February 09, 2011, 12:15 PM — IT does not traditionally have high levels of job satisfaction, though the reasons for that are different for men and for women, your personality, your manager's, the company's, your age and the technology you work with.
That just makes it harder to get yourself out of the house on cold, snowy mornings, when roads are impassable, users are already screaming and the systems you're developing have all been warped or decapitated by managers who want to save money by cutting out the one factor that would make the projects successful.
Here's a checklist to help you decide whether to go to work today or find something more fulfilling to do:
- Do you have one of these jobs?
- Are you on this list?
- Or this one?
- Are you this guy?
- Do you work for one of these?
- Do you work for one of these?
- Have you seen this?
- Did you want to be a librarian?
- If you're on this list...
- If you're on this list...
- Do you have one of these in the garage?
- Are you the one missing from missing this list?
- Are you one of these ten people?
- Are you married to this woman?
- Not going to work because you don't have a job? Don't read this.
- Bummed about going to work?
Go to work. Most of them are cool. Even No. 8.
Don't bother going to work. Have it brought to you, poached lightly, with caviar, on a silver tray.
Go to work, but step carefully or other people will be revolting. As the guy in the next entry discovered.
Go to work, but quit. Be sure to tell everyone. Then go on vacation far away.
Very far away.
Get to work! Now. Call me if there are any openings.
Call in sick. But buy stock.
The graphics will make your decision obvious.
It worked out for this guy. Wanting to be a librarian, not actually being one.
...you're too attractive to go to work.
...consult your physician before deciding. If you're dead, don't go.
Stay home. Go for a drive.
Stay home. But make a phone call.
Go to work. Or find some.
Call your lawyer.
Economics may be "the dismal science," but that will make you want to get rich by inventing the suicide booth.
This might make you feel better.
But probably not.
Kevin Fogarty writes about enterprise IT for ITworld. Follow him on Twitter @KevinFogarty.
