On Motivation

I am no longer passionate about my work. To me it has become just another job. I guess that is what being an employee does to you. You become detached from what you do, how you do it. It has become a job--9 to 5 (6 in my case), come in at 9, try to leave by 6 (though that hardly happens, as many office workers can testify), and collect your insufficient pay at the end of the month. The success of the enterprise becomes of little personal significance to you. Everything becomes a chore to be despatched with as quickly as possible.

But in an ironical sense it seems to have made me a better worker. I do what I am told, nothing more, nothing less. No fancy ideas or suggestions, complete the work in time and on time to finish the day, not too fast so that more work gets piled on you.

I suppose that is what "becoming professional" really means?