✭✭Icepick


    You sound like a spoilt child blaming others for your failures, OP.


  • #49
    Tom Dunne
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,202 ✭✭✭✭Tom Dunne


    Icepick wrote: »
    You sound like a spoilt child blaming otgers for your failures

    Yes, those pesky otgers. Always causing trouble.


  • #50
    Ursus Horribilis
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,168 ✭✭✭Ursus Horribilis


    I have seen your other thread(s) about this and they stuck in my mind for some reason. Perhaps it's the tone of seething bitterness that comes through in them. You've made a rod for your own back here and it's not because you claim you're not ambitious. It's your attitude which stinks.

    In just about all workplaces there's room for people who just want to come into work, do an honest day's work and go home. In some ways they're the nicest people to work with because they're not interested in playing the game. Your problem is that you decided to take the passive aggressive road. I'm sure everyone in the place knows you're doing the bare minimum and have become very negative and cynical. And that's before you said what you did. That really wasn't clever at all.

    You really should be looking around for another job rather than going into battle. Be pragmatic- you're going to need a reference from this lot. Maybe they are giving you tough jobs but how can you meet your targets when you're doing the bare minimum anyway? You've also damaged your relationship with management. You could have gone to them and said you'd need more time or more resources. Should you go to HR be prepared to have sh1t thrown back at you. You're far from being an innocent party in all of this.


  • #51
    Streetwalker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,906 ✭✭✭Streetwalker


    In work at 9 and off at 5 every single day Monday to Friday. After 5pm I have zero work related stuff until 9am the next morning, no emails, no phone calls, nothing. Yes the pay is crappy but every day I'm home at 5:20 on the dot to spend time with my family and do after work activities. I won't be retiring when I'm 50 that's for sure but I'm good with that because I know people who have retired early only to be unhappy after a couple of years. I've done the stressful work your way up the ladder whilst the company ride you like a fool jobs and at the end of the day you are nothing to them bar a number and they would drop you like a hat if they deemed it profitable.

    I think the way employers have acted these last few years in particular has been pretty disgraceful (not all but many). They have seen a way to use the depression to in many cases terrorise their employees into going well up and beyond their daily hours. I've heard stories of employers using job bridge to "remind" employees just how replaceable they are all the time aided and abated by weak governance.

    To be perfectly honest unless you run your own business I can see no wrong in having a lack of ambition.


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  • #52
    hawkwind23
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,189 ✭✭✭hawkwind23


    To be perfectly honest unless you run your own business I can see no wrong in having a lack of ambition.

    See we are all different and all have different ambitions and goals , different backgrounds , different family lives etc.

    What really fecking irks me is this insistence that we are all the same and anyone who wont work through their lunchbreak or work 12 hour days is a failure and not part of the workplace, someone to be mistrusted and this is heightened when they ask about their rights.
    And of course in larger companies management exploit this and abuse their employees.

    We are bombarded by media and sold lifestyles , fair enough if your into all that but remember there is room for all types in the workplace , we are not robots as much as industry would like us to be.
    have a bit of respect for your fellow worker , who knows what problems or issues they have or what their motivations are.

    And every job is different , some people are dedicated to their jobs and money doesnt come into it , others are motivated by salary , others dont know what they are doing since they left school and are just plodding along.

    We are all different and in my experience , once any person gets a role that they can get their teeth into , they strive , just they rarely get that chance.


  • #53
    Icepick
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,453 ✭✭✭Icepick


    hawkwind23 wrote: »
    To be perfectly honest unless you run your own business I can see no wrong in having a lack of ambition.
    That's not the point.

    He has no ambition but complains about those who do and blames his lack of ambition on others and the system.

    Tom Dunne wrote: »
    Yes, those pesky otgers. Always causing trouble.


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