How an Easy Well-Paying Job Ruined my Colleague's Life

Big Picture

We relish challenges from our jobs and roll up sleeves to get things done, despite annoying clients, overbearing bosses and clueless colleagues. What would you do if the company paid you very well, but your job was as easy as taking vegetables from a baby? Would you avoid the disaster which befell my colleague when something like that happened?

Why should you care?

With more experience, your job becomes too predictable. An easy predictable job looks like a godsend, but can be a trap you are least prepared for. For instance; you have been managing 5 customer sales reps for the past 5 years in the same company. Would you avoid the temptations which my colleague failed at?

Case in point: Too much of a good thing

In my first job, a colleague got a well-paying opportunity which fit his character and skills. He found that most clients could be persuaded to buy, if a senior manager called them.

By his second year, his sales bonus was equal to his annual salary, and he "secretly" showed everyone his pay slip. Of course, his Toyota Corolla was upgraded to a Mercedes Benz C Class.

After 5 years, he started reaching his sales target by March, which left him with 9 months of the year to pretend to work. While he dined with senior managers and clients, we were justifiably envious. Who wouldn't be?

However, with too much time and money, things can be a little boring. Why should you stay faithful to one wife? Why should you be chained to a desk with nothing to do??

What set the dominoes was a nasty divorce. Slowly, and very slowly, his best mates would be at his place 6am drinking, no matter what day of the week. And his star unfortunately set, as the company had to cut its ties.

What to do with an easy well-paying job

1. Money is a great resource, but a poor life purpose. You work so hard to make enough to support our lifestyle and family. However, the search for money is not a life purpose. Take time to review your goals, and settle on your life purpose.
2. Challenge yourself in your job. If you find yourself stuck in a routine you can do in your sleep, seek new challenges. Can you do the routine faster and use your spare capacity to learn something else? Can you automate it?
3. Hobbies are a poor substitute for a meaningful life. Being a better golfer, running those marathons and others, will not make for a meaningful life. Look for things like helping other people, joining a committee to reduce crime in your neighbourhood.

Bottom line

The desire to make more money often overshadows the pursuit of a meaningful life. What would you do if suddenly you have much more time and money?

"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well." - Ralph Waldo Emerson