Double standard in “look at others”

Recently I got a question why I work in a warehouse, when I have such good skills- 3 foreign languages at high levels, photoshop, AutoCAD, ms office, good education etc. then I heard good advice about how I should manage my career and I was told look at this person, look at that person, how they manage it, how they run their own business. “Do something about yourself!” Yeah, I love it. 
But when I answer that not everyone with good language skills or high creativity is doing a good career, there are many people who have unique or special skills but do basic jobs, I was told “don’t look at others”. So how is it… look at others or not? In my case I just chose this job because it does not damage me mentally. It’s often I could say therapeutic for me. I just do my job, I habe a good attention to detail, good memory etc. and I’m hard working and honest person. It’s being valued. But I guess many people just can’t get it. Anyway this kind of double standard really irritates me. Does anyone have similar experience?

Parents
  • I don't think it's exclusive to autistic people to be told they should be doing more with thier skills, I think part of it is that some people live to work and don't understand that others work to live and don't want to climb the greasy pole of what the world calls success. I think too that it's part of our warped way of valuing education, one I was guilty of myself for many years, I think it's because if you're educated then you're "better than us" so you should be higher up the social ladder, partly because many people don't understand learning for its own sake and they may have similar skills to you with pooters, but not take those skills into account because of lack of encouragment, lack of confidence, fear of being seen to get above themselves.

    I know I drive people crazy, I'm 63 and I still don't what I want to do when I grow up, I've done so many things and I've not had a career path but a career tangent and that really confuses people.

    You could try asking those people why they're asking you these questions, not in a confrontational way, but in a slightly bemused way, open up a converational avenue about what work and education are for.

  • Yes! Learning for its one sake! My whole life is being powered by hobbies. Very intense hobbies. Even when I was deeply depressed I still had some will to keep living because I could learn something more about Russian culture and improve my language skills. It’s same with photoshop and it was same in the college. I always put my whole energy and soul to these projects but others saw and abused that. Projects such as drawing a house floor plans or designing a train route was really funny. Also doing presentations about production processes was fun. For me. Others got their certificates and make their careers. Im happy in my warehouse. Im not sure I can ask these questions without making others mad, but maybe I can just cut it saying “I’m fine, I don’t need anything else”

Reply
  • Yes! Learning for its one sake! My whole life is being powered by hobbies. Very intense hobbies. Even when I was deeply depressed I still had some will to keep living because I could learn something more about Russian culture and improve my language skills. It’s same with photoshop and it was same in the college. I always put my whole energy and soul to these projects but others saw and abused that. Projects such as drawing a house floor plans or designing a train route was really funny. Also doing presentations about production processes was fun. For me. Others got their certificates and make their careers. Im happy in my warehouse. Im not sure I can ask these questions without making others mad, but maybe I can just cut it saying “I’m fine, I don’t need anything else”

Children