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Having a job that you truly love is an amazing feeling. Not only does it put food on the table, but it provides you with a deep sense of purpose and personal growth. It’s not just about the money—even if career opportunities are an important factor. It’s about making an impact in the world. But how many of you could genuinely say that you’d stay at the company you currently work at if you ever won the lottery?
Well, as it turns out, plenty people would. Members of the r/AskReddit community revealed what their jobs are and why they wouldn’t quit even if they got lucky and hit the jackpot. It’s genuinely wholesome and inspiring. And it’s proof that your career can be meaningful, not just a bottomless pit of soul-sucking despair. Scroll down to see what these internet users had to say.
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#1
Kennel attendant. I’ll never willingly turn my back on these animals.
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#2
This is going to sound stupid but I deliver food for UberEats.
I do it mostly for my mental wellness. I am retired so I do this to get me out of the house during the day instead of sitting around doing nothing but battling my depression and anxiety.
I love the feeling of riding around town on an electric scooter and seeing the sights here in NYC while also having a feeling of self worth... if that makes any sense.
I don't expect anyone to understand how much I get out of doing deliveries but I hope it can make some semblance of understanding to those in the psychiatric field at the very least because I feel as though I need validation for some odd reason.
I_imagine_even_worse_w***s 11 months ago
I love this even more than the ones like curing cancer, doctor, animals etc. Don't get me wrong they all got an upvote what they're doing is amazing and society is so lucky yo have them. But this! This is my favourite.
#3
I'm a doctor. A great portion of my income is already donated to my hospital's program that expands access to low-income patients. I'd probably give 100% of my income to the program if I won and use the lottery winnings for living.
A concept that has helped us immensely in our lives is the idea of ‘ikigai.’ It’s a Japanese concept that touches on a person’s reason for being. Ikigai focuses on finding balance between four things: what you love, what the world needs, what you’re good at, and what you can be paid for.
If any of the four aspects are lacking in your life, you may not feel as fulfilled as you could be. Doing what you love and what you’re good at for very little money will be chronically frustrating. Meanwhile, doing what the world needs and what pays well even if you hate every moment of it will leave you burned out and looking to jump ship. It’s only when the four elements are at play that you can talk about ikigai, which stands above your passion, mission, profession, and vocation.
#4
I'm actually a chef at my local homeless shelter. My dream job, even with an advanced degree. I'd not quit this if I won 3 lotteries. I would, however, cut a fat check to my organization and my sister organization
#5
I drive a bus for a retirement village and memory care unit.
They’re not all a bunch of brain dead trump zombies and the ones that aren’t are the best, sweetest, kindest people I’ve ever met. I love my residents.
#6
I am a Zookeeper 😊. I would love to win the lottery- but I wouldn’t quit my job. Working with animals is incredibly rewarding
Fluffy mommy panda 11 months ago
I've got to say that would an amazing job to see all those animals all the time. And exciting at times
That’s not to say that if you’re passionate enough you’ll have no issues whatsoever in your career. Challenges are unavoidable at work. But what matters is your willingness to see things through as you look for solutions. Our intrinsic motivation for what we do is as important as extrinsic factors (like money and status).
Job satisfaction, according to Indeed, depends on a handful of factors. For one, the work itself has to serve some greater purpose. It has to fire up the employees with a grand vision of some sort. But that means very little if the compensation is poor, there are no growth opportunities, and the workplace culture is toxic.
#7
I work at an after-school program for teens with disabilities and it is the most fun, rewarding job I've ever had. Plus, I would miss my kiddos.
#8
I recondition (light remodeling) apartments after tenants move out. I’m alone all day and I can listen to podcasts or books, the work is very satisfying to me, and as a woman I’ve loved learning HVAC, plumbing, and electrical work as I use the experience in my own home when things break/need updated. I would go crazy without working anyway but I really do love my job
#9
I teach people how to sew, mostly kids but we have a few adult classes as well.
It is stressful but also so rewarding to see a room full of people who have learned a skill from you and can take home a bunch of goodies, and sewing is a dying skill so we need to teach it more!
Employees also highly value quality managers whom they can trust and respect, and who embrace communication instead of shying away from it.
On top of that, if you want to motivate your staff to go above and beyond the call of duty, you have to be willing to give them some autonomy and flexibility. If you’re micromanaging every tiny aspect of their day-to-day operations, you’re only pushing them away. Companies that truly want to support their workers will look for ways to help them grow their professional and personal skills, instead of trying to min-max their output until they inevitably burn out and quit.
#10
I train shelter dogs and write grants for animal welfare orgs. I love how dogs think and the look on their faces when they understand what you're asking them to do, and I love grant writing because it's like manipulation in written form.
I'd keep a chunk of the lottery money to buy a house and a big backyard and get my self a chef because I hate cooking (and get good health insurance), but a lot of it would go into a foundation where I could give it to shelters and rescues. Just think, we could save THOUSANDS of animals every year.
#11
Clinical cancer research. I might have a few more days off though.
Gloria Miramontez 11 months ago
Thank you for your service and curious mind! I admire your tenacity in delving into possibilities for health and knowledge!
#12
Public librarian. Not leaving till I can't do it anymore. Love the public (most of them, most of the time), love getting people resources to improve their lives, love being the first to know about new books/movies/music/board games, love spending tax money on things that make people actually happy, love talking to my ridiculously smart, talented coworkers. I'm on my fourth career. This is the only one I wouldn't leave immediately if money were no issue.
CSCole 11 months ago
A librarian would be my choice with a part time job at a retail bookstore. I worked in the corporate world for 25 years. One of the best things that happened to me was job displacement. I turned to my favorite hobby-- books! I was in my element! Every one wondered why I was always smiling.
How (dis)satisfied are you at your current jobs, dear Pandas? What would you do if you won the lottery? Ideally, what kind of work would you like to do if money wasn't even an issue? We're really curious to hear your thoughts about these questions, so if you have a moment, share yours in the comments.
#13
Barista is my main regular job. I f*****g love it. I love being able to talk to people all day and making cute little swans or whatever in peoples drinks.
#14
I’m the Assistant Director for a Children’s Theatre.
It’s really not something you do for the money. You do it because you love it and can’t imagine your life without it.
Rachele Stoops 11 months ago
Definitely not for the money!! I’m a high school theatre director and it’s my dream job. Definitely wouldn’t give it up anytime soon.
#15
I’m a criminal defense lawyer. The job can get stupid stressful, particularly in the days leading up to and during jury trials for clients charged with serious crimes, but damn, does it feel good to advocate for others, all while pushing back against baked-in injustices that plague the criminal system.
I feel so fortunate. Every day is a reminder that crime does not happen in a vacuum - if you leave a toaster outside all winter and then go to plug it in in the spring, it’d be unreasonable to expect it to work perfectly. But yet that’s oftentimes what the criminal system expects out of people who have themselves been subjected to trauma from the earliest moments of their lives.
Roxy222uk 11 months ago
Defence lawyers are so important! People ask 'but how can you defend someone who has done a terrible thing?' which seems bonkers to me. If your (grown up) kid was accused of something awful, even if part of you wasn't sure if they were innocent, you would want to see the most robust defence possible. Every person has that right. Plus, it is nitpicking defence lawyers that won't let any little technicality go that keep the police on their toes and sticking to correct protocol. If someone that appears to all and sundry to be guilty 'got off on a technicality' someone wasn't doing their job properly. And cut corners could cause immense problems to someone we know, so it's always good when they are brought to light.
#16
I already quit my necktie job to become a wood artist. I would never go back to the office no matter what.
If I won a billion dollars tomorrow, I would continue to make and sell my wood items. I would improve my shop, buy more tools, air purifying system, compressor, sanders, and perhaps build a shop with nice windows and storage space. And I would love to spend the rest of my days making things and then selling them. It is not the money, it is that people want things I thought up and made.
ManyBrothers 11 months ago
I wish I could add a lot more points for this one! I LOVE woodworking! The smell of fresh cut wood, things that you've made with your own two hands. It's an amazing feeling. When my dad was alive, he'd be out in his woodshop pretty much all day, repairing and making things. The band saw was my personal favorite.
#17
I'm a musician. Basically I have what for most people is a dream job, which makes me a non-representative specimen. On the other hand, I still occasionally work as a paramedic, and as rewarding as that job can be, I'm mostly doing it when I want to grab some extra cash. I'd probably let my certs expire if I was rich.
keyboardtek 11 months ago
I am a jazz pianist who had a business repairing amplifiers, recording equipment, keyboards and synthesizers. I basically fixed the gear then had to spend a lot of time playing with it to be sure it worked OK! It was seventh heaven for a keyboard player.
#18
I’m a hospice nurse. I wouldn’t quit my job. I feel like it’s important. But I wouldn’t stress about taking a vacation if I won the lottery
#20
Nursing, I kind of still like it. I'd probably back off to part time, if I won big.
Cerridwn d'Wyse 11 months ago
I'm a nurse. I am retired but had I won the lottery while I was still working I would not have quit and I would have started a home health agency that focused on providing care to those on Medicaid or who have no insurance. Because they don't get the care they need. I was at home health nurse and a home health manager at a home health director and nursing was my calling and Home Health was my home
#21
When I win the lottery I’ll still work but I’ll probably go to part time. I work with children with special needs :) my job is rewarding and special, I love working with kids. Plus I’m too young to “retire” and not work, I’ll get bored lol
Alan Watkiss 11 months ago
I also work with children with special needs, and I would also never give it up if I won big. The reward is definitely way better than any amount of money
#22
I do hair. Love it! Gives me purpose.
Jude Laskowski 11 months ago
And we love you and all hair dressers for making us look beautiful.
#23
I run my own company and my employees are like my children. I love them to bits, and we do meaningful work with remarkable companies. I hit the jackpot already
Papa 11 months ago
For Tuna Beach, since I can't reply directly, it's possible the OP means he or she feels an obligation to see to their well-being and make sure they're treated well in the workplace. Actually caring about them as people, instead of just seeing them as assets to be exploited and then tossed aside. Don't condemn someone for what could very easily be one poorly chosen word, or one that you chose to assign the worst possible interpretation to. In contrast to what social media would have you think, there are business owners who care about their employees. They aren't all out-of-touch billionaires (and no, I'm not a business owner, and never have been).
#24
I'm a winemaker. I absolutely love what I do, and would never give it up.
If I was to win the jackpot, I would buy better toys for my vineyard and winery.
#25
I teach in a difficult state to do that. So if I don’t do it then it’s one less person who’s going to try and do a good job for the kids.
11 months ago
that was my mom- she was a really good teacher. some of the other teachers at the school sometimes didn't even show up to teach their class- mostly because they hated the kids or they didn't want to put much effort into marking papers and making test and stuff. they literally did not care. so my mom would take on a lot of work and she was like the only one who actually cared; not just about the academics but also the wellbeing of her students. so the job became stressful for her and on top of that she would have to drive me everywhere bc my dad was working a lot. she ended up retiring after 21 years of teaching- thats the minimum required number of years before retiring. people thought she just gave up- or used having a child as an ecxcuse or smth but no. the stress was taking a toll on her mental health so its good that she quit.
#26
Labor and delivery nurse! I will prob have to be forced into retirement one day because I love my job so much!
#27
Aircraft Mechanic. For me nothing and I mean nothing get me excited for the day like goin to fix airplanes and making them fly. I work on military aircraft so it's very different from civilian aircraft but I truly love what I do.
#28
I get to read DUI police reports all day. Most entertaining job I’ve ever had.
#29
I develop chemical sensors. I would buy the company and work half time. The joy of solving the types of problems that come up are fun. I would also get to solve the bedbug detector problems.
#30
Tattoo artist!!!
What do you think ?
censorshipsucks 11 months ago
It's interesting to see that finance sector isn't represented, it's all people-helping jobs. Jobs involving making money for capitalists don't seem to be featured. I wonder why. Maybe because they are soul-sucking and inane.
Michael Largey 11 months ago (edited)
Old agriculture joke. Farmer 1: "What would you do if you won ten million dollars?" Farmer 2: "Well, I guess I'd just keep farming till it was all gone."
censorshipsucks 11 months ago
It's interesting to see that finance sector isn't represented, it's all people-helping jobs. Jobs involving making money for capitalists don't seem to be featured. I wonder why. Maybe because they are soul-sucking and inane.
Michael Largey 11 months ago (edited)
Old agriculture joke. Farmer 1: "What would you do if you won ten million dollars?" Farmer 2: "Well, I guess I'd just keep farming till it was all gone."
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