The Drive

For 30 years I have been getting up way too early, driving and entering the work place. Then after high school I took the first train out of my home town because there was no work for people like me. I was not connected, supported, or self sufficient.

That train was the US Army. And totally by accident I managed to give the American people twenty years of my life. All the while I was getting up way to early, working way to long, and getting more expectations placed upon me.

After the Army I thought lets try this thing called the business world. I nailed down a job at a fortune 500 company and began to “drink the cool-aid” Again getting up way too early working way too long and getting home way too late. All the while I was getting up way to early, working way to long, and getting more expectations placed upon me.

I left that company because my boss said he hated his job and I thought what was I aspiring to do, compete for a shot at my bosses job, but he hated it, why should I want a job the current owner hates. So off I went to the federal government. Once again I got up way too early, worked way to hard, came home way too late. The difference here is in the government there are plenty of people willing to stand by and watch you run wide open; it means they don’t have to perform. All the while I was getting up way to early, working way to long, and getting more expectations placed upon me.

So I recently changed jobs and the expectation is very different. I am deep inside the bureaucratic center of an organization and wow is it different. Not only are folks willing to watch but they have territorial rights over what you do. They have no problem telling you what your job is and what their job is. Problem is once everyone tells you what there job is there is nothing for you. I have been here four months and I think in actual production time I have completed about 1 week worth of work. The lanes are clearly established and do not cross them even if it is to do good things. Even if are getting up way too early, working way to long, and getting more expectations placed upon you, don’t cross the lines.

I am tiring of the getting up way too early, working way too long, and getting more expectations placed upon me. I am hoping too get out of the race, to change the drive, to take a path less traveled.