Have I Lost It?
Its a question which has been hitting me on and off these days. There are so many things going around these days regarding work that this question pops up every time…
On 4th July, I completed 4 years in the IT industry. It has been a great journey. But somehow I don’t feel its going as good as it was or as it should be. And there are reasons to it…
With each passing year, I was aiming at certain areas that I wanted to cover as part of my learning. But the things didn’t work out as I wanted. In fact, its not working out as I want. I was expecting to learn few management aspects during this last one year, but its been a failure. Thus, seeing even a single thing being mismanaged irritates me to the core! Only positive is that I learned few things which should not be done!
Indian IT is still there where it was! Mostly its extracting from either the ignorance of its user or by providing services (read manpower) at lower costs outside India. So, lower cost services (which is quite lucrative for Indian services companies) mean that you do the crap you are asked to do! And when its being earned by using the ignorance of your client, which aren’t technical enough to understand the pieces involved, that means you have the upper hand. Sometimes, I feel shocked to hear the cost itself and makes me think that what it so special we do with it that it costs so much? Honestly, what we normally do in one day at office, I can finish it up in a much shorter time. By no means I want to say that I work so well, but people I know, most of them can do it. So, why is that it does not works out at office? We all have different answers, but for me I hate if the work I am doing is donkey work! And that’s why, learning isn’t good enough and I end up wasting lot of time…
Thus, I am asking myself this one simple question these days…Have I lost the zeal to work? Am I not comfortable enough to work the way I was doing earlier? Have I lost the energy and the enthusiasm?
The answer is a YES and a NO!
Yes, I don’t feel like working on anything crap! I don’t want to work on anything that isn’t planned well. I don’t feel like wasting my energy on things that aren’t worth. I ignore discussions, meetings that starts going in wrong directions. After being 4 years in this line, I expect more maturity. And I detach myself from things if that level of maturity isn’t there! Yes, I have lost the zeal to work that way!
No, I still feel the same for my work. I just love it! I love to experiment on new things, integrate systems and bring it on a common platform. I practice all such stuff. I love learning new technologies, to see what’s going on around the world and what the world is looking at! I like to find out issues that require a technological touch to get resolved, which is what always keeps me on my toes. No, I have not not lost that energy and zeal to work!
Only solution I see to it is, move on and do independently what I like!
5 comments:
I could remember the day when HR asked me where do u see you stand after 5 years? - My answer was quite confident that day...
But these days I realize, though not difficult, I had never chased that motive!
Besides...
you want to work independently, well that too comes at cost. I tried and found initially you need to do any crappy thing your clients ask. You simply can't say no to them... or... work for your own ideas that come with significant risk of falling down and hitting head!
Its the same here ankit! There is lot of frustration also because of what I said on that day has not yet started properly till now... :(
But yes, I know that working independently may involve some crappy stuff..but when I have to do it, why not do it for myself? Atleast I know that doing that crap is just a beginning and looking at the larger picture, that is also acceptable!
And as far working on an idea goes, I guess its worth taking a risk! I mean, till what time we can sit down and keeping doing the same stuff...risk is there in everything and if u wanna grow, you have to go for it! :)
Mohit, any industry experiences highs and lows ... even IT has been through this before.
Its important and difficult at such times to clear off the emotions and think clearly.
There is a lot of frustration when u dont get to do the work you expect to ... but sometimes its important to just stick around ... until things are ok ..
Mohit, I remembered our old days after reading this blog entry. 2-3 years back when we were just 25 in number, had to create visibility in MS, We were stretching ourselve to do good work.I think we learnt very fast in that period. Our grp was best place to work because everyone was so capable of doing that we always felt healthy competition. And i think, those heavily worked days make us feel that we are lagging in learning today.
You feel frustrating today because you don't get to learn as you expect. but believe me, this phase is responsible for making entrepreneur. :). So keep working on your ideas in back-ground. we might get one in you. :)
And abt IT industry toh "Paisa bolta hai"... Nobody cares what we do ... Managers just think abt targets... 5\6 millions per year... and the curve is rising.and believe me nobody is happy abt work here but at the same time Nobody will leave because we have money here.
well said.. [:)].. i have been going through the same ordeal..i'm pretty much certain that i no longer have the zeal that i had when i joined. Following are some of the reasons i can think of:-
1.We are still doing wht i call "chota mota work".
2.We have not got a chance to goto the next level.
I have been lucky to get a chance to work on latest technologies and im trying my level best to keep abreast of all the latest advancements that microsoft is coming up with lightining speed.. Damned Microsoft Guys, why dont that take a break for 6 months and allow people to catch up :P.
One of funny analogies of IT industry which came in my mind is as follows:-
IT industry => Collection of race courses
Company => Race course with a collection of races
Employee => Horse running a race
I guess we got bored with running the usual races and not getting to run other interesting races. :P
All the best for your new endeavor :)
Post a Comment