In my line of work, I come across a lot of people who are unhappy with their jobs. They lament about such things as salary or their micro-managing boss. It leaves one wondering about the true source of their discontent. It seems to me that often the restlessness comes from a deeper issue. I recently read an estimate that stated that over half of workers in the workforce are in the wrong job (this statistic seems a bit vague no matter how you look at it), however, there is probably an element of truth.
Essentially, the question becomes, do you own your career or do you hand it over to the entity that supplies your paycheck? When people are complaining about their salary, are they really saying, "that is all I will ever get paid because I handed my life over and did not realize it." There is often an urge to try to reason with this individual and tell them that if they are not happy there are a multitude of choices: get educated, make a lateral move, join a different company, start your own business. However, as you begin to draw the words to your lips, you realize that the individual sitting in front of you is completely numb because they have allowed their work to draw all creativity and innovation from their minds and bodies.
So, do you own your career or not? If not, why not? How do you take it back?
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3 comments:
I also have a hard time understanding how people can live seemingly at odds with themselves over this. If one is unhappy with their current pay for whatever reason but is unwilling to leave the job for a new and better opportunity, perhaps there is something wonderfully intangible and worthwhile about their workplace? Going even one step farther out - why are they truly unhappy about their pay? Perhaps they are not so much underpaid, but overspending. I would challenge those who feel or know they are underpaid to go a little deeper and really look at their spending habits as another possible source of discontent. If there is room to cut back, wouldn't that be a great way to relieve some financial pressure? With relief comes freedom, and with freedom perhaps we can truly see our worth and feel free to chase new opportunities.
Fear, comfort and laziness. These three things seem to keep people stuck in my experience.
1) Many fear the unknown and make leaving their "secure" job a bigger mental monster than it should be. Many also fear rejection and failure, two experiences that you must endure at some level to have growth.
2) Even when something is unpleasant or unfulfilling, there is is comfort in reliability and consistency. A sad but true example is the wife who stays with an abusive husband. We are creatures of habit.
3) It is much easier to stay where you are (job, career, etc) than to take the time and effort to improve or change. To take an extra class, learn a new skill or get involved with a new group/venture/project takes away from TV and beer drinking time. It is much easier to whine and complain.
Lastly, I also agree with Jennifer with one addition- many people try to spend their way to happiness and satisfaction only to be left feeling empty and with the stress of no money or even worse... debt!!! She is absolutely correct about the freedom that is created when financial pressure is relieved. A world of possibliites are opened up when you aren't focusing all of your energy just trying to keep up with your bills!
Well, Jennifer and EJB, you both present important points that lead us to always question the entire dilemma. The answers to the questions that I posted are as multi-faceted as the individuals that read this blog.
Personal financial situations drive many decisions in our life. So the next question I have is how to move past the paralysis of money and its affect on all other aspects of our live.
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