I woke up this morning with a migraine. I work in customer service and tech support in a call center and a head ache is really horrible. I am taking a week off when I get my puppy so I can't really take a sick day.

It got me thinking about why I work. Sure there is the rent, food, car, gas, and independence. But the biggest thing I would lose is my dog (soon the be dogs). So on my way to work today I grabbed the puppy collar I got a few days okay and have kept it with me all day and it really helped me get threw the day.

Do your dogs help motivate you to work?

I would have to say that my dog is definitely one of the biggest reasons.

Also for me, I don't really like to have people pay for my things. I still live with my parents, but I still pay for my own bills asides from rent and most food. I don't like the feeling of having to depend on others financially and that's probably my biggest reason for working.

Although, I don't work in customer service lol. I work in a genetics lab and I work alone about 90% of the time, which I like!

After working in customer service I would love to work somewhere with out people, maybe somewhere with puppies.
I want to be a profession puppy sitter and just play with puppies all day!

But I agree I love being able to pay for myself, my life, and to take care of my pets makes me feel like I am going okay at thus grown up thing.

I like working. Sure I need the money to provide for my family (including Luci), but I keep telling myself I would still work at least part time even if I won the lottery. I guess my career has become part of my self identity.

Playing with the Big Dogs wrote:

I want to be a profession puppy sitter and just play with puppies all day!

That would be the dream Lol  

I work because I have kids...a son, a daughter, and of course my two fur kids!!
I'm a sleep tech at a sleep center. I do all the sleep scoring of the sleep studies.
I actually love my job, but like you I suffer from migraines, and tension headaches ALL the time.   

So staring at a screen full of EEG brainwaves definitely takes a toll on my eyes and brain!!

I wish there was a way I can stay home an never have to work. That would be awesome!!

Everybody better buy your mega millions tix. Almost up to $600 million the last time I checked.

I have a candle holder that says " I work so my dogs can have a better life"

I work to work because hard working people are what keeps the world going. One of my biggest motivations to work is for the money. I know it sounds greedy and self-centered but without money one can't afford to have a dog, computer, education, kids, etc. Another motivation for working is to live a life without debt or dependance on our government, living that kind of life is like have your freedom taken away. Instead of pursuing personal interests you have to worry about the mortgage or your next car payment or food stamps. The last reason why I work is so that I can retire; you can't retire if you don't work and if you don't work hard in today's world then you can't retire either. Although yes, in the present moment being able to pay for my dog's needs independently while having some cash left over is reason enough for me to work. I work two part-time jobs (Soccer Referee and Library Page) which is more than enough for me right now.

wpskier222 wrote:

Everybody better buy your mega millions tix. Almost up to $600 million the last time I checked.

We should do a forum pool. 600 million is more than enough to go around! lol.

lol... the exchange rate would be good for me... but I guess I'm not allowed to participate because i'm not in the USA  

I work to gain experience, I'm currently going to school to be a vet tech and have just finished up my first practimum, which is where you go to a vet office and do skills there and learn. Well, the last week there, one of the kennel techs quit and I jumped at the chance to get out of my customer service job (hubby wouldn't let me quit til I had another job to go to). I realized while working the other job that I very much dislike most people (as customers) and that I would rather work with animals which led me to change my major from human nursing to animals. I also take a couple nurse float shifts during the week which is even better and more experience. You have to start somewhere and this is the foot in the door I need. I want to make this my career so I want as much experience as possible. The fact that I get to see my pups at the end of the day makes the day go that much faster.

Roxy that is so cool.

When I can afford to go back to school vet tech is what I am going into.

Did you do it online or do you live where there is a school?

And animals are much better customers than people!

cinnamonbits wrote:

I work to gain experience, I'm currently going to school to be a vet tech and have just finished up my first practimum, which is where you go to a vet office and do skills there and learn. Well, the last week there, one of the kennel techs quit and I jumped at the chance to get out of my customer service job (hubby wouldn't let me quit til I had another job to go to). I realized while working the other job that I very much dislike most people (as customers) and that I would rather work with animals which led me to change my major from human nursing to animals. I also take a couple nurse float shifts during the week which is even better and more experience. You have to start somewhere and this is the foot in the door I need. I want to make this my career so I want as much experience as possible. The fact that I get to see my pups at the end of the day makes the day go that much faster.

I've just finished my first year Only problem is I think I will have a re-sit on my Horse unit, as I was kinda not into that one Horses aren't my thing.. I don't mind them, but I'm not overly interested...

That's fantastic both of you I really want to go back to school!

I will never stop thanking my lucky stars that I am able to work and still be at home with our pup. I mainly do freelance audio/video transcription. For several years before that I worked full time at a video production company and then went freelance working on TV shows, movies, commercials, documentaries, etc. (Fun fact: Last year I was an associate producer on the Animal Planet show "America's Cutest Pet" and just got a call to do another season of it, though I don't think I'll be able to do it this time because of other things our family plans to do in 2014.)

I still do video stuff from time to time, mostly for folks I've worked with before, but for the most part I'm at home at my laptop transcribing everything from focus groups, interviews, legal statements, undercover-investigation recordings, medical transcription, dictations, etc. I've done this for nearly four years now, and though it's simple work and doesn't pay enough for me to be able to support myself on my own, I love it. I am incredibly fortunate to have the full support of my husband, who works full time as a computer engineer for a defense company.

I work because it brings me incredible satisfaction. I do what I do because I know I do it well and others appreciate my contribution. I am a perfectionist with a Type-A personality, so I strive very hard to do things right and well before deadline. I feel unaccomplished and unfulfilled otherwise. I work not necessarily for money but for personal satisfaction and fulfillment. The money is just an added benefit. When a job no longer brings me satisfaction, I change it. I know this is not possible for everyone because of the current job market and many need their job to survive financially, so I will never stop being totally grateful for the ability to make these decisions and change my situation for the better.

Still, a lot of the stuff I do that I consider work is unpaid: volunteering at animal shelters and taking care of my family and household. My husband and I plan on adding a human member to our "pack" sometime in 2014 or 2015, as well as possibly another Sibe, and I intend to stay at home to care for my family, both dog and human members.

So, as to the question of whether my pup motivates me to work, I'd say not really. I'm sure it's a good motivator for my husband, as he is the main "breadwinner," but I did work before we got her and I was still satisfied. Plus, I can't stand the thought of being beholden to my husband for paying for the entire mortgage, car repairs, groceries, home repairs, etc. I NEED to contribute and have some semblance of financial independence and the freedom to use my own hard-earned money to buy things for myself and for our family.

I am a stay at home mom, so I don't have a paying job, but being a SAHM is the hardest job I've ever done. And of course I do what I do for my kids. Hubby works hard to provide for his family and to ensure our kids have the best possible start in life. Sorry but my animals don't really come to mind when I think of why I would work if I had to. I love my dogs but they're not why I'd work.

I'm really glad this post came up today. I have been contemplating over the last few weeks about going back to school. I REALLY want to go back to school, I just have NO IDEA what to major in. Currently, I work full time in a doggie daycare, and part time in a vets office- so I would definitely want something animal related. I had started to go to school online for vet tech <- which turned out to be a total disaster! You have to be really self disciplined, which I was- I just had a really hard time teaching myself the material. I've thought about going to an actual school for vet tech, but I'm afraid I'll fail- which I guess is stupid. You don't know if you don't try right? When I was little I wanted to be a vet... in sixth grade I was told I wasn't smart enough- so that canned that. I have major test anxiety, so I can't imagine paying $600 for the final vet exam anyways- that would probably freak me out! lol So... now I'm back to not having a clue what to go to school for and sitting here still trying to figure things out... Isn't life supposed to get easier as you get older!?

I think that's just what they tell teenagers so they don't freak out. I had that issue when I first went to college too. I didn't know whwanted to do everyone said I would figure it out but I didn't so I got a job and started working while I figured it out. Now I know I want to be a vet tech it's just a matter of saving the money. I also want to go to an actual school I learn better that way.
Also working full time at a doggy daycare sounds like a lot of fun.

The course I have done is online and self directed - I had to source the animals and do my practicals via video.

I honestly think If you can go to a physical school you will find it a lot easier. If I could have I would of - but I live in the middle of nowhere virtually.

I think my dogs definitely motivate me to work. Some days I want to stay home and snuggle with them all day - but then I think about new collars I want to buy them or something to spoil them with and get myself moving and ready to go. I have to say I started my first part-time job, that was more like full-time with the hours, before I got my dogs. It was soooo horribly dull having nothing to do but work, and come home, and work, and when I got my pups I actually enjoyed going to work as well as coming home from work.

Huskyluv wrote:

I am a stay at home mom, so I don't have a paying job, but being a SAHM is the hardest job I've ever done.  And of course I do what I do for my kids.  Hubby works hard to provide for his family and to ensure our kids have the best possible start in life.  Sorry but my animals don't really come to mind when I think of why I would work if I had to.  I love my dogs but they're not why I'd work.

To the unsung hero! My daughter is "just" a SAHM and I've never seen anyone work so hard! The girls have Girl Scouts, sports, and school activities, she is a Girl Scout leader, volunteers for school activities and when home during school time she combs everything for coupons and sales. I kid you not, she had six board games (all the same one) in bag, I asked why and she said "Hey they were two for one, someone is always having a birthday party, why should I wait and by something full price?" Hard job if you really do it.

Yup, SAHM's arent given the credit they deserve.
I started working when Josie went to kindy (pre-school) just before she was four. It is really quite hard to juggle children's varying needs and home-life/housework. (Not everyone struggles with this but I do..)
I stopped working about 3 months ago Because it became even harder to juggle as I was also trying to study at the time. (took on more then I could chew by the look) anyway it is so nice to be able to bake, cook real meals, (rather then quick slap together ones) walk the kids to school with the dogs, spend more time with the kids because I don't have to rush around like a mad chook doing everything when I get home at 5. Also have time to maintain the yard, and do vege gardening. I wouldn't have been able to add Digger to the family either.. (It would be considered animal cruelty in NZ to leave Digger in his crate all day while I was at work here in NZ if anyone was to complain about him howling)

Financially I was wondering whether I should go back to work, but the kids had their end of year prizegiving and received these:



They have never done this well!.

I'm thinking the kids are much better off for me being home and I know Keyto is happier too, but Digger doesn't know any different.
Was thinking I could run a home-based business again, starting with an online pet supply store.

I work because I have bills, student loans and food to buy. My food bill is getting quite expensive lately since I'm making a transition to local fruit, veggies, pastured meat, eggs and raw milk. My pup is a strong motivator as well! I make sure she is always stocked up on chews/treats/bully sticks. I have to shop at the thrift store and use a car share because so much of my money goes toward bills and food.

Aside from the 'normal' bills, mortgage, truck payment, utilities, etc my dogs and my dog hobbies are my true drive to keep myself working hard. With 12 dogs, and another on the way, a new sled in my sights, upcoming dog shows, etc, I can't really afford not to work LOL!