Is it a right or a privilege to love what you do for a living?
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Punk Rock HR and Team Building is for Suckers by L.Ruettimann is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at punkrockhr.com.
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Definitely a right! Unfortunately so many people feel like hating their job is just a reality of life; I, for one, don’t subscribe to this notion. I truly believe that we are all given different gifts, talents, and passions; it’s our duty to focus these gifts into a career that fulfills our purpose and sustains our livelihood.
Interesting question today! At first I thought this was a simple answer- it’s a privilege! Who could love cleaning Port-O-Potties, right? And we need people to do those jobs, so how could it be a right…then I started thinking a bit more. In my opinion, we all have a right to find work we love, and once we find it, we should be grateful enough to understand how privileged we are. Isn’t this one of the benefits of free market economics and a constitution built on the pursuit of happiness?
Ridiculous 21st century western privilege that has culminated in one or two of my chemical engineer first-year employees crying, literally crying, when they get put on projects that aren’t interesting to them.
I always tell them that there are two kinds of experience – the kind you choose and the kind that chooses you – and the kind that chooses you is generally a lot more powerful, provided you learn from it.
They think I must be older and nuttier than their grandparents to come up with crap like that.
@Laurie – Wow…good question. In my opinion, those of us who are PRIVILEGED to be in a county where we have a choice to do whatever we want, it is a privilege (sorry those of you who believe that you are entitled or have a right to this). Be thankful and happy (I know, sometimes it is not that simple)! After that, everything is a choice…your decision (imagine taking responsibility for you).
If you are not doing something that you love (or even like), take control of your destiny and GET OUT. Though it is advisable not to jump without a plan. Take time to figure out what you want to be doing. Maybe take a class in career assessment at your local tech/junior college or job center. Then make your plan and get to work on it! Again, everything is a choice. Refer to the first paragraph…you live where opportunities are endless.
Summary, everything is a choice – take ownership of your choices.
I’m stepping off my soapbox…thanks @Laurie for that morning question.
Priv. Fo shizzle.
I agree, it’s a privilege. Saying it is a right is implying that you should only ever do what you want to do.
It’s a privilege all the way, but you’ve got the right to quit if you don’t love it. Don’t forget it is also a privilege for your employer to have you working for them. My employers are privileged to have me, I’m a good worker, and I often do everyone the service of walking the halls singing “Afternoon Delight” so that it will be in everyone’s head all day.
Couldn’t agree more with lisalotzer. I’m a lousy typer anyway. That would have taken me about 15 minutes.
It’s a BONUS.
I have the right to be privileged. I also privileged to be right.
I think….
The freedom to pursue happiness is a right. Attaining it is a privilege in every sense of the word.
@Frannyo, ooh, that’s a good one and no, I don’t think you’re a nut.
I agree with everyone that it is a privilege to love what you do, but it is your right to do whatever you want that makes you comfortable. This goes in cycles.
It’s a privilege, let me tell you.
@David Manaster I’m with you.
No one is entitled to only do work that they love, but we all have the right to pursue it. And I think society as a whole would be wise to support *all* people in their pursuit of job satisfaction, via quality education, among other things.
I think satisfaction comes down to the level of control and respect one feels more than the specific activity. I’ve had dozens of jobs, and late-night diner waitress still ranks in my top 3 because I had a boss who empowered his staff.
For me, satisfaction isn’t really about “fun” work either. Some of the most satisfying things I’ve done at work have been some of the most maddening and exhausting. Kinda like childbirth, now that I think about it …
I learned a long time ago – it’s a choice.
I’ve srubbed toilets, and was the best damnn toilet cleaner my boss ever met. I had it down to a science; what cehmicals to use, what tools; and yes I stuck my hand down there. When I was done they sparkled, they smelled nice, and I was proud of my work. I loved the job because I decided to give it my all.
There’s a show about dirty jobs. The anchor puthimselves though the filthiest jobs they can find. Not only is it amazing that he does it, it amazing that people do the work everyday, and most of them are proud of the work they do.
It’s a human nature thing called pride that gets use get through the nastiest experience and come back for more. I don’t think there is any job a person can’t learn to love.
@humanresourcespufnstuf You do? I sing “Muskrat Love” to them over the PA. It’s not as relevant but it’s the backbone of my personal “pursuit of happiness” strategy.
@Tracy Tran so true about it going in cycles. It’s all a matter of balance.
@Mary Ellen- Right on!!! We have the right to keep searching for that job that enhances our meaning. That doesn’t mean we are entitled to find it (or keep it, for that matter).
@Frannyo, I love “Muscrat Love”, I may have to work that into my repertoire. Currently rounding out my top five musical subversions:
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
B-I-N-G-O
Livin’ La Vida Loca
and
Material Girl
I know some people who need to go to this school of thought!
I forwarded this link to them…odds are they didn’t read it! (Hey, you know who you are…Love ya anyway!)
Definitely a privilege
I think it depends on how you’re defining “right.” Obviously you don’t have a right to a job you love in the sense that rights are things guaranteed to you by the rest of society. But it’s useful to have a mindset that you *deserve* a job you love so that you’re willing to leave bad situations and search for something that will make you happy. But a “right”? No.
Straight up PRIVILEGE! You wouldn’t know it though and it will get worse as the “Entitlement” generation enters the working world. I won’t rant but people are shocked they have to work (put out effort) to receive a paycheck.
It’s a right, but in the same way that life or freedom or happiness is a right. Can someone force you to do a job you hate? No, that’s basically slavery. Should you expect someone to hand you a job that you love? Of course not! Just like your own happiness and your own freedom and your own life, you have the right to be free from undue restrictions on your pursuit of your ideal job (this is why we have anti-discrimination laws, for example), but it’s up to you to put in the effort to actually engage in that pursuit.
By way of analogy, nobody has the right to stop me from acquiring food to keep myself alive (through legal channels, anyway, but let’s not get into that) but if I just sit around and don’t do anything to make sure I have food, if I go hungry then it’s my own fault – my rights have not been violated. Same thing at work – nobody’s allowed to stop me from pursuing a job I love, but if I sit around and don’t do anything to get that job, again, it’s my own fault, not a violation of my rights.
So yes – having a job you love is a right, but that doesn’t mean that anyone but you is required to do anything about it.
@Ian, very well thought out, but I still say privilege, and here’s why: The moment you accept compensation from your employer, you’ve made a willing exchange abdicating some of your rights. Although payment indicates we are not slaves, we are in a way “leased” to our employer, and by accepting their payment, and providing our services to better our employer, we are in fact permitting their happiness to supersede ours during the hours of our arrangement.
To be compensated for your labor is in my mind a right. To love it, is a privilege.
I think it is a privilege
Not everybody can do what they love for a living, for several reasons. Not everybody has acces to education, not everyone is born with the looks of a supermodel 
We all have the right to pursue whatever it is that makes our little boats float, but finding it, and convincing someone to give us money to do it, is an amazing and wonderful privilege.
Shoot. You guys are awesome.
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@Eva I truly believe that we are all given different gifts, talents, and passions; it
@Susanne That’s so spot-on.
It’s essential (not one of the choices, but thats how I feel)…
M
@HRPUFnSTUF
I see your point – I agree that entering into an employment contract subjects you to certain obligations and I like your lease metaphor; however, I think it’s relevant to remember who’s doing the leasing – You.
Taking a job does not entail giving up rights (at least it shouldn’t, hence things like employment law and human rights commissions), it entails entering into an agreement where you exchange your skills and labour for money, benefits, etc. When your employer asks you to do something, you do it in order to fulfill your end of the agreement, not because you’ve given up your right to your free will. Yes, you put your own short-term happiness on hold, but you’re doing it by choice and for your own long-term gain, not for the sake of your employer and not because your rights have been taken away.
After all, at any point you have the option of NOT doing whatever you’ve been asked to do (in other words, quitting). You continue to have the right to choose, to pursue other options, etc., regardless of your employment situation. What you don’t have is the right to do so free from other consequences. So no matter your employment situation, you still have the right to pursue your dream job because you always have a choice to either do what’s necessary to get it or to continue to do what you’re doing. Getting a job that lets you love what you do is a right – doing so without having to make choices and face consequences is not, which is no different than any other situation you’ll ever face.
The more I think about this, the more I think that the distinction between right/privilege is the wrong one to look at. I think the more relevant issue is the unrealistic perception that people have of what it takes to get from A to B. You grow up being shown goals and dreams, but don’t get nearly as much information about choices and consequences. I think it’s a major issue (especially facing Gen Ys) that has deep systemic roots – you could implicate school career counselling, American Idol, after-school specials, lots of things. Even the term “dream job” itself. I have a real problem with that phrase.
I think if you are privileged enough to live in a place where:
1. You have access to medicine, food, shelter (without bombs dropping on you), and clean water so that you live long enough to become an adult, AND
2. You are lucky enough to be born with at least an average level of intellectual capacity, AND
3. You have access to a decent education to use that intellectual capacity, plus a home life that allows you to focus on learning instead of survival, AND
4. You don’t have major physical or mental illnesses that make it more difficult (or impossible) to do the things you love
THEN you have privilege of pursuing work you love…and you damn well better take advantage of it, because many, many people in the world have none of those things. We are so fortunate, and we owe it to ourselves and the rest of the world to do what we can to be successful, so we can help those people up as well.
@Mark I also love that answer. Enjoy your vacation, by the way!
@Ian That’s a blog post for you!
@Kerry I love how you come down on the side of accountability. Great minds think alike.
Hi Laurie,
I would have to say both. We all have a right to go after our dreams. I can’t think of anything more important, relative to famiily, than loving your job. Unfortunatley for some, the odds are stacked against them in the sense that they have family obligations that won’t allow them to change their career paths for a plethora of reasons. So, if you’re in a job that you love, consider yourself fortunate. Read Kerry’s post above… she hit the nail on the head.
@Ian I also dislike “dream job.” I think it sets people up for disappointment. I’d prefer to shift the paradigm to something that reflects the reality of most stereotypical “dream jobs,” but “satisfying work” (which far more people have) just doesn’t have a ring to it.
Yes, it all comes back to the central theme of the Declaration of Independence. We all have a right to declare ourselves free from the shackles of bad jobs or bad companies that deny us that basic right to enjoy what we do for work. That’s why you see a lot more job-hopping today as opposed to a generation or two ago.
If you’re familiar with the old ABC-TV series, “The Wonder Years,” set in the early ’70s, you might recall the teenage son (Kevin) telling his family about how a job is supposed to be “fun.” His dad responds rather testily: “Since when is a job supposed to be fun?!?”
It is neither a right or a privilege, but rather it is an obligation. The amount of time we spend at work we need to make sure we enjoy it. Some folks like to complain about work, but it is those folks who like to complain are in their own way fulfilling their obligation!
@Mark An obligation? Wow, that’s putting a lot of pressure on a human being.
@Rick I love all life lessons from THE WONDER YEARS!
@Mary Ellen My dream job is playing with cats. What’s yours?
@Jim You should interview Kerry on Recruiter Earth. She’s awesome. Like 100 x more awesome than anyone I know!