I don't disagree which is partially why I added the bit about how more was discussed than just what I am presenting.

It was nice to hear that my boss thinks I am naturally gifted in the work I do. Frankly, when I started (at a different company) I was pretty convinced that my day-to-day work could be done by monkeys... but as I have changed companies I no longer think that. My current job could not be done by monkeys.

It is also nice to know that my boss realizes that if she gives me easy work I will dick around, and as a result she gives me the hard work - not in her words, of course. And, for what it's worth, I always ask to be put on the hard/new projects. I'm not trying to dick around 24/7. It's just that if I get assigned easy work I won't be entertained. I like difficult jobs - I find them much more interesting. Recently my boss has caught on, and she has begun putting me on projects I want (for their difficulty) before I even ask. That is honestly kind of great. What other people consider difficult I consider fun.

As kleinbl00 mentioned I generally drink the koolaid while trying to be fully aware that I am drinking koolaid. I think what my boss was trying to tell me, in many more words, was essentially that I need to drink more.

I just really do resent the fact that because this work comes easily to me I am expected to work harder in order to "exceed" expectations when, with coworkers who it does not come easily to, they are rewarded for their effort. For their sweat. So what if I am not putting in 100% effort? I am, simply put, doing the job better than they can, every single day.

If you want to see me sweat give me a job that will make me sweat. Don't insist I sweat over things I can knock out with ease, in order to make you feel like you are fully utilizing your team. Don't refuse to promote me because, essentially, this job is too easy for me.

(To be fair: I am and always have been someone who works best and puts out the most effort when challenged. If I am not challenged I put out mediocre effort. I know this about me. I am glad my boss has realized this about me because it's why she's giving me hard work.)

(I just feel like I am being mildly 'corrected' because for me, the carrot doesn't look as good as it does for those other donkeys, and damn it, they all want that carrot more than anything whereas I am like "well, you know, I already got some oats here, and they are pretty good, so...uh...yeah I'm going after the carrot but only because you told me to.")

For those of you that know me on Hubski it may also tickle you to know that my boss told me, essentially, that I need to be less of a hardass. "You catch more flies with honey than vinegar." (I did actually say "Let me put this in my own words...Don't be a hardass, right?" to her.)