We’ve been contacted by many of you over the years saying that you’re unhappy or worn down by your work and are considering a change.
You feel like your company isn’t the same place anymore and you’re unmotivated or frustrated. You’re looking to update your resume and cover letter and see what’s out there that will be better than what you currently have.
At first glance, this makes a lot of sense and yet it’s often the wrong first step. Why? Because while it may lead you to a new workplace, you’ll likely still be doing the same types of things. And, of course, that may be enough for some people, but for some of you, it’s not necessarily the old workplace that’s changed but rather you personally, have changed (not in a bad way!).
You’ve grown in your wisdom, skills, and expertise, you’re more mature, you’re more confident in saying what you like and what you don’t like doing . . . you’re evolving and you need work that’s an expression of your evolution.
So, this is a great time to PAUSE, and spend some time getting yourself up to a higher level to consider what you want from your life and how your work can support those goals.
From the time we are kids, we learn that winning the prize is an important goal. The ‘prize’ changes as we get older and while it may start as something like getting onto a sports team you try out for, it morphs into getting into a college you’re excited by, and then becomes getting the job you want.
In many ways, the getting . . . getting the job . . . is the prize and doesn’t take into consideration whether the job is actually the one that is best for your life.
So, this week, whether you’re currently considering a change in work or not, take a few minutes to look down on your life from about 30,000 feet and ask yourself:
- What is most important to me in my life?
- Then list 5 – 10 things that you really want in your life.
- Once you have that list, ask yourself, What do I need from my work to increase the chances that I will get these things in my life?
Answer this question for every single thing on your list, even if it seems like you are repeating yourself.
Now step back and look at what you need from work to get the life that feels good and right. Using your list, consider what you need to do in your current job, or in any future job, to increase the chances you’ll get your life priorities.
This can be a powerful way of reflecting on not only your work but creating a life that brings you meaning and satisfaction.
Let us know what you discover.