I've been thinking a lot about this lately. I've been very unhappy with my job since we got new management. I think job happiness comes down to three things. Me, my company, and my product.
1) Myself. I've been going through some personal stuff that has been hard to keep separate from work. Shit gets into my head and I get into this cycle of being stressed outside work, then being stressed at work because things aren't going well, then being stressed outside work, which then comes back and affects my work, which affects my life outside work. Etc, etc.
This can be solved. My issues outside work are frustrating but temporary. This time next year it won't be affecting me. Ultimately, I'm making good money and have a very good set of skills. My heads just a little wonky. Really no reason to quit.
2) My company. We have a new GM as of January, and he brought in a new SM in February. They have successfully changed the majority the things I thought made my dealership great. Bringing in more salespeople. Bringing in weak/slow finance managers. Cutting the pay plan. Cutting and reducing a lot of little expenses that just make life easier.
It's a different approach. Our old GM was very positive and people focused. If you have happy, well paid, employees, they will in turn do good work for you. The new guy is very numbers and negative reinforcement biased. If you don't do X you don't get Y.
I've heard him complain about how he's going to have to wait to finish his pool because he didn't hit a bonus last month. I think he's a selfish bastard.
As a result, over the last 5 months, I've gone from the eager beaver who worked 12 hour days to escape my personal life, to just showing up and selling my quota.
My old GM was really helping me through some of my shit. And I would have taken a bullet for him if he asked.
The new guy, I wouldn't piss on him if he were on fire.
3) My product. I love the fucking cars. Everyone should own a BMW at some point in their life. Last few years have been a little soft. But I think we are doing some amazing things with the M2 and electric/electric-hybrid vehicles, and I look forward to seeing what kinda cool shit BMW has for us over the next 10 years.
....
I think, if it were only one negative thing. If my head was right and the product was still sweet. I could put aside my frustration with the company and still be happy enough. If things were like they were a 6 months ago and the company was good and the product was good. I could get my head straight enough until this all was over. But I think having two out of three of the main issues be fucked up is a recipe for disaster.