I’ve been watching a lot of Ponpoko Channel lately. Their laid-back videos are great for a change of pace because I can have them playing like a radio while I work.
In fact, I’ve even started listening to the PodCast they recently launched. In their first episode, they talked about something called a “stimulus junkie”.
I think the triggers for mood swings vary greatly from person to person. In my case, my excitement level changes significantly depending on whether what I’m doing is new to me. “Stimulus junkie” seemed like a perfect name for this trait.
However, this trait is quite troublesome in my work life.
When I was a new graduate, I mainly chose companies based on how technically interesting they were. I found it exciting to constantly encounter new technologies and wanted to work in an environment surrounded by them. I don’t necessarily think that was a mistake. However, I realized that for me, that kind of motivation doesn’t last long. There’s inevitably a limit to what you can experience within the same company. Even if I change jobs, as long as I’m an engineer in a similar role, the number of new experiences will likely decrease. Rather, I feel that an engineer steps up by being able to do more and lead development based on their experience, which I also think is a plus for the company.
Yes, what’s best for the company isn’t always a new experience for me. I understand that. I understand it, but there was an aspect of me that just couldn’t help but feel bored by it. Of course, I can feel great joy in the success of the company or team. But I couldn’t overcome the thrill of doing new things, and the focus and energy that came with it.
To break out of this state, I felt that my “excitement for the company’s business” needed to surpass my “excitement for doing new things.”
I changed jobs last year. The motivation for this change was more about getting involved in an area I had no prior experience with – in other words, because it seemed like it would provide new “stimuli.” There, my role and the company’s business were all centered around technology, and I enjoyed satisfying my “stimulus junkie” cravings, surrounded by new tech in a new environment. However, at the same time, I was also afraid that I would eventually lose interest in the same way.
And, at the end of this month, I will be changing jobs once again.
I (thankfully) receive job offers from time to time, but I didn’t really want to continue job-hopping, constantly seeking only new stimuli.
The next company is an early-stage US AI startup 🇺🇸 aiming for a specific technological innovation. I felt that there, I could be genuinely motivated by its ambitious goal and hoped to play a part in its success. So, I’m super excited. Although it’s a US 🇺🇸 company, I’m very grateful they’re allowing me to work fully remotely from Japan. It looks like I’ll be visiting the West Coast once every few months.
…So, this was just a post to say I’m changing jobs. (The reason I’m being vague is that I plan to keep my affiliation private.) I might get fired in a few months, but I want to make a fresh start and do my best. Let’s see how it goes!
