Beyond Bored Straight
Jan

If you’ve never seen the television series, Beyond Scared Straight, it’s about troubled teens being sent into maximum security prisons to get a taste of what they have to look forward to if they continue on their current path in life.
They then proceed to shit their pants and cry for mommy.
This article is kind of like that without any pants shitting, although I have been known to weep silently in my office from time to time (and from time to time, I mean at least twice a day).
We all have work days that seem like they last forever and today has been such a day for me. I usually don’t post articles this late in the day (5pm), but I just had to get this off my chest…
As I sit here staring at my computer screen for the eighth straight hour while thinking of ways to kill myself with my hole punch, I have to ask my self, what am I doing here? Why do I continue to torture myself every Monday through Friday? And most importantly, when is it going to END???
If you have come to this point in your career like me, where you have a complete and total apathy for your job, it’s time to move on, period.
Trying to make your day more interesting or challenging won’t work in this situation. Why? Because we don’t give a shit. Not even a little.
Bored or Bored Straight?
Being bored at work is normal. I think everyone gets bored of some aspect of their job at some point. That is not cause for concern. What is cause for concern is this:
- Your energy level is at zero. Your job is sucking the very life out of you and you find that getting up to get a drink is too much trouble.
- You are contemptuous towards some or all of your coworkers. Being angry all the time is no fun, believe me. It’s harder than you think to be in a constant state of pissiness. The silver lining is that you get some exercise working those facial muscles due to your constant frown. 🙁
- You have a deep seated loathing for your boss. When you are at this point, no 3% pay raise or pat on the back is going to make you a happy worker. Your mind is made up-you hate them.
- You have turned into a zombie. You stare blankly at your computer for hours hoping that you might just get sucked into it.
- If your boss knew what you were really thinking, you would get fired immediately.
- You know without a shadow of a doubt that you will quit at some point, hopefully sooner rather than later. It’s a funny thing; companies tend to want employees who are planning on sticking around. Go figure. If they know you are just waiting it out until something better comes along, it could mean a pink slip for you.
If you read any of these and thought “that’s me”, then you may need to start looking elsewhere for a job. Better yet, fire your boss, start your own business, and become more successful than you ever though possible.
The Cure for Being Bored Straight
Unfortunately, if you’re in this situation the ONLY cure is getting out. I’m not suggesting you quit today or tomorrow, but you do need out.
I’m speaking from personal experience here when I say that being in a job where you have lost ALL interest is a quick way to depression. There is only so much extreme boredom a person can tolerate before they start to lose interest in other areas of their life.
This is scary stuff, especially if you have children. Your kids need to you to be happy, energetic, and interested in Phineas and Ferb. Do not, I repeat DO NOT come home wearing your gloomy hat. Your kids are smart and the last thing we want is for them to associate working a job with misery. Unemployment is high enough…
The moral of the story is this; Being uninterested in your job is not a good thing, but being totally apathetic is your mind’s way of telling you to find another way to make a living. When you would rather sit at the MVA all day long rather than go to work, you seriously need to reevaluate your occupation.
Take it from me, I would….

Dino Dogan
Amen brother. That was me last year. And it wasnt even my job that was killing me (I used to love what I do), it was the company I worked for. Anyways, No more of that shit. Making a living, assuming you have a clue, is pretty easy these days and theres no reason to suffer like that.
Steve
Dino,
What’s up buddy? I hear you all the way. There is NO reason to suffer through a shitty job or work for a bunch of assholes.
Jackie Lee
OMG. This was me completely the last 6 months before I left my job (now almost 5 years ago). You’re right, there’s no fixing that… you just have to create a plan and get out. Hang in there…
Steve
Hey Jackie,
Glad to see you got out of a bad situation. It looks like you spent 7 years building your online business. Is this how you support yourself? I would love to hear your story..other than what I can read on your “About Me’ page…
Jackie Lee
Thanks for asking. You can see my whole story on my other website: http://internetmarketingformommies.com/who-is-jackie-lee/
Steve
I really like your story, Jackie. You have definitely put in your time and it’s good to see you are earning a living doing what you love. I love the fact that you made your decision not to go get a job and MADE it happen for yourself in your online businesses.
Jackie Lee
Thanks, at times it’s been a struggle, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. 🙂
Matt Trostle
Although I’ve worked at home for the last 4 years, I clearly remember those days. Actually, since most of my income has come from consulting for a company rather than myself, I still have those days sometimes. I’m fixing that shit this year for sure!
I do wonder though Steve, what if your boss finds this blog? 😉
Steve
Matt,
Good deal, make 2011 your year brother!
If my boss finds this…yea I’ll probably get fired. The good news he is computer illiterate and there is a 99% chance he will never find it..
Keshav
Do your colleagues know that you blog about your boring job?
Steve
No. That would probably be a bad idea….
Jay
Great job describing something i’ve struggled with for many of my 28 yrs in the cubefarm. as i got older, i mellowed out a bit and wasn’t quite as bad, but, i’ve found that you have to keep reinventing yourself with new interests, creative outlets (like trying to figure out Twitter, and blogging, when you’re getting old!)and not let your individualism suffer. the almighty dollar might keep us in these places, but there’s ways to make the best of it. still, some days it’s harder to do than others. thanks for the great content – keep it coming!
Steve
Jay,
28 years in a cubicle, ouch. The good news is that you seem to have figured out how to put a positive spin on things. Without that, you might be as miserable as me!
Ryan Renfrew @LifestyleDesign
What uuuuup Steve,
Being bored shitless is a GREAT thing. It is an obvious sign that somethings not right. We should listen to our feelings of boredom and do something about it, ie. find something that we love and are abso-friggin-lutly passionate about and finds ways to monetise it.
bLAZE yOUR tRAIL
Steve
Ryan,
So true. Our minds will tell us when it’s time for a change. We just need to recognize it and then get off our asses and take action! We need to find what we are most passionate about and create a way to make money from it!
Patricia@lavender
Hi Steve
The last job I had was really difficult and I was so happy when I handed in my notice. I had been in a career I loved and sadly had to retire from it due to ill health. With this other job it was completely different.
Now I am working hard to make my fledgling business a success. Not every day is easy but at least with working for myself; I am so much happier.
The internet has given so many people great opportunities that would otherwise be stuck in jobs they hate. I don’t believe there is any silver bullet to success. Persistence, patience and perseverence with a ton of hard work…..then hopefully success will come.
Patricia Perth Australia
Steve
Patricia,
I love that you are pursuing your passion 🙂
The Internet is so powerful and if used correctly, can be a phenomenal tool for achieving success.
I LOVE having the entire world’s population as potential readers and customers…
Brian Cormack Carr
A great post Steve, and one that really hits it home. You describe a scenario that I remember so well from when I was trapped in office hell…and it’s a scenario I still come across, again and again and again, in my work with clients. I’ve just launched my first online coaching product – a free video series that explores the techniques that can help us all find our “vital vocation”. I salute you for sharing the journey to YOURS so publicly and authentically!
http://www.vitalvocation.com
Steve
Brian,
Thanks and I’m glad this post resonated well with you.
It’s great to see that you are trying to help people with such a huge problem. And you’re even doing it for free!
Thanks for sharing this resource with us.
Harriet`
I’m so glad I didn’t follow the career path my parents wanted for me I think I would have been Beyond Bored Straight as you put it! I think you’re great blogging about topics like this, it gives people stuck in jobs they hate hope!
Steve
Harriet,
It’s so great to hear when people are actually doing something they want to do instead of what most people actually do!
My goal is to open people’s eyes and give them hope, because there is ALWAYS hope….
Thanks for the compliment 🙂