I'm not looking for a *new* gig either. I'm just trying to figure out how to break through this wall and stay passionate. This is a small company where career growth doesn't really have a path and doesn't quite exist.

Maybe the better question is: How do you challenge yourself and move up where there is no up? Is it a matter of changing your perspective on what "up" is? Or is the only answer to move on?

I'm not looking for a *new* gig either. I'm just trying to figure out how to break through this wall and stay passionate. This is a small company where career growth doesn't really have a path and doesn't quite exist.

Maybe the better question is: How do you challenge yourself and move up where there is no up? Is it a matter of changing your perspective on what "up" is? Or is the only answer to move on?

1. I let people know I'm open to new challenges and go after the ones that present themselves. I'm also quick to take on leadership roles/responsibilities but that's because I generally don't think anyone's smarter than I am.
2. In the times I've been under-challenged but understand that it's a function of the cycle of the work (i.e. there were lean work times in the reality tv web business), I find non-work hobbies/challenges to fill the time and don't give work more time than it deserves. That's how my first blog got started, why I took on editing at LAist, trained for a marathon, and spent 9 months being a tae-bo freak. They were all projects that either had a defined time span (but high return on that investment of time) or that I could flex when work became exciting again.
3. Do what you love or be on the path to doing what you love. If your work has particular meaning or purpose to your life's goals, keep your eye on that prize and maximize the opportunity. Without those 4 months at crappy Amp'd Mobile, I wouldn't have been ready for my gig at the house of mouse nor been able to go to SXSW in 2006. That may seem like a short time span but I hated that gig from the first minute I walked through the doors. I'd have quit in the first week if not for a desire to learn some things and go to south by for free.

1. I let people know I'm open to new challenges and go after the ones that present themselves. I'm also quick to take on leadership roles/responsibilities but that's because I generally don't think anyone's smarter than I am.
2. In the times I've been under-challenged but understand that it's a function of the cycle of the work (i.e. there were lean work times in the reality tv web business), I find non-work hobbies/challenges to fill the time and don't give work more time than it deserves. That's how my first blog got started, why I took on editing at LAist, trained for a marathon, and spent 9 months being a tae-bo freak. They were all projects that either had a defined time span (but high return on that investment of time) or that I could flex when work became exciting again.
3. Do what you love or be on the path to doing what you love. If your work has particular meaning or purpose to your life's goals, keep your eye on that prize and maximize the opportunity. Without those 4 months at crappy Amp'd Mobile, I wouldn't have been ready for my gig at the house of mouse nor been able to go to SXSW in 2006. That may seem like a short time span but I hated that gig from the first minute I walked through the doors. I'd have quit in the first week if not for a desire to learn some things and go to south by for free.

1. I let people know I'm open to new challenges and go after the ones that present themselves. I'm also quick to take on leadership roles/responsibilities but that's because I generally don't think anyone's smarter than I am.
2. In the times I've been under-challenged but understand that it's a function of the cycle of the work (i.e. there were lean work times in the reality tv web business), I find non-work hobbies/challenges to fill the time and don't give work more time than it deserves. That's how my first blog got started, why I took on editing at LAist, trained for a marathon, and spent 9 months being a tae-bo freak. They were all projects that either had a defined time span (but high return on that investment of time) or that I could flex when work became exciting again.
3. Do what you love or be on the path to doing what you love. If your work has particular meaning or purpose to your life's goals, keep your eye on that prize and maximize the opportunity. Without those 4 months at crappy Amp'd Mobile, I wouldn't have been ready for my gig at the house of mouse nor been able to go to SXSW in 2006. That may seem like a short time span but I hated that gig from the first minute I walked through the doors. I'd have quit in the first week if not for a desire to learn some things and go to south by for free.

1. I let people know I'm open to new challenges and go after the ones that present themselves. I'm also quick to take on leadership roles/responsibilities but that's because I generally don't think anyone's smarter than I am.
2. In the times I've been under-challenged but understand that it's a function of the cycle of the work (i.e. there were lean work times in the reality tv web business), I find non-work hobbies/challenges to fill the time and don't give work more time than it deserves. That's how my first blog got started, why I took on editing at LAist, trained for a marathon, and spent 9 months being a tae-bo freak. They were all projects that either had a defined time span (but high return on that investment of time) or that I could flex when work became exciting again.
3. Do what you love or be on the path to doing what you love. If your work has particular meaning or purpose to your life's goals, keep your eye on that prize and maximize the opportunity. Without those 4 months at crappy Amp'd Mobile, I wouldn't have been ready for my gig at the house of mouse nor been able to go to SXSW in 2006. That may seem like a short time span but I hated that gig from the first minute I walked through the doors. I'd have quit in the first week if not for a desire to learn some things and go to south by for free.

As for staying motivated, that's hard if I don't get new tasks to work on. So I try to keep busy. Often this meant getting my stuff done as quickly as possible and then branching out to other people/departments to learn about what they were doing. Sometimes this caused a bit of conflict with the supervisor but it was that or sit at my desk and twiddle my thumbs. I hate having to look like I'm busy. I find that more tefious and frustrating than actually being busy.

As for staying motivated, that's hard if I don't get new tasks to work on. So I try to keep busy. Often this meant getting my stuff done as quickly as possible and then branching out to other people/departments to learn about what they were doing. Sometimes this caused a bit of conflict with the supervisor but it was that or sit at my desk and twiddle my thumbs. I hate having to look like I'm busy. I find that more tefious and frustrating than actually being busy.