Here I'm talking about the jobs that we work in. Some of my friends, maybe most, already step their feet on to their first job, or second, even third job after graduate from university.
I always remember a phrase that stated "Do what you love, Love what you do". I don't even know who said that. But the only thing I know is that, now the phrase has deeper meaning than I thought I knew. Especially when I already taste what it feels like to work.
The idea of an ideal work or working place that mostly influenced by my lecturers in university and people I follow on twitter, like @ReneCC or @yoris, kind of shape my mind that: we should do what we love. Well at least if we still couldn't found it and maybe too tired (or too lazy) to look again for it, we need to love what we do. In words, it is that simple.
But not that simple in action.
No, I'm not trying to persuade you with negative thought, in fact personally I try to avoid negative mind, but reality is sometimes too complex to be simplified. I'll take myself for the example. I work for a multinational market research consultants/agency in Jakarta, when first I found out about market research I found it extremely interesting to work with the data, information, knowledge, insight, and so on. I knew about market research from a marketing magazine named "Marketeers".
Until now I still find it interesting, but...
The reality is not only about big flashy facts that we usually read on newspaper, magazines, books, articles, or whatever. Those big interesting facts need a lot of hard work than I thought before. More attention to detail. Tiny little things need to be done before we can pull the insight. Before the presentation is ready to be presented. Before the infographic is ready to be published.
Lucky me, I work in a company where learning process is praised. Everybody is encouraged to learn more everyday. To learn new thing is a challenge.
An ideal work is a state of mind. We are the one who decide what the definition of ideal is and how to get there. The company you work in will never able to shape the ideal framework of the workplace. Of course they're trying to, but the concept of ourselves lies in our mind.
So I think for fresh graduates out there, the thing that all of us need to realize is that in everything that we do, there will always be a tiny little things that need attention. Sometimes it's so much you wanna get out from the tasks. Even in something that we love.
I think I love economics, so I need to be ready to face everything. I mean, everything. Obstacles, screwed up research, you name it. To earn the point and to climb the ladder to get that BIG FLASHY FACTS!
So don't turn your back when you face this kind of situation.
Have a great day! :)
