Professionally Numb

While I was sitting waiting for a friend at a local restaurant in Midtown, I overheard two older gentlemen discussing their jobs over lunch. They sat casually nibbling on the pre-made sweets and seemed to be venting to one another about their work environment. Both were unkempt fellows with a subtle scientist-aire to them-- Einstein had no time for vanity. 

I overheard one of the gentleman say: "This has got to be one of the worst places I have ever worked." It was evident he had had a number of occupational transitions over the years and he knew what he was talking about. However, his adamant dismissal of his current professional make up mirrored almost verbatim what a colleague of mine who works full time at the agency I am freelancing with said. "This is probably the worst place ever." 

So, it got me thinking about my current professional situation. I recently went on a second interview for a strategic communications firm and have been probed by my current strategic communications agency for a potential opportunity with the firm. I am thinking it is a full time position they have advertised on the career sites. Truth be told, both jobs have the very stale, dry and mundane "corporate" taste I was so passionately trying to rid myself of. 

Given the current state of the environment, have we all been reduced to simply remaining content with what we've come to accept as the norm? Are people to remain confined to their cubicles and ride this wave until 2010; secretly praying they won't get laid off, but wishing they were somewhere, anywhere else other than there? Because disrupting the status quo is far too frightening when remaining what I am dubbing "professionally numb" keeps things on par. 

The economy is messing with people's minds. I blame the media for perpetuating the situation and reporting only the stock markets continuous plummets. I'd imagine consumer confidence would see some rebound if the current state of affairs didn't plague our every move. Perhaps letting the dust settle, taking a page out of foreign countries' books (closing down the stock market for a week), would allow Americans some much needed rest from all of this dooms-day news. 

Given that the fate of my career remains unwritten, I have to ask myself what is the most important thing for me moving forward right now. Chairman Bernanke seems to think the economy will rebound in 2010... wow, we're only 3 months into 2009 and we've already fast forwarded to 2010? Quite frankly, predicting an economic rebound is about as useful as predicting the weather two months from now... useless. So, is it wise for me to take a job that will leave me bored, unchallenged and quite frankly unhappy simply to rid myself of the burden of continuing to find something in this treacherous economy? Or, should I ride it out, continue my graveyard freelance gig and hope that when I fall, I fall where I truly want to land? 

Sometimes it is difficult to make a decision without thinking about the fiscal aspects of the decision. I think it is this outlook that has brought America to where it is. So much is wrapped up in our wealth, money and financial success that without it, we're lost, crumbled and sadly desperate. Perhaps if we valued, as the Europeans do, more substantial things rather than material possession and worth based on 'stuff'. 

It is not fair of me to generalize all Americans, as it would be hypocritical of me to point a finger when I am just as guilty as my neighbor. It is easy to blame others or find someone to take the fall, but when it really comes down to it...we're the one's who ultimately decide what is best for us. I'm still trying to figure it all out and I have found that my starting point has been with what I don't want-- to feel numb.