The two year itch

In what were called “the good ‘ol days� you studied one field, entered that industry at the bottom of the ladder, and worked your way to the top over your career. You stayed with the same company for 20, 30, 40 years. You did the same thing everyday for most of your life, but didn’t mind, because that’s what everyone cherished, security.

The times, they are a changin’. Unless you still have a black and white television and spend your evenings jamming with your eight-track, chances are you’re familiar with something called the two year itch.

It’s a term that’s synonymous with the ad industry but is used in every aspect of life. It can be reasoning for why you just got fired, or a slice of hope you can serve to your spouse after telling them you quit your job because “its not fun anymore�.

In many industries two years can be considered a lengthy career. In others it’s still just the beginning of a lifelong investment into one company.

What exactly is this itch? It’s that feeling you get when you wake up in the morning and don’t feel like going to work. You don’t know why, but you just don’t want to go. You’ve surpassed the peak of your learning curve and seem to be stuck on repeat from nine to five. You can spot the problems before they happen and your timing’s impeccable on when to compliment your boss.

But that itchy feeling leaves you uncomfortable. You start to realize that you’re not learning much in your job and seem to be happier when you punch out each night then when you punch in, in the morning. That enthusiasm you had when you first started has been replaced by keeping track of your time and the accounts you’re working on and making sure that you file the right reports in the right folders.

Now, I’ll admit two things. 1) Many of the young go getters reading this post may not have worked in an office like I describe or are too young to have been offered such a job. 2) I’ve worked in a job like everyone else and like what I’ve described, so there may be a little bias towards nine to fivers in my context.

As you gain more and more responsibilities and liabilities throughout your life, the two year itch becomes something that sends a shiver down your spine when mentioned in your presence.

I personally think it’s one of the best things you can practice throughout your career. Every two years flip your life and job and try something completely new. If you just started developing websites, in two years time, stop everything you’re doing and manage a pet store. If you’re a car salesman, in two years, quit your job and become a marketing rep at a national charity.

You’re probably shaking your head and asking why you would do that, and why the hell a company in one industry would hire you if you’ve never worked in their biz and spent the past two years working in another industry?

Whatever ship you decide to jump to from your current one has to be something you love to do. If you don’t love pets or working with charities you obviously wouldn’t do either or. But whatever you choose, you’ll have a ton of experience that you’ll be able to carry across with you and apply to your new job.

You’ll be able to apply your web development knowledge to building the best pet store website in the world, and you’ll be able to work your car salesman charm on large corporations and convince them how important it is they support your charity.

Remember that quote I keep citing every now and then? “A concept is the combination of two conventional things in an unconventional way�?

That’s exactly what you’ll be doing by going from one job to another every two years in completely different industries and markets. You’ll live an extremely conceptual lifestyle and never stop learning. You’ll find new ways to use the skills you’ve developed and have a much greater opportunity to revolutionize each company and industry that you introduce yourself to every 2 years.

Commit yourself to a job and give it everything you’ve got for 2 years. Then pick up everything you’ve learned, all the contacts you’ve developed, all the income you’ve saved, and walk in the opposite direction.

It’ll be the most interestingly difficult thing you’ve ever done, and you’ll get to do it again every two years. Sounds like fun doesn’t it?