It’s Monday, you’re still at home feeling lousy, and you find yourself missing the office. If you’ve landed a job you love, count yourself lucky. For most of us stuck in cubicles, though, we dream of learning to like a job we don’t enjoy—at least until we can retire.
This piece was inspired by John Schwartz’s book This Is the Year I Put My Financial Life in Order. He’s a journalist who clearly loves his work, even if his money habits aren’t perfect. If I’d written the book, the title might’ve been Cubicle Loathing and Deadly Desk Pranks, filled with worn-in stories from Office Space and The Office. After more than 20 years in corporate life, loving a job felt impossible to me.
Many office jobs can feel like arenas: beat one challenge and another, bigger one appears. Promotions get harder the higher you go, but at least there’s a goal to aim for. A job is more than a paycheck, though I admit it’s tough to see past the money when you have a bad boss, the work drains you, or the commute eats your day.
“Do everything in moderation, even moderation.” Thanks, Confucius. So what now? We can’t all just sit in pajamas staring out the window while everyone else is at their desks. That sounds bleak. For those of us who can’t stand still and like to feel productive, the cure comes in two parts: figure out what parts of your job you actually value, and find ways to recreate those things—like purpose and companionship—once you retire.
Confucius would’ve made a fine blogger. His short sayings still fit today. A few apply here:
– “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
– “It is not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.”
That last one is a smackdown for whiners. Time to work on your emotional intelligence and leave the ego at the door—be a team player. One more:
– “Those people who develop the ability to continuously acquire new and better forms of knowledge that they can apply to their work and to their lives will be the movers and shakers in our society for the indefinite future.”
In short: keep learning better ways to do your job and live your life. Cut the waste. Maybe move closer to work to avoid awful commutes. Don’t settle into comfort—stagnation causes trouble.
Want a raise? You’ll never know if one’s possible unless you ask. I learned that later in my career. If you’ve been performing well and you’re near the bottom of your pay band, have a respectful conversation with your manager. As a manager, I appreciate when people bring this up. I can’t give raises on the spot, but at review time I reward high performers and reliable team members. Fairness matters, but those who hit targets and build relationships usually get more of the pie.
Another option is switching companies. Think hard first. If the real problem is you, hopping to a new place won’t fix it long-term.
Aim for better assignments inside your company. Try to join bigger, more visible projects when you can. Yes, they usually demand extra hours and weekends, which can be rough if you’re starting a family. But if you want higher pay, you’ll often need to take bigger risks and show resilience. Delivering a high-profile project gets you noticed. If you prefer smaller, steady tasks and do them well, that’s fine—just expect rewards to match the level of visibility and intensity.
Today’s market is decent for finding well-paying work. Innovation is on many execs’ minds, and several smart leaders are exploring lean methods and new ways to deliver value.
If none of that works, and you’re not getting what you need, consider jumping ship. Moving companies is often the fastest way to boost pay, but don’t overdo it—too much job-hopping can hurt your career. Some studies show that tenure can be linked to higher long-term pay.
In my twenties, work sucked. I liked most coworkers but I was immature, didn’t respect authority, and made excuses—a bad combo for moving up. I once walked out of a meeting over a small disagreement. In another case, I lost my temper with a boss during a server outage: I was focused on fixing the issue; he was upset that I hadn’t told him. After a lot of yelling, my path at that company headed toward layoff. (He didn’t last there either.)
I told myself I’d be employed until 60 or 65, so I had time to figure it out. Good thing—work still stunk in my thirties. But by then I’d started learning “the game.” Experience and reflection build wisdom if you’re willing to learn. With effort, people change. I improved how I dealt with people and tough situations, but first I had to admit I’d made mistakes.
In my forties I finally landed in a role that matched my strengths and let me perform well. It took about 18 years to get there. Those earlier years, including a layoff, left me jaded about Corporate America. Now and then a small setback still makes me question the whole scene—and that’s when I think about FIRE (and the relief it promises).
Here’s the fun twist: chasing early retirement can actually make you better at your job. Strange, right? When you start planning an exit, you might feel more energized. That better morning routine or escaping a stressful commute can change your attitude. Discovering the possibility of early retirement gives you hope and a sense of control. When your finances are in order, you feel more ownership over your career. That confidence often leads to better assignments and promotions.
I share these thoughts as hypotheses—feel free to point out the holes. But there are real chances to stand out at work if you apply yourself. I have a few pieces of advice that have helped me think, “Yes, maybe I can like this job,” even when I’ve been tempted to pull an Office Space move.
It’ll be interesting to see how Corporate America reacts to the FIRE movement. There’s pressure on the job market and many skilled roles are hard to fill. As a hiring manager, I’d hate having to settle for mediocre talent. Will execs and HR change policies to keep good workers from leaving early? Some leaders think it’s doable—Basecamp CEO Jason Fried argues for calmer workplaces in his book It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work. The idea of a sane 40-hour week sounds great to me.
A blogger at Purple Life put it well: pursuing FIRE isn’t just about money. Even small steps toward financial independence changed how I feel day to day. I’m more secure, and I’ve been able to reflect on the kind of career I want instead of living in fear of what a boss might think.
Lately I’ve become a bit skeptical, but I also find I like getting out of the house sometimes and can tolerate the game most days. My career has had ups and downs, and right now I’m in a decent spot. It took a long time to get here, and it’s ironic that it happened near the end of my five-year exit plan. Will I retire early next year? Maybe—my odds are about 50-50. Not because I couldn’t afford it, but because I might have found a way to make the work worthwhile.
Family life helps—my wife and kids have routines, and I feel a role to play. Until I find an ideal purpose outside a career, I might keep going, using the new skills I’ve developed while chasing early retirement. Stay tuned.
Don’t forget to notice the good parts of your day job. It’s not a prison. After the initial glow of retirement fades, you might miss practical jokes, coffee breaks, or the small stretch goals that made work meaningful. Camaraderie, shared complaints, and free cake matter more than we often admit when planning our exits.
My new personal challenge is to sort these things out before I leave the day job. A weekend away and a sick day on Monday reminded me how badly I’m set up for long stretches at home without work. Funny how I suddenly have second thoughts about a life without the cubicle.