Job vs Career

What's the difference between a job and a career? I started in a new line of work last week. I think its going to be a career.

My reasoning is that a 'job' is something you do to get paid. Its a means to an end; whereas with a career, the work itself is the end. The money is helpful, but you enjoy working, so it doesn't become stressful or taxing.

I have a bunch of friends that all have "jobs". They strongly dislike the 'job', and may even go as far as to complain about it any time its mentioned. The only reason they do it is for the money so that they can do other things. This bugs me for 2 reasons:

A) Because its simply annoying to be stuck with a whinger, and

B) They have a job to do. They have work. They have money.

Being in the work I am, I constantly forget how lucky I am to be working regardless of whether I take personal enjoyment from it. To be able to actually sit down and get something done - to contribute to society - is a joy to itself.

People often say "what would you do if you won $90 million dollars in the lotto?" etc... and how they would retire and not work ever again, but just do fun things. I don't think I could do that. I think it would kill me to not work. Recreation is good, but its good with definition. If it becomes the only thing you do, it loses the specialness. To put it as a metaphor - If you don't have Black, then how do you know what White is?

True, there are times when I get frustrated, however I wouldn't want to stop doing what I do. There are times I think about other career paths, and what it would be like to follow them, however I find the most enjoyment I get is from doing whatever work I currently have.

I think all Men enjoying creating; all Men enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes with completely a task. All Men know that life will not just be handed over on a silver platter because you squirt a few tears if something goes wrong. Putting up with the hardships; resolving issues (rather then ignoring them) are all trademarks of what makes a Man.

So take encouragement in your work. Enjoy the opportunity you have. Whinge a whole heap less.

- Shifty