Free Yourself From Job or Career Dissatisfaction - Part 2

In part 1, I introduced the notion of declaring independence from job dissatisfaction among other information.

Now I want to discuss a few things that can be of assistance for you if you are pondering declaring independence from job or career dissatisfaction. First, I must make mention that everyone’s situation is different and there are unique elements to each one. Given that, take the information that follows only as a guide to how you can free yourself and not as an absolute. Look at YOUR situation and see how this information can set you on the road to job or career satisfaction.

1. What you think about most creates that reality because your resulting emotions cause you to act accordingly with those thoughts. When you have dissatisfying thoughts about what you don’t have or are not getting you create a sense of doubt and procrastination, thus opposing what you really want. In simple terms, your dissatisfied thoughts cancel any thoughts of how to rectify the situation. Because you live in response to what you think and feel, by your imagination and ability to reason you can control or inspire your emotions whenever you like.

2. Satisfaction is not found, it’s a state of mind that you bring into existence by control of your thoughts and reasoning, and you recognize it as the agreeable middle ground. In situations where you are not satisfied, you can choose to or not to continue feeling this way. Your satisfaction, in this case, is not dependent on other people, material things or the fulfillment of conditions or expectations (e.g. a promotion).

3. Job or career dissatisfaction wouldn’t exist if it were not for something the employer owned and offered to attract, motivate and keep you satisfied. You have no control over what the employer owns, offers or takes away except by the effectiveness of your performance or your choice of jobs and employers. You are most inclined to recognize your dissatisfaction when your job or career lacks meaning. So when you are in the wrong job or prohibited from using your talents to fulfill your calling, only you can fix this by changing your thinking, performance, talents, jobs or employers.

With all of these options, why choose to remain dissatisfied? Free yourself from that which is causing you to be dissatisfied.

If it’s your thinking - FREE YOURSELF! If it’s your performance - IMPROVE IT! If it’s your job - CHANGE IT!

Don’t ever feel as if you have no options. You do and its just a matter of which one you choose. However, before you make a choice, make sure you have made an accurate and fair assessment of the situation.

If needed, seek the advice of an objective party (a career coach) who can help you determine your next move.

Free Yourself From Job or Career Dissatisfaction - Part 1

Independence Day marks when the United States declared independence from Great Britain. It is also a day celebrated by fireworks displays, cook-outs, family reunions and parades. In a similar vain, how can you declare independence from job or career dissatisfaction? How will you celebrate your independence?

“Because of work’s central role in many people’s lives, satisfaction with one’s job is an important component in overall well-being” (Job Satisfaction, 2007)

I often ask the questions, “are you working to live or are you living to work?” Unfortunately, many people are “working to live.” Don’t misconstrue what’s being said here. Of course individuals must meet his/her needs and this is usually accomplished through work. However, many of these same individuals are held captive by “working to live” in jobs that are dissatisfying to them just for a paycheck.

Are you one of those individuals? If so, how can you free yourself from job or career dissatisfaction?

The short answer is to simply quit and do something else (this may also factor into the long answer as well). Some of you may be saying winners never quit; quitters never win. If that is what YOU believe then it is true for YOU.

Many people jump from job to job never actualizing their potential in any job they begin. In cases such as this, the winners-quitters ideology may be of some merit. Nonetheless, quitting without addressing the dissatisfaction can lead to a déjà vu experience in the next job.

Before I explain how to “free yourself,” allow me to share with you some food for thought:

In general, job satisfaction increases with the prestige or social standing of occupations. The most satisfying jobs are mostly professions, especially those involving caring for, teaching, and protecting others and creative pursuits. The least satisfying...jobs are mostly low-skill, manual and service occupations. The occupation with the highest job satisfaction: clergy (a calling maybe?)

Chew on this food for thought and take note of where your current job/career fits (if at all) in all this.

In Part 2, I offer some ideas/suggestions of “How to Free Yourself From Job/Career Dissatisfaction.”

Positive Thinking in Just 7 Days!

I'm sure you have a bright idea hidden somewhere in the back of your mind that you just can't wait to test out. Of course you're not the only one with the bright idea. So what motivates you to churn those creative or even inspiring juices to its utmost flavor?

It's always best to set up a personal goal where you can accomplish the most in record time, maybe like mowing the lawn in an hour before the big game on TV. A correct and positive attitude in whatever you do will make things easier, and even enjoyable.

Here are some tips to make it through the week even if you're just sitting on your favorite couch. An idea takes time to form in your mind and is always at work while you are busy sitting.
Positive thinking can help you realize things that are never thought possible. Thinking big is indeed the American Way and that's what made our country prosperous and will once again.

When we are on prescription medication, the instructions usually asks to "take one each day." Below, take one each day to begin cultivating positive thinking.

1. Take passionate action towards living your life by design. Talk is cheap. Action = deposits in the bank of a passionately authentic future. Without it, passion is void.

This is a perfect example where dreams are made of where you start by tinkering with your mind, then with your hands. And if the idea weakens, you can always go back to it later until you finish it.

2. Commit to yourself as well as those you love to create, powerfully, a life you can love. Instead of reacting, commit to creating from your heart and soul, out of love rather than fear. The American Dream will always be there, but a dream will still be a dream without motion. Be amazed as the transformation begins.

3. Recognize and embrace the thought that each moment is perfect regardless of its outcome. Every time you hit on something that may appear too extreme, why not give it a shot and see if it WILL work. You will be surprised to see if there are other ways to get the task done in time. If you are not pleased with the outcome, decide to use that moment to learn from and make the appropriate shift.

4. Dwell completely in a place of gratitude. Learn to utilize what you have in your hands and make use of it in the most constructive way. Slipping into neediness will become less of a habit when you repeatedly shift towards gratitude, away from poverty consciousness.

5. Use a Passion Formula of Recognize/Reevaluate/Restore in place of the Shoulda/Woulda/Coulda whirlwind. The former is based in increased knowledge and abundance while the latter focuses on scarcity and lack. As you face people or tasks that may seem harder than scaling the summit of the Himalayas, allow yourself to realize that the task is just as important as giving out orders to your subordinates. You would rather be richly passionate!

6. Keep humor at the forefront of thought, laughing at and with yourself when possible. You may find yourself quite entertaining when you loosen up! I am yet to see a comedian ever go hungry even though his jokes are as 'old as great-grandma'. Life has so much to offer than for you to mope around in self pity. Humor is very attractive, very passionate: life-giving.

7. Believe that you are the architect of your destiny. No one can take your passionate future from you except for YOU! Create your life authentically. As long as there's still breath in your body, there is no end to how much you can accomplish in a lifetime. The concept of thinking big is all about enjoying your work, which would lead to celebrating a discovery that is born within you. Watch everything flow into place with perfect, passionate precision.

It's interesting how people get wallowed up by something trivial as learning to use a computer, when nowadays those top computer companies are manufacturing software that even the kids can use it. I don't mean to be condescending, but that's the idea of not having any positive thinking in your life - you'll just end up as a dim bulb in a dark corner.

So instead of subjecting yourself to what you will be doomed for, make your path by taking the first step with a positive attitude.

Impossible Is Just A Word - Part 2

Are you ready to make the impossible possible? Of course you are. So without further ado, let's get to it.

Try this exercise. Take a piece of paper and write down some goals in your life. Under one header, list down things ‘you know you can do’. Under another header, write the things ‘you might be able to do.’ And under one more, list the things that that are ‘impossible for you to do.’

Now look at all the headers and strive every day to accomplish the goals that are under things ‘you know you can do’. Check them when you are able to accomplish them. As you slowly are able to check all of your goals under that heading, try accomplishing the goals under the other header-the one that reads ‘you might be able to do.’

As of the items you wrote under things I could do are accomplished, you can move the goals that are under things that are ‘impossible for you to do’ to the list of things ‘you might be able to do.’

As you iterate through this process, you will find out that the goals you thought were impossible become easier to accomplish. And the impossible begin to seem possible after all.

You see, the technique here is not to limit your imagination. It is to aim high, and start working towards that goal little by little. However, it also is unwise to set a goal that is truly unrealistic.

Those who just dream towards a goal without working hard end up disappointed and disillusioned.

On the other hand, if you told someone a hundred years ago that it was possible for man to be on the moon, they would laugh at you. If you had told them that you could send mail from here to the other side of the world in a few seconds, they would say you were out of your mind. But, through sheer desire and perseverance, these impossible dreams are now realities.

Thomas Edison once said that genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Nothing could be truer. For one to accomplish his or her dreams, there has to be had work and discipline. But take note that that 1% has to be a think-big dream, and not some easily accomplished one.

Ask any gym rat and he or she will tell you that there can be no gains unless you are put out of your comfort zone. Remember the saying, “No pain, no gain”? That is as true as it can be.

So dream on, my friend! Don’t get caught up with your perceived limitations. Think big and work hard to attain those dreams. As you step up the ladder of progress, you will just about find out that the impossible has just become a little bit more possible.

Impossible Is Just A Word - Part 1

Everyone, at some point of his or her life, has dreamed of being somebody special, somebody big. Who hasn't fantasized about being the one who hits the game-winning homer? Who hasn't dreamed of being the homecoming queen? And how many times have we dreamed of being rich, or successful, or happy with our relationships?

Often, we dream big dreams and have great aspirations. Unfortunately, our dreams remain just that – dreams. And our aspirations easily collect dust in our attic.

This is a sad turn of events in our life. Instead of experiencing exciting adventures in self actualization, we get caught up in the humdrum of living from day-to-day just barely existing.

But you know what? Life could be so much better, if only we learned to aim higher.

The most common problem to setting goals is the word impossible. Most people get hung up thinking I can't do this. It's too hard. It's too impossible. No one can do this.

However, if everyone thought that, there would be no inventions, no innovations, and no breakthroughs in human accomplishment.

Remember that scientists were baffled when they took a look at the humble bumblebee. Theoretically, they said, it was impossible for the bumblebee to fly. Unfortunately for the bumble, bee no one has told it so. So fly it does.

On the other hand, some people suffer from dreaming totally outrageous dreams and not acting on them. The result? Broken dreams, and tattered aspirations.

If you limit yourself with self-doubt, and self-limiting assumptions, you will never be able to break past what you deem impossible. If you reach too far out into the sky without working towards your goal, you will find yourself clinging on to the impossible dream. In part 2, I'll show you how to make the possible out of the impossible.

Beginning With The End

Here we are, nearly through the first quarter of 2009. Are you where you thought you’d be? Have you accomplished what you set out to accomplish one year ago? Are you content with where you are?

These questions, among others, may have crossed your mind since the beginning of the year. Nevertheless, take a serious look at yourself in relation to these questions. Use your answers to begin the building process for this year (if you haven't already).

I want you to make a few commitments - serious commitments - that when you look back at 2009, you can say that you have made progress from the previous year.

The areas in which you choose are those where you want to see change: marriage, employment, finances, health, etc. Of course this is a short list but you know best where you want (and need) change.

One of the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” is ‘Begin with the End.’ In short, this habit posits that if you know how you wish the end of your life to turn out, you can create the necessary steps to get you there. In other words, where would you like to be one year from now?

Set a few commitments (translated, goals) that will put you in a position to hit the targets you (and significant others) have established. Will you reach them all? That depends on how much you commit to your commitments and the action you take to reach them. Can you visualize yourself in your ideal job one year from now? How about with less debt?

Remember, without vision the people perish. A step further is, a vision without action is just a picture - begin with the end for new beginnings.

Change Is A Good Thing

We have all heard the old adage, change is constant. That means we and the world in which we exist are always in a constant state of changing. Though this may be the case, we only have control of change as it relates to us. We can’t change other people nor can we change other people’s minds.

There may be things we say or do and the end result is them “changing” their mind, however we didn’t change it - they had to consciously and actively do it themselves. So as you think about your current academic, vocational or personal situation, what are you consciously and actively doing to change the situation if it is not what you desire at this moment in time? Change that is planned has far more benefits than change resulting from a reaction. By reaction, for example, I mean quitting your job without seriously considering the consequences.

You should be preparing yourself daily for change. Something I ask my students is when opportunity knocks, will you be prepared to answer?

Even though there are some things you may not have control over (e.g. company closing), you do have control over how you respond to them. Here are a few suggestions to help you make change a “good thing.”

• Never allow yourself to become stagnant.
  
• Don’t let complacency stunt your growth.
  
• Seek out personal and professional development opportunities

Remember, still water freezes faster than moving water. If you are frozen in your current job or life situation, take a close look at what needs to move - i.e. what needs to change and what are you doing about it?