The futility of cubes

So my company just moved offices. In the process they changed from real offices (with doors!) to cubes. So here we are 5 days into our "Open Workplace" environment and I have to say that I am not real impressed. It isn't that I haven't worked in cubes before; I have. That is what made being in an office all the sweeter because I have an appreciation of how sucky cubes really are.

When we arrived on monday there was a nice informational packet in our assigned work area with tips on topics such as:

• Keep It Down!
  
• Keep it to Yourself
• What's that Smell?
• Get a Room!

Overall the point of this brocure was to try and 'blunt' the painful nasty experience that is working in the bullpen. They ackowledge up front that it sucks and it is difficult.

The fact that this is corporate worldwide policy makes it all the worse. They are very proud to point out that they do not care about efficieny, productivity or quality of work... only facilities costs. "Our products are no longer as high quality but we saved a lot in construction costs."
My co-workers agree with the drop in overall productivity with comments like. "I have gotten about 1/2 day of actual work done."

I guess I will get over it in time. I have no choice. This is the way the world works these days: resistance if futile.

Job Satisfaction

Every now and then I get on a stint where I think to myself "Is it possible to love what you do for a living?" Not tolerate, not "It's OK", but really LOVE going to work every day. With a few exceptions, I think the answer is no.

That bums me out.

Let's look at the people who probably love going to work

• Firefighter: They get off on stuff catching on fire and then putting it out. They love the rush, the satisfaction of saving lives, of making a difference. They love it so much there have been cases where firefighters started starting fires so that they would have something to do.
• Artists: I imagine if you love to paint, and someone is willing to pay for your stuff. Then being an artist has huge satisfaction. You get to find something that catches your eye and then work on it all day.

Now how about people who don't love going to work

• Me: I don't get a thrill every day when I wake up and say "WHOOHOO! I get to go certify the quality of my product!!!" I think it goes something like this. "I need money and they won't give me that if I don't go today."

So am I alone in this? Do most people love what they do? I doubt it. More than likely you, the average Joe, just wants to pay the bills and move on. You are LONG past the time when your work had meaning. Now you are just doing everything you can to not get outsourced, to not get cut in the name if efficiency.

If that is not the case I would love to hear from you. What makes your job so great that you love going every day? And here is the next question... what should we tell out kids? Should we tell them the truth?