I mean, usually, a more managerial position gives more freedom. And that naturally is a big plus for someone like us who wants to meddle in many different things rather than concentrate in just doing the basic tasks.

But on the other hand, like you say, a management position in itself is not something that will make you happy about your job. The job itself needs to have something interesting in it. It needs to feel useful, and it needs to make you energized. At least that’s what I think… And sometimes, a job outside the management field can do that, plus leave you more free time to explore your other interests :)

Thanks for the comment, and let’s keep chatting!

Jarko, thank you very much for writing this article. One line captured me: “Don’t get fooled into thinking that being promoted to a management position is the only career move there is.” I’ve reviewed my resume and notice that for most of the jobs I’ve accepted, I’ve got promoted to the management side. I thought it’s the best way to show what’s meaning in life. What else is better than to climb up the ladder and upgrade yourself. However, I do not feel a sense of pride nor do I feel productive at work. The work likes me yet I hate the job. It’s about time I move on. Continuing to do things you don’t like over and over again is useless and stupid. Once again, thanks Jarko!!

I share the same anxiousness and in a way this blog is my way of looking at the world and trying to make sense of it, thus creating my own definition of success, and what I want to achieve in this life.

It’s not as easy as just going with the flow – but much more rewarding (and interesting), I think. ;)

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and good luck!

I guess a dream job happens when the all parties involved see “rewarding” in a same way: The rewards and benefits that the company offers are something that the employee sees as rewarding as well.

And that’s where it gets tricky. Different people perceive rewards differently, and in a bigger company the needs easily start to conflict with each other…

In this case I’m quite sure the company was not acting benevolent.

Regarding the benevolent employee status, I’ve seen it once in the last year. We have one client that employed it’s flash developers even though they work remotely because the company new that the flash developers would be more loyal given health benefits.

(It’s funny how flash developers tend to not work on site. have you noticed that?)

I think the key word in your post is “rewarding”. A career that rewards you. It comes down to what we perceive as rewards.

Shane definitely did the right thing. But could it be that the client was really thinking that they would be helping Shane and his friend by “promoting” them to remote employees?

I’ve seen in my work that often the company (at least the one in which I work) thinks that their contractors would want to be part of the bigger organization – and that we would be “saving” them from a lot of uncertainty by just hiring them in-house. I’m curious: Have you noticed this attitude among your customers?

He had a client that offered him and his friend a raise from contractor to remote employee. Shane’s friend accepted, and I couldn’t understand why Shane was hesitating so we talked it over for 2 days.

1) Shane saw it as a pretense for the company to pay him about the same money but demand twice as much from him

2) Shane saw that this would kill his contractor business.

3) Shane didn’t really at heart believe that employees are more secure than contractors.

So he passed.

A year later Shane doubled his income independently while his friend doubled his working hours, complaining incessantly.