April 29, 2025 • 23 mins
What do you do when work feels draining—and change isn’t an option? In this episode, we hear from a 19-year-old who's already feeling burned out, and a 30-year-old stuck in a job they can’t stand. Sound familiar?
We dive into an honest conversation about work at different stages of life, exploring what it means to find purpose, patience, and even joy in seasons that feel anything but ideal. Whether you're in your first job, mid-career, or somewhere in between, you're not alone in the struggle.
Special guest Jaime Buxton from The City Mission joins us to share her insights and encouragement.
If you’re looking for a real talk on burnout, hope, and what to do when work is just hard—this one's for you.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:30):
We have another question. I would so appreciate if you
would chat about work. Recently I've been feeling like I'm
working my life away, but I know it's necessary and
I'm looking for a joy and fulfillment of work. I'm 19.
S2 (00:45):
At 19, that's a tough one. I mean, if I'm
being totally transparent and I, you know, I just said
where I work and I love the work, but there
are there are seasons where I can totally relate to.
I feel like I'm working my life away, you know? Um,
there are certain seasons where it's just more is required
of me. But goodness, at 19, that is tough. Um,
(01:09):
so I guess I have more questions than I have answers.
S3 (01:13):
I mean, at that age, yeah, working is going to
be really hard. I mean, when I was 19, I
had a job that would make me go home in
tears most days. Um, that's unfortunately just kind of the
season you're in, right? Um, but eventually you get to
a point where you go to a job that you
can at least tolerate, if not, enjoy. That's that. That's
the goal. And I. You'll get there. It'll just take
(01:34):
some time. Be patient. I know it's hard. I remember
I remember those days very clearly. What it wasn't all
that long ago. But just just hang in there. I
know it's rough.
S2 (01:43):
Yeah. I'm guessing you're not working in your dream job
just yet at 19, you know? And so you've got
to start somewhere. Um, and so. Yeah, hang in there
is the right thing. But if you're, if you're working
totally outside of, you know, um, what makes you happy, um,
find ways to inch closer to that. You know, I
(02:03):
when I started work and I've only really worked one
place and that has been at the City Mission, so
I've worked there 20 years this May. I'm an old lady.
S1 (02:12):
Wow.
S2 (02:12):
I know, I know, I was five, I was two
when I started. Ron, please. Not five. I was two, um,
you know, and it was not my dream job. But
the more that I excelled and met those things, I
was able to do some things that brought me more
joy and that I believe fully that the Lord. And then, um,
(02:33):
people like the illustrious Linda, who is a mentor to me,
saw that and, and, you know, brought me into deeper
positions where I did feel more fulfilled. And now, like
I truly am in my dream job, like it it
just is who I want to be. And it and
it uses my talents and so but that doesn't happen overnight.
(02:53):
And I think that's tough. I mean, so find ways
that you can, um, show a little bit of you
in your role, whatever that role is. And hopefully that'll
bring you some joy.
S3 (03:05):
And when Jimmy and I first started dating, he actually
didn't think it was possible to enjoy a job. It's
like work is just something you have to do. It's
part of life. I will never enjoy a job. Um,
you know, we've been married for years together for about seven.
He's in a job that he loves. He did not
think that was possible, but he genuinely enjoys what he
does now.
S4 (03:23):
But I'm curious. At 19, I'm assuming you're not college bound,
which is fine. I'm not trying to make that a judgment,
but that just colors where you might be heading. If
if you're interested in a trade, you can either try
to get into that trade, you know, with a employment
(03:45):
situation and if if no one picks you up at that,
you could further your education. Um, I recently heard about
Home Depot having an online Path to Pro program where
they do online classes and you pick carpentry, electrical, plumbing, whatever,
and you follow their online classes, which will give you
(04:07):
a big jump in your your knowledge. You're still going
to have to get some practical training, but if you've
got that knowledge, it makes you more desirable to a
potential employer. Um, so think about what it is you'd
like to do. Uh, at 19, you don't want to
(04:27):
be job hopping, like, every six months. Oh, I hate
this job. Let me try another. And I hate that job.
Try another. Um, but you can make a couple of
moves along the way to get closer to what you
really enjoy doing. Um, but there is also, sometimes you've
just got to keep working. So stick it out.
S2 (04:51):
Um.
S1 (04:52):
When I was just graduated from college, so I was
just a little bit older than you are. I was
kind of an in-between phase, and I worked at restaurants.
I was a hosted two restaurants, and that was not
my dream job. That was not like what I wanted
to do, but it was a place where you don't
have to have much experience and you can just start working.
(05:15):
And there were it was a lot of late nights
and all of my friends worked regular people jobs, and
so I was lonely a lot of the time. I
would get home at 11 Midnight and eat my dinner
and watch a show by myself in the dark. I'd
(05:36):
have maybe a roommate peer out with squinty eyes and
be like, hi. Good to see you. I'm going back
to bed because she had to get up for work
at six. And then I'd wake up at, you know,
ten or something in the morning and start my day.
And so it was just a really lonely time for me,
and I felt similar. I was working, I worked all
(05:56):
the holidays. I worked weekends because that's what you do
at a restaurant. And so I felt pretty lonely, and
I was working full time. And so I also kind
of felt like I was, you know, working my life away.
And I just kind of had to say, this is
what I'm doing for now, as I'm trying to find
what that other thing may be for me or what
(06:19):
that next path is for me. And then I had
to find kind of like you said, I'm looking for
joy and fulfillment of work I had to find at
this job what's bringing me joy and fulfillment. Maybe it's
not the job, but maybe it's this person that I'm
able to connect with, right? This new friend, or you
found a mentor that you could, you know, work with
(06:40):
you and train you up into something new. So maybe
it's just finding like moments or people or things at
the job, and maybe it's not necessarily the job and full, uh,
bringing fulfillment. Uh, they texted back and said, I graduated
last year and took a gap year to travel with
the team that works with Christian school kids saving for
college in the fall. My burden is to work with teens. Yeah,
(07:02):
so that's just like a really hard transitional time. Yeah.
S2 (07:05):
But there's a there's a there's a light at the
end of the tunnel. Right. You know what you're working for.
And so that's amazing and.
S3 (07:11):
Good on you for taking a gap year. I think
too many people are afraid to do that. But yeah,
saving up that money, figuring out what you really want
to do before you go to school. Good for you.
S4 (07:19):
Amen.
S1 (07:20):
Yeah. So I think just kind of knowing that what
you want to do is coming and be able to
just kind of I just got to get through this
season of working. I have to make money to be
able to live. That's just part of what our culture
and world is right now, that you have to make
money to live. And so you kind of put your
head down and work, but maybe find those little things
(07:41):
in your job that could bring you joy, bring fulfillment,
a new friend or someone that you could invest in,
someone that you're, you know, God's calling you to, to
pour into, or you find a mentor at your job,
someone they're like, oh, I really like how they work.
And they don't have to be, like, decades older than you.
There's someone who you value how they work. You value
(08:02):
their work ethic. Maybe they do something at work, like, okay,
for me, that would be someone who's really good at
administrative skills. Oh, I want to learn from this person
how they do that. And you kind of ask them
or maybe just make it unofficial. You step under their
wing and learn from them while you're at this job,
for sure. But finding little pieces along the way when
you're just kind of a part of the half to work.
S2 (08:26):
Club.
S1 (08:27):
Club. Yeah, it's not fun, but there is times where
you just kind of have to do it. We've got
another question about work. Are you guys ready?
S3 (08:33):
Let's go.
S1 (08:34):
Put on your work pants. I am thirsty. I absolutely
hate my job. And I haven't found anything that pays
more to replace my job. I want to do something else,
but I don't have a career in mind. I even
have an associate in engineering and a bachelor's in business,
and I can't seem to get an interview outside of
the financial field. So it sounds like they're currently in
the financial field. Don't like their job? Want to look elsewhere?
S3 (08:57):
I would recommend talking to a career counselor. My dad
did that for about 25 years. He helps people find
their passions, what their interests are, and then also just
kind of give them ideas that, um, they had never
even considered that might interest them. So that's that's something
you can do. You might actually your college probably has one.
As an alumni, you could probably access those services for free.
S1 (09:19):
Oh, yeah. I never thought about going back. That's a
great idea. Jamie, any thoughts from you?
S2 (09:25):
Um, you know, this is a text, so. And and
I don't know you, so I know little bits. So
it's it's hard to respond, you know, in big answers. But,
you know, I read very clearly that you said I
haven't found anything that pays more to replace my job. And,
you know, I'm assuming since you work in the financial
(09:45):
field that maybe you're making a good amount of money
and I can understand that you wouldn't want to, you know,
give that up. But, you know, possibly you need to
look at just making the same or a little bit
less and changing some of your, um, living habits, um,
to be able to kind of open up your search
a little bit more. But again, I don't know what
that actually means. And so, um, yeah, I my heart
(10:09):
hurts for you to say you're 30 and you hate
your job. Um. That stinks. And so, um, yeah, maybe
open up the search a little bit by looking a
little below what you're making, if you can.
S4 (10:21):
I thought this exact same thing that I thought immediately.
I haven't found anything higher pay, but do you need
more money? Right. And I would suggest looking like getting
involved in different ministries. And you don't have to like,
commit for a long term. But, you know, maybe you go, uh,
(10:45):
serve food at the city mission, maybe you, uh, whatever
it may be, but try out, get involved a little
bit with different ministries, and it may offer you some
insights into what you really do enjoy and, and Daria's
idea of the career counselor. That makes a ton of sense.
S2 (11:06):
Yeah.
S1 (11:08):
I was also thinking about, um, I have a friend
who wanted to get out of their current job, and
they do. They're in sales, and they were looking at
sales just in the type of like fields that they're
selling right now. And it took them having to go
outside of the field that they're in right now. So
maybe I don't know I don't know what kind of
(11:30):
finances there are. Okay, but maybe you. Okay. Maybe you
have to go outside of the current. Maybe you work
finance for insurance. Okay, let's just say it. Maybe you
need to go outside of insurance finance.
S2 (11:41):
Right.
S1 (11:41):
Because there's going to be skills that are the same
that you can transfer over just to a different field.
Maybe you look at a field in radio.
S2 (11:52):
Radio finance.
S1 (11:53):
Radio finance okay. You just go somewhere else and there's
going to be transferable skills. But it might help widen
your search and kind of like you said, Jamie, maybe
you can't find something with more money, but what's more important,
your mental and emotional health for you and your friends?
Or if you have kids and a spouse, what's more important?
(12:17):
I would say keeping the same amount of money. If
you're not able to make less, keeping the same amount
of money, but coming home emotionally and mentally well for
your family or your friends is and for yourself is
more important. And if you hate your job, that's coming
home with you for sure. And your job is not
(12:40):
your life. Your job is not your worth or your meaning.
And sometimes a job is just a way to make money.
Because we got to make money. Yeah. And so you
need to be well for the people around you and
for yourself. And so I would say get out, even
if it's a job that pays the same, or if
you're able to pays less just so that you can
(13:03):
have a better wellbeing for those around you and for yourself.
S3 (13:07):
And if you really can't change jobs, then maybe you
have to reframe. I like what Lauren said earlier about
finding things about your job you do, like whether it's
a person, someone you can learn, learn from, or just,
you know, reframing your thoughts as this is not ideal
and it's not what I want to do, but it
puts food on the table. It supports my family. I'm
doing this for the glory of the Lord until something
(13:28):
better comes along.
S1 (13:29):
Yeah. My husband had a job in the past. Where
for him, it was like. This is not my passion.
This is not like, as Jamie said today, like, this
is not what makes my heart beat fast. I don't
get excited about this, but this is a job, and
I just have to have this job. I have to
make money. I have to care for my family. And
so for right now, I don't like my job, but
I have to get through this season until I can
(13:50):
find something I do like. And sometimes that means you
are searching for jobs for like years, and there are
seasons where you're able to put in a lot of
applications and there are seasons where you can't. There's seasons
where a lot of people are getting back to you,
and then there are seasons that no one's getting back
to you. And sometimes people just don't get back to
you for like months when you're looking for jobs and
it's like, okay, first of all, that's rude. But Dario
(14:13):
was talking about one time when she was looking for
a job you forgot.
S3 (14:15):
Yeah. No, it was an internship while I was in college.
It took so long for these people to get back
to me. I forgot I applied and showed up for
the interview, having no idea who these people were or
what was going on, and they offered it to me anyway.
S1 (14:26):
Yeah, exactly. So sometimes it just takes a while, but
with finance being in the financial field, you have transferable skills.
S2 (14:33):
For.
S1 (14:34):
Sure. You just might have to search different types of
jobs for those transferable skills. Someone texted in fundraising, you
could get into fundraising.
S2 (14:42):
Work at the City Mission.
S1 (14:43):
You could find.
S2 (14:45):
There's not a job opening right now. Sorry. Just want
to clarify.
S1 (14:49):
So you could find places that finances is a big deal.
Development helping to raise money. You still have to be
good with numbers and development because you're breaking down costs
of hey, this is how much it costs to help
fund our something like the City mission or fund this project. Yeah, exactly.
So there's a lot of transferable skills. You may just
have to broaden the search a little bit. And like
(15:12):
others have said, you may have to take a little
bit of a pay cut or keep the same pay.
But if you're not willing to do that, then maybe
find small things you do take joy in. And maybe
that's even. You get a free cup of coffee there
every day and you're like, I can't wait to have
my free cup of coffee at work tomorrow.
S4 (15:27):
Yeah.
S2 (15:27):
There you.
S4 (15:28):
Go. Here's a suggestion that costs you nothing and I
can't guarantee the outcome. But go to a. I like
perplexity or ChatGPT and type in. I'm looking for a
change of career. Here are my skills. I've got a
associate's of engineering, and if it's a specific area like
(15:49):
civil engineering or mechanical or whatever, put that in. Um,
I have the degree in finance. I have experience in
these areas. And, you know, this is the kind of
things that that I would like to pursue and just,
you know, type in as much information in the prompt
as you can and then let them spit back to
(16:12):
you some ideas of what other fields might be available,
because they're surprisingly intuitive in these artificial intelligence. And they
could give you they may give you some, like be
a clown for Barnum and Bailey, and you can say,
oh no, I'll skip that one.
S3 (16:29):
But they don't even exist anymore.
S4 (16:32):
Well, definitely don't go there. You won't get a paycheck,
but they'll give you some ideas that might inspire you
to look around.
S1 (16:41):
Someone texted in their first time texter. Yay! We love
first time texters. I view the work that I do
as an act of worship. At the end of the day,
I lift my hands and say, father, I pray that
you accept this day as a sacrifice, holy and acceptable.
It doesn't always make work easier or more enjoyable, but
it certainly gives me a better perspective and a sacrifice
that costs me little isn't a very good sacrifice. Yes,
(17:02):
and we've got Hannah tips for enjoying work. Hannah, what
have you got for us?
S5 (17:07):
I just wanted to give some encouragement that, um. I mean,
the money is always so hard to find more money,
but just hating the job. It's again finding those, like,
little pieces of gratitude throughout the day. And for me, like,
I just left a job I was dreading going to
and went into a job with more problems, it feels.
But I'm trying to like, glorify, have God's glory show
(17:30):
through me, and just to be the better worker and
the harder worker and put my head down and just
try to get it done and, um, just realize that
it's not for me, it's for God's glory, and that
I'm trying to be a light to others so that
they can see, um, what he can do through me.
S1 (17:48):
Yeah, absolutely. Sometimes maybe there's a purpose of you being
there even when we can't see it. And it's like, wow. Hey, God,
I hate this, actually. But there's someone that you are
being a light to and you might not even know it.
And so if you're able to kind of step into
that role that God's asked you to do at that job,
you may be a light for someone and they may
think of you for years and years and years. I
(18:09):
remember at a job I worked at, everyone was like,
why are you? I worked at a bar. They're like,
you're different. Why are you so different? And that gave
me an opportunity to share who Jesus is and like, oh, well,
this is why I'm different. You asked me. I'll tell
you so sometimes. You're right, Hannah. You just have to
find those small little glimmers of hope.
S5 (18:28):
And one thing I was listening to was Casting Crowns.
It's kind of I feel like sometimes in the moment
right now I'm like, well, I don't have that one
awkward moment, that song that they have, but I feel
like I'm trying to prepare for that. Every day I
go into work and try to, you know, push through
those hardships. I'm like, okay, I'm just getting ready for
when I have that awkward moment and I can step
(18:48):
out and be that light even brighter for someone.
S1 (18:51):
So yeah, people at work are always like, everyone's struggling,
life is hard. And so people are going to bring
that to work.
S3 (18:58):
And most people don't want to be there. If you
hate your job, you're probably not the only one.
S1 (19:02):
Yeah, yeah. Working is like working is work. It's not fun.
S3 (19:05):
I like this job. I'd rather be somewhere else, though.
S1 (19:08):
I'd rather be on my couch.
S3 (19:10):
I'd rather still be sleeping.
S1 (19:11):
Yes, exactly. We're on the beach. Yeah. So there's. People
are gonna bring their hardships to work. And as people
who follow Jesus, we get to be hope and opportunity
to people who may bring their hardships to work. Yep. Hannah,
do you have any mornings with Brian? Gear, a mug,
anything like that?
S5 (19:29):
No, I don't. This is my first time calling in, and.
S2 (19:32):
I just recently.
S5 (19:32):
Started listening to you guys, um, back in November.
S1 (19:35):
Oh, wonderful. Well, thank you for joining us. Uh, if
you can stay on the line, Daria is going to
get your info, and we'll send you some mornings with
Brian's stuff.
S5 (19:42):
Oh, great. I'm excited.
S1 (19:44):
Thanks, Hannah. Be like Hannah. Be a first time caller.
S2 (19:47):
That was awesome.
S1 (19:48):
That's so fun. We love our new listeners. We love
our old listeners. Not old. Well, them too, but those.
S2 (19:54):
We love them.
S1 (19:55):
All. We love.
S3 (19:55):
Everybody.
S1 (19:57):
Okay, so the person who had this question of hating
their job, they did text back in and said, I
can't afford to go lower, I must go up. And
I love people. Okay, so you're in financial field? Business degree. Okay.
I'm thinking I am thinking something in the development world.
S2 (20:14):
I am to.
S1 (20:15):
Raising money for an organization.
S2 (20:18):
Um.
S1 (20:19):
And that may not look like you're crunching the numbers
every day, but maybe you are doing galas to raise money,
and you have to be creative in ways to raise money.
You have to go out and meet with people and say, hey,
we need these funds. And someone who has a financial
mind has the opportunity to say, you're not as scared
to talk about money.
S4 (20:40):
Right? Right.
S1 (20:41):
People who do finance are not scared to say like, yeah,
obviously we need money to run this organization. Right. So
maybe look into some organizations that kind of tug on
your heart or types of situations that tug on your heart,
whether that's foster care, adoption, people experiencing homelessness, all kinds
of prison ministry. What kind of stuff? Tug on your
(21:03):
heart because we all have those things. And what's that
thing that tugs on your heart? And maybe in those
areas you look for something in fundraising or development because
you love people, you want to serve people, but you
have this financial mind and a business mind, which is
kind of what's needed for development. Jamie, you could probably
speak into that more working.
S2 (21:20):
In a.
S1 (21:20):
Nonprofit.
S2 (21:21):
Well, and I am on the development team.
S1 (21:23):
Look at.
S2 (21:24):
Us. I, um, my my role is a little bit
differently than those who work directly with donors, but. Yeah, absolutely.
We you have to have a financial mind. And you know,
what people want to understand. Know is now is how
their money is being used. And so that takes a
financial mind for us to help break down. You know,
the thousands and millions of dollars that we spend at
(21:46):
an organization, breaking it down to. Um, this is your
individual impact. We call it a dip. A donor individual,
I don't know. Shoot. I hope my boss isn't listening.
S1 (21:57):
Linda, turn the radio off.
S2 (22:00):
But, um. Yeah, I think I really do think that
that could be a good spot for you. Um, may
not be in the, um, you know, where you need
to be financially coming in, so keep looking around. I mean,
you're still talking about organizations that, you know, they're the
the intake of money is used mostly for residents. So, um,
(22:22):
but if you can or the people that they serve.
So but that would be a way to love people,
advocate for an organization and use that finance degree. So look,
just look at development and fundraising roles. I think that
would be a really good spot. And hey, if you
want to call us at the City Mission, my boss
(22:42):
would love to talk to you about. She's had lots
of lots of roles where she's worked at three different
nonprofits in fundraising. And so, um, she's amazing at this. So, yeah.
S1 (22:54):
I mean, I think we've solved it.
S2 (22:56):
So done.
S1 (22:58):
Solved. We do hope that you are able to find
a job that you enjoy. What she says. Linda, listening.
S2 (23:02):
My chief financial officer is listening. And he said, don't
make me call in.
S6 (23:07):
What is it?
S2 (23:08):
But actually we have a chief financial officer. No, this
is John Jelinek. Oh, he he razzes me a lot
of time. And. Yes, I just said your name. He said,
don't make me call in right now.
S1 (23:18):
John. Please do.
S4 (23:20):
Yeah. The challenge has been laid out there.
S1 (23:23):
Did he give you the right acronym?
S2 (23:25):
He didn't.
S1 (23:26):
Oh, well, John.
S3 (23:28):
So we're still in the dark.
S1 (23:29):
So we still don't know the answer.
We have another question. I would so appreciate if you
would chat about work. Recently I've been feeling like I'm
working my life away, but I know it's necessary and
I'm looking for a joy and fulfillment of work. I'm 19.
S2 (00:45):
At 19, that's a tough one. I mean, if I'm
being totally transparent and I, you know, I just said
where I work and I love the work, but there
are there are seasons where I can totally relate to.
I feel like I'm working my life away, you know? Um,
there are certain seasons where it's just more is required
of me. But goodness, at 19, that is tough. Um,
(01:09):
so I guess I have more questions than I have answers.
S3 (01:13):
I mean, at that age, yeah, working is going to
be really hard. I mean, when I was 19, I
had a job that would make me go home in
tears most days. Um, that's unfortunately just kind of the
season you're in, right? Um, but eventually you get to
a point where you go to a job that you
can at least tolerate, if not, enjoy. That's that. That's
the goal. And I. You'll get there. It'll just take
(01:34):
some time. Be patient. I know it's hard. I remember
I remember those days very clearly. What it wasn't all
that long ago. But just just hang in there. I
know it's rough.
S2 (01:43):
Yeah. I'm guessing you're not working in your dream job
just yet at 19, you know? And so you've got
to start somewhere. Um, and so. Yeah, hang in there
is the right thing. But if you're, if you're working
totally outside of, you know, um, what makes you happy, um,
find ways to inch closer to that. You know, I
(02:03):
when I started work and I've only really worked one
place and that has been at the City Mission, so
I've worked there 20 years this May. I'm an old lady.
S1 (02:12):
Wow.
S2 (02:12):
I know, I know, I was five, I was two
when I started. Ron, please. Not five. I was two, um,
you know, and it was not my dream job. But
the more that I excelled and met those things, I
was able to do some things that brought me more
joy and that I believe fully that the Lord. And then, um,
(02:33):
people like the illustrious Linda, who is a mentor to me,
saw that and, and, you know, brought me into deeper
positions where I did feel more fulfilled. And now, like
I truly am in my dream job, like it it
just is who I want to be. And it and
it uses my talents and so but that doesn't happen overnight.
(02:53):
And I think that's tough. I mean, so find ways
that you can, um, show a little bit of you
in your role, whatever that role is. And hopefully that'll
bring you some joy.
S3 (03:05):
And when Jimmy and I first started dating, he actually
didn't think it was possible to enjoy a job. It's
like work is just something you have to do. It's
part of life. I will never enjoy a job. Um,
you know, we've been married for years together for about seven.
He's in a job that he loves. He did not
think that was possible, but he genuinely enjoys what he
does now.
S4 (03:23):
But I'm curious. At 19, I'm assuming you're not college bound,
which is fine. I'm not trying to make that a judgment,
but that just colors where you might be heading. If
if you're interested in a trade, you can either try
to get into that trade, you know, with a employment
(03:45):
situation and if if no one picks you up at that,
you could further your education. Um, I recently heard about
Home Depot having an online Path to Pro program where
they do online classes and you pick carpentry, electrical, plumbing, whatever,
and you follow their online classes, which will give you
(04:07):
a big jump in your your knowledge. You're still going
to have to get some practical training, but if you've
got that knowledge, it makes you more desirable to a
potential employer. Um, so think about what it is you'd
like to do. Uh, at 19, you don't want to
(04:27):
be job hopping, like, every six months. Oh, I hate
this job. Let me try another. And I hate that job.
Try another. Um, but you can make a couple of
moves along the way to get closer to what you
really enjoy doing. Um, but there is also, sometimes you've
just got to keep working. So stick it out.
S2 (04:51):
Um.
S1 (04:52):
When I was just graduated from college, so I was
just a little bit older than you are. I was
kind of an in-between phase, and I worked at restaurants.
I was a hosted two restaurants, and that was not
my dream job. That was not like what I wanted
to do, but it was a place where you don't
have to have much experience and you can just start working.
(05:15):
And there were it was a lot of late nights
and all of my friends worked regular people jobs, and
so I was lonely a lot of the time. I
would get home at 11 Midnight and eat my dinner
and watch a show by myself in the dark. I'd
(05:36):
have maybe a roommate peer out with squinty eyes and
be like, hi. Good to see you. I'm going back
to bed because she had to get up for work
at six. And then I'd wake up at, you know,
ten or something in the morning and start my day.
And so it was just a really lonely time for me,
and I felt similar. I was working, I worked all
(05:56):
the holidays. I worked weekends because that's what you do
at a restaurant. And so I felt pretty lonely, and
I was working full time. And so I also kind
of felt like I was, you know, working my life away.
And I just kind of had to say, this is
what I'm doing for now, as I'm trying to find
what that other thing may be for me or what
(06:19):
that next path is for me. And then I had
to find kind of like you said, I'm looking for
joy and fulfillment of work I had to find at
this job what's bringing me joy and fulfillment. Maybe it's
not the job, but maybe it's this person that I'm
able to connect with, right? This new friend, or you
found a mentor that you could, you know, work with
(06:40):
you and train you up into something new. So maybe
it's just finding like moments or people or things at
the job, and maybe it's not necessarily the job and full, uh,
bringing fulfillment. Uh, they texted back and said, I graduated
last year and took a gap year to travel with
the team that works with Christian school kids saving for
college in the fall. My burden is to work with teens. Yeah,
(07:02):
so that's just like a really hard transitional time. Yeah.
S2 (07:05):
But there's a there's a there's a light at the
end of the tunnel. Right. You know what you're working for.
And so that's amazing and.
S3 (07:11):
Good on you for taking a gap year. I think
too many people are afraid to do that. But yeah,
saving up that money, figuring out what you really want
to do before you go to school. Good for you.
S4 (07:19):
Amen.
S1 (07:20):
Yeah. So I think just kind of knowing that what
you want to do is coming and be able to
just kind of I just got to get through this
season of working. I have to make money to be
able to live. That's just part of what our culture
and world is right now, that you have to make
money to live. And so you kind of put your
head down and work, but maybe find those little things
(07:41):
in your job that could bring you joy, bring fulfillment,
a new friend or someone that you could invest in,
someone that you're, you know, God's calling you to, to
pour into, or you find a mentor at your job,
someone they're like, oh, I really like how they work.
And they don't have to be, like, decades older than you.
There's someone who you value how they work. You value
(08:02):
their work ethic. Maybe they do something at work, like, okay,
for me, that would be someone who's really good at
administrative skills. Oh, I want to learn from this person
how they do that. And you kind of ask them
or maybe just make it unofficial. You step under their
wing and learn from them while you're at this job,
for sure. But finding little pieces along the way when
you're just kind of a part of the half to work.
S2 (08:26):
Club.
S1 (08:27):
Club. Yeah, it's not fun, but there is times where
you just kind of have to do it. We've got
another question about work. Are you guys ready?
S3 (08:33):
Let's go.
S1 (08:34):
Put on your work pants. I am thirsty. I absolutely
hate my job. And I haven't found anything that pays
more to replace my job. I want to do something else,
but I don't have a career in mind. I even
have an associate in engineering and a bachelor's in business,
and I can't seem to get an interview outside of
the financial field. So it sounds like they're currently in
the financial field. Don't like their job? Want to look elsewhere?
S3 (08:57):
I would recommend talking to a career counselor. My dad
did that for about 25 years. He helps people find
their passions, what their interests are, and then also just
kind of give them ideas that, um, they had never
even considered that might interest them. So that's that's something
you can do. You might actually your college probably has one.
As an alumni, you could probably access those services for free.
S1 (09:19):
Oh, yeah. I never thought about going back. That's a
great idea. Jamie, any thoughts from you?
S2 (09:25):
Um, you know, this is a text, so. And and
I don't know you, so I know little bits. So
it's it's hard to respond, you know, in big answers. But,
you know, I read very clearly that you said I
haven't found anything that pays more to replace my job. And,
you know, I'm assuming since you work in the financial
(09:45):
field that maybe you're making a good amount of money
and I can understand that you wouldn't want to, you know,
give that up. But, you know, possibly you need to
look at just making the same or a little bit
less and changing some of your, um, living habits, um,
to be able to kind of open up your search
a little bit more. But again, I don't know what
that actually means. And so, um, yeah, I my heart
(10:09):
hurts for you to say you're 30 and you hate
your job. Um. That stinks. And so, um, yeah, maybe
open up the search a little bit by looking a
little below what you're making, if you can.
S4 (10:21):
I thought this exact same thing that I thought immediately.
I haven't found anything higher pay, but do you need
more money? Right. And I would suggest looking like getting
involved in different ministries. And you don't have to like,
commit for a long term. But, you know, maybe you go, uh,
(10:45):
serve food at the city mission, maybe you, uh, whatever
it may be, but try out, get involved a little
bit with different ministries, and it may offer you some
insights into what you really do enjoy and, and Daria's
idea of the career counselor. That makes a ton of sense.
S2 (11:06):
Yeah.
S1 (11:08):
I was also thinking about, um, I have a friend
who wanted to get out of their current job, and
they do. They're in sales, and they were looking at
sales just in the type of like fields that they're
selling right now. And it took them having to go
outside of the field that they're in right now. So
maybe I don't know I don't know what kind of
(11:30):
finances there are. Okay, but maybe you. Okay. Maybe you
have to go outside of the current. Maybe you work
finance for insurance. Okay, let's just say it. Maybe you
need to go outside of insurance finance.
S2 (11:41):
Right.
S1 (11:41):
Because there's going to be skills that are the same
that you can transfer over just to a different field.
Maybe you look at a field in radio.
S2 (11:52):
Radio finance.
S1 (11:53):
Radio finance okay. You just go somewhere else and there's
going to be transferable skills. But it might help widen
your search and kind of like you said, Jamie, maybe
you can't find something with more money, but what's more important,
your mental and emotional health for you and your friends?
Or if you have kids and a spouse, what's more important?
(12:17):
I would say keeping the same amount of money. If
you're not able to make less, keeping the same amount
of money, but coming home emotionally and mentally well for
your family or your friends is and for yourself is
more important. And if you hate your job, that's coming
home with you for sure. And your job is not
(12:40):
your life. Your job is not your worth or your meaning.
And sometimes a job is just a way to make money.
Because we got to make money. Yeah. And so you
need to be well for the people around you and
for yourself. And so I would say get out, even
if it's a job that pays the same, or if
you're able to pays less just so that you can
(13:03):
have a better wellbeing for those around you and for yourself.
S3 (13:07):
And if you really can't change jobs, then maybe you
have to reframe. I like what Lauren said earlier about
finding things about your job you do, like whether it's
a person, someone you can learn, learn from, or just,
you know, reframing your thoughts as this is not ideal
and it's not what I want to do, but it
puts food on the table. It supports my family. I'm
doing this for the glory of the Lord until something
(13:28):
better comes along.
S1 (13:29):
Yeah. My husband had a job in the past. Where
for him, it was like. This is not my passion.
This is not like, as Jamie said today, like, this
is not what makes my heart beat fast. I don't
get excited about this, but this is a job, and
I just have to have this job. I have to
make money. I have to care for my family. And
so for right now, I don't like my job, but
I have to get through this season until I can
(13:50):
find something I do like. And sometimes that means you
are searching for jobs for like years, and there are
seasons where you're able to put in a lot of
applications and there are seasons where you can't. There's seasons
where a lot of people are getting back to you,
and then there are seasons that no one's getting back
to you. And sometimes people just don't get back to
you for like months when you're looking for jobs and
it's like, okay, first of all, that's rude. But Dario
(14:13):
was talking about one time when she was looking for
a job you forgot.
S3 (14:15):
Yeah. No, it was an internship while I was in college.
It took so long for these people to get back
to me. I forgot I applied and showed up for
the interview, having no idea who these people were or
what was going on, and they offered it to me anyway.
S1 (14:26):
Yeah, exactly. So sometimes it just takes a while, but
with finance being in the financial field, you have transferable skills.
S2 (14:33):
For.
S1 (14:34):
Sure. You just might have to search different types of
jobs for those transferable skills. Someone texted in fundraising, you
could get into fundraising.
S2 (14:42):
Work at the City Mission.
S1 (14:43):
You could find.
S2 (14:45):
There's not a job opening right now. Sorry. Just want
to clarify.
S1 (14:49):
So you could find places that finances is a big deal.
Development helping to raise money. You still have to be
good with numbers and development because you're breaking down costs
of hey, this is how much it costs to help
fund our something like the City mission or fund this project. Yeah, exactly.
So there's a lot of transferable skills. You may just
have to broaden the search a little bit. And like
(15:12):
others have said, you may have to take a little
bit of a pay cut or keep the same pay.
But if you're not willing to do that, then maybe
find small things you do take joy in. And maybe
that's even. You get a free cup of coffee there
every day and you're like, I can't wait to have
my free cup of coffee at work tomorrow.
S4 (15:27):
Yeah.
S2 (15:27):
There you.
S4 (15:28):
Go. Here's a suggestion that costs you nothing and I
can't guarantee the outcome. But go to a. I like
perplexity or ChatGPT and type in. I'm looking for a
change of career. Here are my skills. I've got a
associate's of engineering, and if it's a specific area like
(15:49):
civil engineering or mechanical or whatever, put that in. Um,
I have the degree in finance. I have experience in
these areas. And, you know, this is the kind of
things that that I would like to pursue and just,
you know, type in as much information in the prompt
as you can and then let them spit back to
(16:12):
you some ideas of what other fields might be available,
because they're surprisingly intuitive in these artificial intelligence. And they
could give you they may give you some, like be
a clown for Barnum and Bailey, and you can say,
oh no, I'll skip that one.
S3 (16:29):
But they don't even exist anymore.
S4 (16:32):
Well, definitely don't go there. You won't get a paycheck,
but they'll give you some ideas that might inspire you
to look around.
S1 (16:41):
Someone texted in their first time texter. Yay! We love
first time texters. I view the work that I do
as an act of worship. At the end of the day,
I lift my hands and say, father, I pray that
you accept this day as a sacrifice, holy and acceptable.
It doesn't always make work easier or more enjoyable, but
it certainly gives me a better perspective and a sacrifice
that costs me little isn't a very good sacrifice. Yes,
(17:02):
and we've got Hannah tips for enjoying work. Hannah, what
have you got for us?
S5 (17:07):
I just wanted to give some encouragement that, um. I mean,
the money is always so hard to find more money,
but just hating the job. It's again finding those, like,
little pieces of gratitude throughout the day. And for me, like,
I just left a job I was dreading going to
and went into a job with more problems, it feels.
But I'm trying to like, glorify, have God's glory show
(17:30):
through me, and just to be the better worker and
the harder worker and put my head down and just
try to get it done and, um, just realize that
it's not for me, it's for God's glory, and that
I'm trying to be a light to others so that
they can see, um, what he can do through me.
S1 (17:48):
Yeah, absolutely. Sometimes maybe there's a purpose of you being
there even when we can't see it. And it's like, wow. Hey, God,
I hate this, actually. But there's someone that you are
being a light to and you might not even know it.
And so if you're able to kind of step into
that role that God's asked you to do at that job,
you may be a light for someone and they may
think of you for years and years and years. I
(18:09):
remember at a job I worked at, everyone was like,
why are you? I worked at a bar. They're like,
you're different. Why are you so different? And that gave
me an opportunity to share who Jesus is and like, oh, well,
this is why I'm different. You asked me. I'll tell
you so sometimes. You're right, Hannah. You just have to
find those small little glimmers of hope.
S5 (18:28):
And one thing I was listening to was Casting Crowns.
It's kind of I feel like sometimes in the moment
right now I'm like, well, I don't have that one
awkward moment, that song that they have, but I feel
like I'm trying to prepare for that. Every day I
go into work and try to, you know, push through
those hardships. I'm like, okay, I'm just getting ready for
when I have that awkward moment and I can step
(18:48):
out and be that light even brighter for someone.
S1 (18:51):
So yeah, people at work are always like, everyone's struggling,
life is hard. And so people are going to bring
that to work.
S3 (18:58):
And most people don't want to be there. If you
hate your job, you're probably not the only one.
S1 (19:02):
Yeah, yeah. Working is like working is work. It's not fun.
S3 (19:05):
I like this job. I'd rather be somewhere else, though.
S1 (19:08):
I'd rather be on my couch.
S3 (19:10):
I'd rather still be sleeping.
S1 (19:11):
Yes, exactly. We're on the beach. Yeah. So there's. People
are gonna bring their hardships to work. And as people
who follow Jesus, we get to be hope and opportunity
to people who may bring their hardships to work. Yep. Hannah,
do you have any mornings with Brian? Gear, a mug,
anything like that?
S5 (19:29):
No, I don't. This is my first time calling in, and.
S2 (19:32):
I just recently.
S5 (19:32):
Started listening to you guys, um, back in November.
S1 (19:35):
Oh, wonderful. Well, thank you for joining us. Uh, if
you can stay on the line, Daria is going to
get your info, and we'll send you some mornings with
Brian's stuff.
S5 (19:42):
Oh, great. I'm excited.
S1 (19:44):
Thanks, Hannah. Be like Hannah. Be a first time caller.
S2 (19:47):
That was awesome.
S1 (19:48):
That's so fun. We love our new listeners. We love
our old listeners. Not old. Well, them too, but those.
S2 (19:54):
We love them.
S1 (19:55):
All. We love.
S3 (19:55):
Everybody.
S1 (19:57):
Okay, so the person who had this question of hating
their job, they did text back in and said, I
can't afford to go lower, I must go up. And
I love people. Okay, so you're in financial field? Business degree. Okay.
I'm thinking I am thinking something in the development world.
S2 (20:14):
I am to.
S1 (20:15):
Raising money for an organization.
S2 (20:18):
Um.
S1 (20:19):
And that may not look like you're crunching the numbers
every day, but maybe you are doing galas to raise money,
and you have to be creative in ways to raise money.
You have to go out and meet with people and say, hey,
we need these funds. And someone who has a financial
mind has the opportunity to say, you're not as scared
to talk about money.
S4 (20:40):
Right? Right.
S1 (20:41):
People who do finance are not scared to say like, yeah,
obviously we need money to run this organization. Right. So
maybe look into some organizations that kind of tug on
your heart or types of situations that tug on your heart,
whether that's foster care, adoption, people experiencing homelessness, all kinds
of prison ministry. What kind of stuff? Tug on your
(21:03):
heart because we all have those things. And what's that
thing that tugs on your heart? And maybe in those
areas you look for something in fundraising or development because
you love people, you want to serve people, but you
have this financial mind and a business mind, which is
kind of what's needed for development. Jamie, you could probably
speak into that more working.
S2 (21:20):
In a.
S1 (21:20):
Nonprofit.
S2 (21:21):
Well, and I am on the development team.
S1 (21:23):
Look at.
S2 (21:24):
Us. I, um, my my role is a little bit
differently than those who work directly with donors, but. Yeah, absolutely.
We you have to have a financial mind. And you know,
what people want to understand. Know is now is how
their money is being used. And so that takes a
financial mind for us to help break down. You know,
the thousands and millions of dollars that we spend at
(21:46):
an organization, breaking it down to. Um, this is your
individual impact. We call it a dip. A donor individual,
I don't know. Shoot. I hope my boss isn't listening.
S1 (21:57):
Linda, turn the radio off.
S2 (22:00):
But, um. Yeah, I think I really do think that
that could be a good spot for you. Um, may
not be in the, um, you know, where you need
to be financially coming in, so keep looking around. I mean,
you're still talking about organizations that, you know, they're the
the intake of money is used mostly for residents. So, um,
(22:22):
but if you can or the people that they serve.
So but that would be a way to love people,
advocate for an organization and use that finance degree. So look,
just look at development and fundraising roles. I think that
would be a really good spot. And hey, if you
want to call us at the City Mission, my boss
(22:42):
would love to talk to you about. She's had lots
of lots of roles where she's worked at three different
nonprofits in fundraising. And so, um, she's amazing at this. So, yeah.
S1 (22:54):
I mean, I think we've solved it.
S2 (22:56):
So done.
S1 (22:58):
Solved. We do hope that you are able to find
a job that you enjoy. What she says. Linda, listening.
S2 (23:02):
My chief financial officer is listening. And he said, don't
make me call in.
S6 (23:07):
What is it?
S2 (23:08):
But actually we have a chief financial officer. No, this
is John Jelinek. Oh, he he razzes me a lot
of time. And. Yes, I just said your name. He said,
don't make me call in right now.
S1 (23:18):
John. Please do.
S4 (23:20):
Yeah. The challenge has been laid out there.
S1 (23:23):
Did he give you the right acronym?
S2 (23:25):
He didn't.
S1 (23:26):
Oh, well, John.
S3 (23:28):
So we're still in the dark.
S1 (23:29):
So we still don't know the answer.
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