How To Feel Satisfied In Your Career
|
Many people turn a beloved hobby into a vocation. They have a gift, a talent screaming for expression. It means doing something that they love. At last, they feel empowered.
However, this newfound empowerment is inside the person, not in the changing of careers. How can you feel empowered if you are already successful in your work but feel discontent? You must recognize and feel the value within you and your work every day!
A colleague and I were presenting a workshop on career satisfaction to a group of health-care staff members. His segment, "Feeling Empowered in Your Career", and my following segment, "Empowerment in Words and Actions", complimented each other splendidly.
A majority of the participants had indicated before the workshop that they were happy with their career choice. Their need was to feel more contentment during the workday. Many felt isolated or emotionally distant from co-workers. They felt successful but not content.
They all believed that their work was highly valuable. However, as one participant said, "I don't feel connected to the people I work with or feel enough satisfaction in the value that I provide."
There is a big difference between believing in something and deeply experiencing the same thing. An old expression suggests, "It will not help to believe in ladders unless you climb one." Many people are highly skilled, successful, and competent in their work. They are intellectually aware of their value. However, they do not experience the internal satisfaction and contentment that they want and deserve.
How can we experience the most contentment and satisfaction in our careers? Here are several key ideas to remember.
1. First, check your motivations for being in your career. Success is the result of skills, actions, and choices. It is not a mandate to remain in one place. You can be successful in many different endeavors depending on your motivations, interests, and natural gifts.
Use an assessment such as the complimentary MAPP found at http://www.achieveezine.com/resources/ to check your motivations. Your personalized MAPP reveals whether your true motivations match your work. It also uncovers unique talents and interests.
2. Start with your desired result. Notice how the participant's words focused on not feeling connected. After that gap has been acknowledged, it is time to shift focus. We move toward the object of our primary attention. It may seem backwards, but begin at the end. Imagine and focus on what contentment would feel like for you as though you already have it.
3. Catch a partner or co-worker doing something great each day. Verbally acknowledge the dedication and value that they contribute. Use sincere words and actions to show colleagues that they are valuable. Share your goals with others, and express sincere appreciation for their participation.
As children, we learned to communicate and relate to others by participating in a mutual action-speaking environment. We did not simply listen and respond. We built trust-worthy relationships by joining with adults and peers in cooperative activities that matched words and feelings with action. Showing appreciation for others will reflect back and enrich your experiences.
4. Seek constructive suggestions from both co-workers and clients. Dive right into the experience of value, and acknowledge constructive suggestions with gratitude. Focus on your value by challenging yourself to make improvements each day.
5. Put your value into positive-action words. Then catch yourself in the actions. Our words, actions, and focus of attention will pull us toward the contentment we seek. Journal your experiences of providing value. Review them frequently.
6. Nourish and maintain yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually. Discontentment may be a warning sign of burn out. Get regular medical checkups and follow a balanced lifestyle for maximum wellness. Daily periods of relaxation and meditation are important for renewal and wellbeing.
Leo Buscaglia wrote, "The majority of us lead quiet, unheralded lives as we pass through this world. There will most likely be no ticker-tape parades for us, no monuments created in our honor."
Yet we can be both successful and content with our lives and careers. We create the most meaningful monuments from the love and enthusiasm we have for our work.
Create a monument everyday by doing what you love and focusing on the value you bring to others. Acknowledge also the value that others contribute to your life and career. These actions coupled with a healthy, balanced lifestyle can add contentment and improved relationships to your career beginning today.
© Copyright 2005 by Steve Brunkhorst. Steve is a professional life success coach, motivational author, and the editor of Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration, a popular mini-zine bringing great stories, motivational nuggets, and inspiring thoughts to help you achieve more in your career and personal life. Contact Steve by visiting http://www.AchieveEzine.com
|
|
|
Ten Questions For Entrepreneurs To Ask Themselves
Ten Questions For Entrepreneurs To Ask Themselves1.Do I have the persistence and patience necessary to be a business owner?It would be nice if once you wrote your business plan all you needed to do would be to execute flawlessly and everything would fall into place. Maybe it happens to a few businesses but usually i...(related: Employment)
Ten Healthcare Fields That Cant Wait To Hire You
Healthcare is one of the hottest career fields in America today. The aging and retiring of the largest population segment in the country, known as "baby boomers", has left the healthcare industry racing to find enough employees to fill the void. Advances in medical technology and treatment are causing people to live longer as well. Add the fact many universities and colleges don't have enough teachers to train new employees; there becomes a ripe market for healthcare careers.You would be amazed how many types of healthcare careers there are available. This article will discuss three main categories; patient care, non-patient care and operations. We'll also discuss an amazing new trend with tremendous opportunity ? home health.Three main healthcare jobs in the category of patient care are nursing, medic...(related: Employment)
Why Employers Want An Employee With A Degree
You wake up in the morning, head to work, and find out your company is downsizing and you are being laid off. No big deal you think, you have experience, you've worked at the same company for years. You think companies will WANT to hire you. Guess what, your wrong. It's a new day and age, while you may potentially find work. It's a lot more difficult than you may think to get a job these days. Most reputable companies are looking for qualified people who also have an education.Through the companies eyes, they see an education as a sign of dedication to a career/field. Without an education, you are liable t...(related: Employment)
Recruiting Excellent Job Candidates
An independent recruiter, recruiting agency or executive search firm is charged with tracking down excellent potential candidates for available job positions. Despite the fact that there are innumerable people seeking positions of employment in the 21st century, it often ...(related: Employment)
What To Do
Ever had that perfect life when everything seems perfect yet you wanna die. I am in the situation where I have the perfect imperfect world. I have a daughter which might not be mine after 6 years of believing she is, I have a girlfriend who is so imperfect she is perfect for me. A son well he is only 8 months old and he seems to be the only perfect balance at the moment.My girlfriend doesnt know what she wants in life and with the internet at my finger tips it doesn't help me much why cause its not perfect. I discovered many months ago that everyone is the best advisor in the world "dropping" you into a world of dispair and not knowing anything about you. You have to sit and mas...(related: Employment)
Counter-offers: Do They Merit Consideration?
You are one of the fortunate few who have not been downsized. However, your current job isn't exactly fulfilling. Perhaps it isn't what you enjoy doing. Maybe the hours are too long. Perhaps you are having some conflicts with your supervisor. Your salary may not be on par with average job salaries for the same type and level of position, or not come close to what you feel you are worth. Whatever...(related: Employment)
Is A Career Change On Your Horizon?
Making a career change is nothing new in today's job market.I've heard it said that the average American changescareers at least once in his or her life. Long gone arethe days of working for the same company from the timeyou graduate high school or college until that magicalretirement day.You sure won't find that kind of loyalty from companies to their workers these...(related: Employment)
5 Simple Rules For A Great Job Interview
Many years ago, when I was a young job-searching greenhorn, I ventured to New York City to take a bite out of the big apple of opportunity.When it came to finding a job in a crowded city of millions, I quickly learned that it's much easier on one's sanity to sign up with one of the many employment agencies which helps job seekers looking for work.I scoured the newspaper and found a large ad for one such well-known employment agency. True to their word, they promptly sent me off on several interviews ? none of which I felt particularly comfortable at. Needless to say, I didn't get ...(related: Employment)
A Career In Image Consulting
You might have seen them while watching TV shows such as Extreme Makeover, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, or What Not to Wear. Or you might have heard that Martha Stewart needed them to give her advice on how to look sympathetic to a jury.We're talking about Image Consultants, and they have one of the hottest new businesses today.Also known by such titles as wardrobe consultant, fashion stylist, or makeover consultant, image consultants are...(related: Employment)
4 Internet Job Search Mistakes To Avoid
The Internet is the most powerful employment tool on earth. Hands down.With the Web, you can access millions of job openings on thousands of sites. With email, you can quickly contact employers and ask for interviews.Yet, if used incorrectly, the Internet can actually prevent you from being as productive as possible in your search for work.How? Why?Here are four mistakes that commonly befall job seekers using the Internet. Avoid them, and get hired faster.1) Don't Email Your Resume Wrong
Overcome Interview Nerves: Be Better Prepared Than Your Interviewer
Although interview preparation is everything it's sad to say that perhaps as many as half of all interviewers you're going to meet will be unprepared or incompetent. It's not all their fault, it's just lack of interview preparation time or responsibility; some of them will be co-opted at the last minute to meet you and won't have had time to prepare.However there are those who just think they're great interviewers and fly by the seat of their pants!!It's not all bad news though; you can tu...(related: Employment)
Whats Stopping You From Getting Your Next, Good Job?
This question comes up often when I'm working with someone to help them move forward in finding their next job.What is it that compels people to stay "stuck"?1. I think it is often inertia. It's impossible to move forward, if you don't know what you want.2. Knowing what you want is half the battle of leaving inertia behind, but how to know what one wants, really?3. Defining oneself can be done by writing an autobiography of accomplish- ments, taking assessments & talking to oneself.4. Self-esteem is part of the puzzle abo...(related: Employment)
Sample Resume Objectives: Good, But Summaries Are Smokin!
Since college I've been told that a resume ought to have an "objective statement" at the top. Maybe you've been told the same.I'm here to tell you somebody's been lying to you!Well, not necessarily, but maybe. Every resume has an objective, but not every resume has to have an objective statement. So before you get the urge to se...(related: Employment)
site-map - Copyright © 2007 | Contact Webmaster | All Rights Reserved | Free Articles and Information | Employment