What are you working for?

Here is a true story of a young man who could not decide what he wanted out of work. After studying for his secondary school certificate, he decided to get a diploma in computer science. He wanted to enter for that course as he was interested in computers.

A year later, he decided to quit the course when he saw some of his ex-schoolmates working and earning a salary. Those friends had their own money to spend. He so much wanted to be in the same situation as those friends. His parents could not do anything to persuade him to stay on with his studies as he felt he could also earn a lot of money working like his friends. Furthermore, he felt that what those friends were earning then was sufficient for him.

So, he started work for a company. Then he noticed that some of the workers who were doing the same type of work as his friends were being paid more. He discovered that those better paid people were better qualified than him and his friends. He suddenly realised that qualification is important. So he enrolled himself in a distance-learning course. He was a salesman from morning until evening and studied at night. Unfortunately, he had a weakness for video-games. That was a problem. It was a difficult choice for him, to study to improve his salary or relax with his video games. Eventually, video games won over his heart and he spent more and more time at them instead of his studies. Of course, a reason or excuse given for turning to video games was that once upon a time there was a guy in the neighbourhood who could help him with his studies whenever he encountered difficulties. Apparently, the helper has gone to live elsewhere leaving him without much needed assistance.

And he wanted to give up the studies. He has forgotten the better salary. He no longer thinks of a better salary. After all, he still has a job. It is not that he is jobless or unable to support himself.

Well, it looks like he does not actually know what he wants out of his work. Perhaps he does not even know what he wants out of life.