Patterns

As I reflect on the passage of time in the work world, I believe there is a pattern. As I observe others, still working in my field, I experience deja vu. Here's what I think happens -

The twenties

• you are ecstatic to have a job
• you are passionate about your job
• you work hard to let others know you deserve this job
• your hours are long, to learn your craft, to be good, to be better, to make a difference

The thirties -

• you still have passion for your job, but the realization hits that working years loom large
• you work hard at your job because you have some great ideas to implement
• you are beginning to carry some credibility with your closest peers
• supervisors begin to give you responsibilities
• you feel like an adult in the work world
• your hours are long, to hone your craft, to be even better, to excel
• you realize that making a difference is not easy
• you throw out ideas, to mostly have them rejected, it disappoints, you thought you had a voice

The forties -

• your passion for your job ebbs and flows, is there something better?
• you work hard, but you notice that the hard work is taken for granted, you notice that others don't work nearly as hard and they receive the same work rewards
• your hours are long and you work hard on balancing home and work and personal life
• your credibility increases along with the work load
• you increase your involvement in meetings, hoping to make a difference, you realize your voice still is not heard, but you persevere 

The fifties -

• your passion is smaller, your passion is deep, but you look ahead to no longer working at this job and find solace
• you want to work as hard, but you can't, you just can't give that kind of time because you thought with all your credibility, with all that you had done, someone would be there to back you up, to guard your position, to create a safety net and you realize it was never there. 
• you realize, this has just been a JOB
• you are a number
• you are an employee
• you are not integral to the lifeblood of the system
• you are still vocal, but no longer to give ideas, but to speak for those who will not, to have a voice, any voice be heard
• you realize that making a difference is an ideal
• you realize that when you walk away you have done what you were capable of at the time
• you can and will be replaced

The sixties -

• neat and tidy your career is wrapped up in a box and placed on a shelf
• it was good
• it is over time to move on
• to something different
• use your brain in another way
• be curious and discover
• make a difference in your own life