Comments on: Knowing Who You Are Can Get You Out of Underachievement

By: Working Where You Don’t Fit Can Make You Sick | Requisite Writing

Working Where You Don’t Fit Can Make You Sick | Requisite Writing — Mon, 19 May 2008 22:45:18 +0000

[...] Let’s return to something Mary wrote in a comment about my post, “Knowing Who You Are Can Get You Out of Underachievement“: [...]

By: Maureen Brown

Maureen Brown — Sun, 04 May 2008 22:32:46 +0000

Thanks so much, Forrest. I can’t wait to read more! Your note really cheered me up.

By: Forrest Christian

Forrest Christian — Sat, 03 May 2008 21:26:57 +0000

Maureen, your situation mirrors one of my clients, Jack. He was an accomplished programmer who finds himself stuck. Like you, he’s in his mid-40s and just can’t do the work like he used to.

The good news is that this is normal: if someone had been looking out for you a bit (say, your manager’s manager, whose job it’s supposed to be) you would have learned that you can’t stay where you are indefinitely. It’s not just age, or that the field keeps shifting. I’ll be talking about Jack’s situation in the next few days. I think you’ll find what I say about it interesting.

I’m also finishing up a very focused ebook on the problems facing software developers in your situation, and the options open to you. It will talk about this problem more indepth. It’s really rather common, and it’s a shame.

By: Why “Evil” Bosses Usually Aren’t | Requisite Writing

Why “Evil” Bosses Usually Aren’t | Requisite Writing — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:17:57 +0000

[...] The Manasclerk Company Forrest Christian, consultant with The Manasclerk Company, is the author of most of these pages. Unless noted otherwise as written by another author, all of this site’s content is Copyright 2002-2008 E. Forrest Christian, Valparaiso, Indiana, USA. All Rights reserved. ← Knowing Who You Are Can Get You Out of Underachievement [...]

By: Maureen

Maureen — Thu, 01 May 2008 03:33:49 +0000

I am a computer programmer and my job has gotten harder, but I have not outgrown it. I think I’ve gotten worse at this job. I’m constantly missing details and forgetting to do things and people are not too impressed with me. The I.T. industry has changed a lot, and so that is part of it. I’m 48 now, and I’ve gone back to school to upgrade my skills, but I’m not any better. I don’t understand.

By the way Mary, I hope you get a better job – you clearly are made to make a huge contribution. Thanks for your clarity and honesty.

Maureen

By: Mary McQueen

Mary McQueen — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:22:52 +0000

I’m not sure what “new line” means exactly, but I’m getting in the queue to be a customer.

When I read “Underachievers, Are You Simply Out of Flow” and then Andrew Olivier’s “Our Working Journey and Stress”, I could hardly believe my eyes. I diagnosed myself immediately.

I have been on 2 sick leaves, the last one for 7 months because of depression. Even though I had stopped eating and sleeping I seriously didn’t care because I had all that extra time (that would have been spent sleeping and eating) to pursue my art-related hobbies. All day and all night. I was so happy! ( And skinny).

I mean, duh, I knew that my jobs were not very fitting, but I didn’t know that they could make me that sick. I thought I was sick mostly because my boss was mean and I was freakishly sensitive.

Now I know better.

Knowing will help me cope and not be ashamed of myself for getting sick while doing an admin. suppport job.

Now I just need a more suitable job! I have natural talent but no credentials. I hope you have some suggestions for high potential people who had misspent youths and didn’t finish university.

God bless you, Forrest, for starting this conversation.