Assembly Line= Less Freedom

I am going to keep this short today just to change it up a bit.

In my day job I work at a manufacturing company (i.e. assembly line). Part of my role is to standardize everything so that there is little variability in the product. This is needed to keep the quality up. You want this standardization in the stuff you buy because if it was not standardized you would be taking a gamble every time you bought something whether it would work or not.

I do not have a problem with buying things that work but I do have a problem with what this standardization does to people. Each step a person makes is designated by the employer so they have little choice in their lives. The employer decides when you take vacation, when you go to the bathroom, if you can have time to see your kids ball game, and how much money you make.

In all actuality you chose this work environment, maybe you did not know any better. I know I did not.

Do you want more freedom? The way out is to decide that you want a different life. You do not need to go to school, but you do need to learn. The first step is find someone living the life you want and ask them to show you how. Then do it. That is it.

4 Replies on “Assembly Line= Less Freedom

  1. A lot of people in this position are unhappy yet do not realize (at least at first) WHY they’re unhappy. We’re conditioned to think that we are all supposed to have traditional jobs such as this. And if that’s what we are supposed to do, then what’s wrong with us for being unhappy?

    Josh is right in that it is difficult to break the mold and do something different. But just because something is hard does not make it worthwhile.

    -Alan
    http://www.ImmatureEntrepreneur.com

    1. I agree, I think people need to realize that they need to think about what makes them a person (creativity, feelings, etc.) and decide if it is worth giving up. If it is not then go do something about it.

  2. In my case I tend to get stuck because I feel a loyalty to some of the people I work for. I work one day a week for our church doing repetitive work. I some times wonder if I should quit. I work in our family business… because my parents have done so much for my wife and I when we first got married. But I do still try to grown and expand and am making plans to do other things I want to do. And even doing them in the time I do have of my own. 🙂 Good post.

    1. I do feel that in some cases it is important to fulfill the bargain you made. For instance if I take a job somewhere I try to stay there for 2 years so I make sure the person paying me is getting their money’s worth from me. Just be careful that you are not being driven to stay working in something based on guilt. If you figure out what you are good at and do that for the church or your parents you will be giving them even more than if you force yourself to do something you do not enjoy. Let me know if I can be of any help.

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