I think for a living.
It’s my job here at the Agenda to come with ideas that our viewers want to know more about and to think about how we can discuss issues in a critical and balanced manner. I enjoy my job and getting to use my brain at work. But, it hasn’t always been that way.
I have been pretty lucky in the job department for the most part. I haven’t had to work at a fast food restaurant, no heavy manual labour and I haven’t had to clean in order to earn some cash (my childhood allowance aside).
But, I have worked at some pretty unchallenging service jobs. I worked at a Leather goods retailer in high school. It didn’t take any serious outlay of brainpower to sell leather jackets, but showing some personality helped. I didn’t have to develop my cerebral cortex to do the job, but I did learn how to hone my interpersonal skills. That’s as important in my job today as it was in the store. Especially when I am interviewing possible guests and getting them ready for an appearance on television.
I encountered less stimulating phone work at a call centre for a couple of years during university. I sat alone in a little office on weekends and evenings, waiting for the phone to ring. (At least I didn’t have to make cold calls, I guess.)
I didn’t really mind the job mindlessness though. If nothing else, it was a break from class and study groups, even a chance to catch up on my homework and reading. It was a win-win for me. I was basically paid to do my homework.
It’s jobs like these that make me wonder if there is a place for routine-oriented jobs in our economy. Is it possible that not everyone wants to have to do heavy thinking on the job? Maybe some people want to put in their time, get their pay cheque at the end of the week and that’s it. In order for an economy to flourish does everyone have to think and be creative?
I talked to a couple of life coaches when I was researching for this program. This is what they had to say:
Michael Palmer:
“Feeling valued is a core human element. We all want to belong. I think we all want to be creative and contribute in some way."
But, does that mean we have to contribute when we are at work or can we do it in another venue of our lives?
Kimberly Moffit: “We all enjoy our jobs for different reasons. It could be creative stimulation or it could be physical stimulation or the meaning of a job could be in their pay cheques. It depends on the person."
Perhaps some people have other talents they would rather use at work other than brain power. Using strength on the job for example might be very meaningful to some people.
What do you think. Does every job need to be creative or thinking-oriented or is there a place for mindless routine oriented jobs?
