THE FUN-DAMENTALS OF A HEALTHY CAREER
BY ALLISON ROGERS
Do you have fun at work? You’ve obviously heard the saying: time flies when you’re having fun! You cannot tell me that, in your whole entire life, you have never experienced a day or activity feel like it was over sooner than expected…because you were having fun.
If you can tell me that, well, you’re awfully boring and I suggest you enroll in some fun lessons…for the sake of the rest of us. The industry itself can teach you; the trades have a notorious reputation for fun.
To start, more than half of this industry ended up here thanks to a deep love for cars. For many, their careers are rooted in passion for the automobile. When you care deeply about what you do, it’s about six million times easier to enjoy your time at work. The visual element of our industry is a significant driver, too. When you’re filling in an Excel spreadsheet or checking off a list of menial tasks, there’s not much to show for your progress. When you’re restoring a vehicle to pre-accident condition, colour matching a tricky hue or PDR-ing a dent like magic, you can physically see the outcome of your work in front of you.
Collision repair is a dream for the always-learning problem-solver; an autobody technician encounters unique problems (often in OEM procedures) that require innovative problem solving. Ask anyone with a history on the production floor—you will never stop learning in this industry, so long as the automobile keeps on advancing. If monotonous tasks are not your cup of tea, autobody is for you. This trade opens a world of opportunities; if you love Mopars, embark on a career tinkering with them! If you love a good custom paint job, hunker down and train to the top of your game. If you’re a whiz with wires, this new era of electric vehicles will be your bread and butter.
I could go on and on about the “fun” elements of this industry, but we only have room for 500 words.
The most important point is the fact that a fun work environment makes for great culture; a well-oiled team that gets along. It helps retention; it helps overall attitude. I’d like to think our workplace at the magazine is fun. I’ve never heard any complaints otherwise, and I also try to cultivate an honest, open environment for communication. I won’t go as far to adjudicate myself, but I will say that, from my perspective, a workday in the office just flies by. I’m having fun. Fun is not a mere frivolity; it’s integral to a long career, and life, if you ask me. It fosters motivation, closeness and collaboration with your peers—plus, back to my first point, it just makes the day go faster.
So, if you’re in a workplace where you’re never having fun… just run.
