I was working for 6 long years (since 1998) at a temp agency in New York City called Tiger Information Systems.

I started there as a data entry processor at Goldman Sachs, it was sweet back then when I was 22 because it was my first office job and I felt like a grown up for the first time in my life, having a real job.

A year after that in 1999 I went to Warburg Dillon Read, an investment bank in midtown, as a word processor. I worked there for 5 years, doing the same thing day in and day out. In 5 years, Warburg Dillon Read became UBS Warburg then UBS Investment Bank.

The last 3 years I was there because it was the only job I could find that paid well, especially after 9-11-2001 and the recession that followed.

Anyway, I've been so depressed about working there for the longest time.

Last week on Craigslist I saw an ad for a job in a bike shop and sent my resume and got hired. I've been there a week now and I like the job, but the pay is really low.

I quit my office job finally... told them on my birthday this past Wednesday. Anyway, I'm happy but the change is a bit of a shock to me, I'm still in a daze about it all.

Congrats!

I was in the same situation a couple of years ago. I hated my job so much I almost threw up every day I had to walk in there. I just hated it, and I hated just about everyone I had to associate with. They hated that I rode my bike and complained every time I left to go out for my rides (after work, but they expected me to be on call 24/7, the dumbasses). When I left, I took up teaching indoor cycling classes and dance classes, and although the pay is low, I at least can say I walk out with a smile on my face every day. I will find another way to make up the income someday. I'm not worried... yet. But I'm happy!

By the way, I worked for my sister and we owned a medical clinic. That heffa. I can't stand her.

Koffee

Koffee,

That's cool that you got a job teaching indoor cycling classes, if I was in better shape I'd love to do something like that.

I'm a salesman at the bike shop so I get to talk to people about bikes all day long, that's cool to me. I'm only making a third of what I made at the investment bank (that's per hour, I'm working more hours now at the bike shop though), I'm also doing catering once a week or so on the side.

Now is a bad time though because the 2004 bikes are almost all gone but the 2005 bikes haven't arrived yet (Specialized at least), same with all the 2005 equipment.

What bike shop do you work at now?
Didn't you have a messenger job a few months back? How'd that go?

Happiness can be elusive and it is not the destination, rather it is the journey. I've learned in the recent past that money is not the most important thing, life is.

I quit office life after serious depression when I hit 30. Now been a messer for little over 2 years, love my life.

Good for you! Spending 40 hours a week doing something you hate is not worth it. Someone told me once that if you don't love your job, it's time to start looking for another, go back to school, quit and play music on the street corner, etc. Same goes for a program of study you don't feel is right. I haven't had a permanent job in 1 1/2 years, I don't have health insurance, I live paycheck to paycheck...but I'm happier than I ever was when I made more money, had my own office and health insurance, and had to deal with cranky, desperate people everyday.

That would be nice, but so many people are trapped by bills!!
I know that's their problem. My job is OK, but mostly it's the pay that keeps me here.
I'm gonna retire early though, that's what I'm looking forward to!

I start my MAT in January...thankfully. 5 years in the Corp slaughterhouse is enough.

I was a chemist, i may be a chemist again. This afternoon I go off to interview at a bookshop. Maybe go to school maybe not. I don't have money, I don't have much. I'm learning what it's like to enjoy life again. I don't think we were meant for cubicles and bills and most of the crap that permeates the modern life. I like my bike.

When I left art school 4 years ago I took an office job because I thought it would be...funny, I think. Ironic, maybe. A good source of anecdotes, mostly. It grew into a lot of HR experience I never intended to acquire. Being a temp has a lot to do with why I'm happy, though. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel, something better to be had.

i've had some of the best times of my life while being a temp. i was able to move around the country, take time off when i needed to, leave work on time, and not have to worry about a bunch of stuff i didn't really care about anyway. the pay wasn't fantastic, but it was decent enough.

I took a sociology class that said people that reject society's goals are deviants. Material success is important but it isn't everything. I don't mind being poor and in many ways being willing to accept less money is a form of freedom but it isn't freedom to be one accident or illness away from disaster.

I'm trying to find a moderate solution myself. I wish you luck.

I'm lost is that an analogy or a metaphor, damn i knew better than to drop out of high school.

And a rolling stone gathers no moss. And, heck, throw in some more cliches.

See houses have frames too and that is what threw me. But you meant bike frames. I'm going to bang my head on my desk now, please continue.

Well, it all changes when You hit 40 and need to support 2 kids (which I love, don´t misunderstand me) and one wife (which I also love) and just have to make it work. I am rather well paid but would not stay one second if I didn´t have to. One hour cycling a day helps a lot though...

I couldn't even last a year in the corporate environment. With paid boozy lunches and stupid other perks and all. Now I work my ass off, get paid only OK for a single guy but love it, through and through.

Despite what most will say about money, chasing it sucks.

agreed - sometimes it's not worth it. i'll let some other "go-getter" take his share. meanwhile, i'll just do what i do and wait for the money to roll in. it should be starting any minute now...

I have said it before here. Find something that you truely like doing, and do it for the love of it. The money will often take care of itself. You may not ever have as much as you want, but you will have your soul.


fixedgearhead

Sorry, don't go on my PC much now.

I'm working at Gotham Bikes, in Tribeca (112 West Broadway).

It's the best bike shop in the city (and I'm not just saying that because I work there).

If you walk in you're going to be speaking to guys who really love and know cycling, and you'll get the best service in NYC too, hands down!

Gotham bikes ..HMMM./??/ Louie is a old friend and he is good to go!
I remember opening day there.


S/F,
CEYA!

I am thinking about quitting my job moving on, although I do enjoy my work. I work as a chef and if I am not learning anything new I feel as though I am stagnating in my career. The only novelty now is coming from books, newspapers, eating out, not from work. I am toying with the idea of selling my house, moving to NYC or SF, working under some top tier chefs, mooch knowledge of them as long as possible. To bad my wife wants to move to Japan, we might have to go our seperate ways for a while. I guess c'est la vie...

Btw anyone know how tough it is to find a apartment, job in NYC??

Phil

dude, go to japan with your wife. i bet you'd learn a lot there to help your career.

I can understand where you are coming from. I work for UBS Financial Services and I was almost to the point you are at until I got promoted last year. It's a high stress industry. Luckily, after the promotion, I love my job!

How is it that we're all so burnt out?

The guy I worked with that just moved to NYC for grad school had a pretty hard time finding a place. He wasn't looking for a job, but knowing your resume, I don't think you'd have a hard time with that. Getting paid enough to pay for the apartment might be a problem though...

We should take a vacation and go play in traffic out there and check it out...