If you wake each morning to find yourself in a state of panic or dread, it might be time for you to fire yourself from your job. For a start, life is too short to endure a job that doesn't contribute positively to your life overall. You will likely spend more time at work than you will with your own family and close friends. You owe it to yourself to do everything in your power to build the most fulfilling career possible. If you are a leader of others, you owe it to your team members as well.
When all is said and done with life, no one is going to give you a refund on days spent feeling miserable or defeated. Life is meant to be enjoyed, not endured.
The good news is that many have been faced with a challenging work situation, and have still managed to forge a brighter path for themselves. Their stories prove that your career can be more than just a means to an end; it can be a key component of a fulfilling and enjoyable life. The three keys to their success? Simply the knowledge that:
1. You DO have control over your situation no matter how dire the circumstances may seem.
2. You CAN choose to improve the position you are in by identifying and addressing the root causes at work, or by creating a plan TODAY to find an alternative opportunity.
3. Whatever direction you choose, it's clear than inaction is not an option in the face of workplace unhappiness. Life is just too short.
Get fired up about what you want to do with your life and find a position where your true potential can be realized. When you simply like what you do, you will achieve more and contribute more. In addition, you'll find that the concept of 'work' takes on a different meaning altogether. As a wise man once said:
Do what you love and you will never work a day all your life.
If you lead people, the stakes are even higher. It's a privilege to lead others. With that privilege comes responsibility . . . to help others find the career path that is right for them. Sometimes that can mean encouraging someone to move on to another job and sometimes it can mean giving someone assignments outside of their comfort zone to help them discover where their talents may lie. Above all, a lesson I have learned is to lead by example in this area. If I can't get fired up about what I'm doing as a leader, how can I expect those working for me to do the same?
Have you addressed a situation where you were unhappy by taking control and forging a brighter path?
