5 ways to reinvent and reignite your work life
By Deborah Collins Stephens
(illustration by John Grimes, Grimes Cartoons)
We Americans are quite an
unhappy group when it comes to our
work. According to the recent Conference
Board report (February 2007), less than
half of us are satisfied with our jobs,
down a whopping 61% from twenty
years ago. Today’s youngest workers
ages 25 to 39 are the least satisfied with
their careers. Nearly six out of ten of us
are actively seeking new positions or
considering starting our own companies.
All too often, nearly one in four of us are
saying “This is not the career I ordered! Yet, we live in an age where nearly two billion dollars is spent
by corporations on training and development to create work environments that help us thrive. We work in a time where
employee loyalty has a direct and measurable effect upon
customer engagements. Thus, the latest survey spells bad news
for both employees as well as those who employ them.
How does one bridge the gap between our career aspirations
and the day-to-day reality? Here are tips for turning around
a stalled career:
The buck stops with you. No company, boss,
mentor or colleague can create the perfect job or the perfect
environment. You owe it to yourself to take control of your
future. It begins with a critical assessment of your skills,
your strengths and areas for improvement. Begin a complete
inventory and create a personal plan. Set goals and take action.
Find a coach or a career counselor that
can provide you with valuable insight, critiques and an
outsider’s point of view on your career goals and how best to
achieve them. You wouldn’t build a house without a plan, so
don’t underestimate what it takes to build a career. Start this
process of investing in yourself even if you are in an entry-level
position or a senior level executive.
If you don’t like the way you are feeling, the quickest and most effective way to
change it is to change your thinking. Do everything possible
to achieve a positive and optimistic attitude. Attitude is more
important than education and skill. It affects your day-to-day
performance and plays a role in every aspect of your life. The
way you ‘see’ your career and your life is the way you will live it.
Get involved in your community.
Volunteer. Take on a leadership role. Amazing things
happen when people give themselves completely to a worthy
cause. They become energized. They learn important skills and
form enduring relationships that make them feel good about
themselves and their work.
I’ve spent two decades working with entrepreneurs. There is something almost mythical about building your own company, taking a big risk and creating the next new thing. Yet, many more fail than succeed. There are numerous opportunities inside of existing corporations for exercising the entrepreneurial spirit. Take a close look inside before you make the jump outside. You might be surprised by the opportunities you’ll find in your own corporate hallway.
We spend nearly half our lives in a workplace. We owe it to ourselves to create our own enriching experiences during those hours. What one thing can you do today, not someday, to turn the career you didn’t order into one you love?
Deborah Collins Stephens is Co-Founder of the Center For Innovative Leadership www.cfil.com. She is also co-author of the newly released book This Is Not the Life I Ordered: 50 Ways to Keep Your Head Above Water When Life Keeps Dragging You Down. www.thisisnotthelifeiordered.com. |
As seen in the
Spring 2007 issue of PBWC Connections
more from this issue download the issue
|
|
Take accountability for
your own personal and
professional growth.
Invest in yourself.
Realize the importance of
attitude.
Give away your skills.
Before you jump, look
closely!
Don't miss the new book, co-authored by Deborah:
|
Print this page 
Email to a friend
