How to love the job you hate, but once loved

One of many interesting revelations in tennis player Andre Agassi's just released autobiography is about how he grew up to hate tennis. FYI tells you how to turn that hate into a high chair

How to love the job you hate, but once loved

One of many interesting revelations in tennis player Andre Agassi's just released autobiography is about how he grew up to hate tennis. FYI tells you how to turn that hate into a high chairu00a0

As they say, familiarity breeds contempt; in both personal and professional matters. You may have been enchanted with a career as a kid, but the more you delve into it, the more apathetic you grow towards it. In his autobiography titled, Open, tennis star Andre Agassi confesses to have grown up to hate tennis. That made him fight the game with double the vengeance. But let's set aside the poster people.

You might find solace in the fact that you are only one in a trillion others who suffer from this syndrome. According to a government survey published a few years ago, 87% Americans said that they didn't like the jobs they were once excited about, and always saw themselves carved out for. The reasons are many. And solutions, too. Thankfully.

HOW NOT TO HATE YOUR WORK
} Pursue hobbies. People who sing, travel and go to movies are also happier at work.u00a0u00a0
} Chalk a priority list in life. Place money, peace, love, success in the order that they matter to you, so that you keep your long-term goals clear.u00a0
} Set goals that you can achieve. If your boss asks you to sell the insurance policy to SRK, and you say "sure", you know you are being foolish.u00a0u00a0
} You don't love your girlfriend 24x7x365. There are phases of lovelessness. Similarly, it's alright to not like your job sometimes. Especially when your boss acts difficult or your role seems unclear. It's okay if you feel discontent as long as it's a passing phase.
} Keep updating your skills. The moment you think you have learnt enough, you are heading towards stagnancy.u00a0
} Make sure you have fun at work. Don't be the office sulk.u00a0
} Healthy gossip is like fresh air. Enjoy it. But don't be noticeably bitchy. Play smart.
} Understand that work is not just about the pay cheque: it's a second life you lead, so you need to feel good about the way you spend almost 12 hours of your day (commute and after-hours included).u00a0u00a0
} Do the same things differently. It will keep you hooked.
} Most often, you start to hate your profession when your role becomes unclear. Create a mission statement, discuss it with your manager, be proactive in the responsibilities you want to take up. Challenges help refresh you.u00a0
} If you think you are caught in the wrong job, chuck it but be ready to face the consequences.
} Take a sabbatical instead of leading yourself to burnout. Come back fresh and start anew. Fight what fails you and you will emerge on top.

WHY PEOPLE HATE THEIR JOBS
A poll conducted by MSN has the answers
4.3% Long hours
4.1% Commute
11% Boss
5.9% Co-workers
14% Stress
15% pay
24% All of the above
21% Are you kid-ding? I love my job!

Talk more, tire yourself less, says shrink
Neelam Sharma Consultant, central placement cell, University of Delhi
If you hate something, you'll always find ways to overcome it, especially when you know this is your calling. As placement counsellors, my team members got bored of approaching the same companies every time. So for the sake of doing something different, we started organising open counselling classes, which helped us do the same thing differently. If you never want to get bored of what you once loved, choose your hobby as your profession. Facilitating innovation and interaction will also help subside work-related dismay.

Why work is like a romantic relationship
Every relationship has its moments of apathy and bitterness that can often be misunderstood as developing hate. Similarly, apathy and rebellion towards work is most often transient, and, akin to a relationship, caused by factors like lack of space, understanding and consideration. Just like you pull yourself away from the bond for a while and spend time in solitude before yearning for the special one again, give yourself a healthy outlet to relax and introspect, and chances are, you'll be back with a bang soon enough.u00a0

Why they don't hate their jobs
Pankaj Tomar, 30, BPO employee
Sometimes I feel like I am stuck in the most awful profession. But the feeling doesn't stay for long, because nothing feels better than reading a text that says, "Your salary has been credited to your account."
Gaurav Malekar, DJ, B.L.O.T
I was a lawyer, settled, and making good money. But the only thing I really cared about was music. So, one fine day, I said goodbye to courts and started playing music at a clubs. I couldn't be happier now.u00a0
Sharad Mishra, 27, manager
I don't hate my job because the challenges keep me in the learning loop. Plus, I get the freedom to experiment.
Sandeep Soparrkar, choreographer
Follow your heart. In India, parents decide their kids' profession, and children follow their parents' dreams. Stop doing that. Have your own dream and follow it, because if you do this, you'll never hate what you do.

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