Tech Work is Happy Work!!

Ever been bored at work? It happens all the time in the technology world. Sometimes there just isn't any problems to work on. For some this is a time of rejoicing and goofing off, not for me. These slow times just cause me to get tired of my job. With out the challenge of the problems/issues that are brought to my attention work is just plain work. I consider myself extremely lucky in the fact that what I do for a living is what I love to do. My father always said if you love your work then it never seems like work. I do not believe he is entirely correct with this statement but it is a good start.

I believe liking what you do and doing well at what you do are two requirements to having a successful career. You don't need both but it is easier to be good at your job when you like that job. I have been misjudged several times as liking my job because I work hard and do well. I guess work ethic isn't something thought of when looking at employees. That is where those employers made the fault and I didn't stay long after that in most cases. I have had my share of bad and good jobs. Many of the best jobs were with bad companies and the worst jobs were with good companies, but there were a few that were in the middle ground of both and I stayed a happy employee for much longer at these places. In the end, I am usually disappointed in the company and leave for greener pastures. This has worked well so for, with a few stumbles along the way. Nothing that a little hard work couldn't fix.

That brings me to today. My work is a source of happiness in my life. I am not a workaholic but I like what I do and I am good at it. I work long hours and most of my time is dedicated to my work. It didn't even take a year at my current job to earn a promotion and several raises in pay. I have done this because I learn quickly, I have practical experience in the application of software and hardware solutions, and I work with my team to solve problems. In a job like mine sharing the knowledge you have is a two way street. One way if you share everything you know then you may not be needed anymore. We all know the idea of working yourself out of a job! The other way is that by sharing you gain perspective on your ideas and experiences making you more effective in diagnostics and troubleshooting.

This all leads in to the most important piece of being a technical support person, personality. I think if you can get along with people you are more apt to share with them. You can be more empathetic to customer's problems and that leads to being better at customer service. Dedicating yourself your self to your customers will get you far in tech support but rarely makes you friends in other departments and can hold you back from moving to other places in a company. Choose you battles wisely and be sure you make intelligent well planed moves.

The best part of being in the technical field is the option to work privately on the outside of your normal job. Many techs do this to make the extra money they spend on the tech products they buy for themselves. I do it for extra spending cash and to experience other parts of computer support I don't see in my job. It is a way for me to keep my knowledge more current on what is happening to the individual user and what they use computers for. I also like the work because it reminds me of when I was young and still learning to interact with technology. It is fun to work with people and gain their respect and gratitude. I am not the best but the work makes me happy and I will always work hard to keep it that way. Tech work is happy work is successful work and makes a happy worker in my case!!


Andrew Birchler
Newest Version Computer Services

RECAP!!!!

RECAP!!!!
What a great week this has been!!! RECAP: Monday was a very very long day, but it ended with a good dinner out. Tuesday was fun after I had a Guinness in hand, before that the whole day was TelCo and VOIP crap. Wednesday has been busy enough to make the day go fast... One of these days it will not be so up and down... I hope.

Good times are hard to find on a thinning budget like mine. Every time I think I can really be a little frivolous. Bam.. another unexpected bill. Damnit world I am just trying to retire before I am 65, is that too much to ask??? It hasn't been that bad lately. I think after 3 years of trying, I finally have most of my ducks in a row. I have taught myself to save money!!! Spending money is limited to set amounts and some of that includes Gas money, as the MINI is one of the greatest forms of entertainment I know of! Food costs are down, by eating more good for you foods. It is amazing how much just doing that effects how you feel. I still don't work out, and most of my day is spent in a chair in front of a computer screen. I am the guy that destroys cheap desk chairs fast! So I am starting to go beyond just getting by and really starting to make live great. Not that life wasn't great before... it was just so much more stressful... I think.. I have a hard time telling when I am stressed until it is way too late and I am in full blown panic attack. (knock on wood) Haven't had one of those in several months.

wooo... time flies... Got to get some work done this evening...

Andrew