Make More of Your Job

Love the Job You're With?

It’s not the first time on this blog that we’ve discussed the importance of being passionate about your job, but it’s about time that we discuss what to do if you just can’t find that passion. Loving what you do every day is the key ingredient to being great at what you do, but no matter how little you like your job, pulling up roots and leaving is a scary situation.

 

Most of us rank stability pretty high on the list when we look at out lives, so the thought of being out of work or starting all over again in a new field can inspire fear in even the most adventurous of souls. The fact is, though, that staying at a job you don’t love shouldn’t even be one of your options.

 

Think of it like an emergency appendectomy. Going under the knife might be terrifying and the results unknown, but if you don’t have surgery you aren’t going to make it. No one would ever consider not having an emergency appendectomy if they knew it was suicide!  Staying at a job that you can’t muster any passion or energy for is career suicide, and the only operation that might save you is quitting.

 

Besides, staying at an uninspiring job isn’t fair to you, it isn’t fair to the people who might love an opportunity to have your position, and it isn’t fair to your employer who pays you regularly with an expectation that you’re giving them your best. Once you make the decision to leave your job, though, most of us can’t just pack up and move out instantly. There are people to support and loose ends to tie up.

 

We’ll talk in more depth about leaving your position the right way over the next few weeks, but for now, here are a couple of important things to consider once you’ve decided that you wont ever be able to love your job:

 

• Set a hard “quitting” date – Like anything else that scares us in life, our natural instinct is to create a million excuses for why we haven’t acted yet. Setting a firm date for when you will quit prevents you from waffling about what you know is right for your future.
• Don’t take another passionless job – This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s surprising how many people leave the jobs they don’t love to do the exact thing somewhere else. Don’t fall into this trap. The grass is not greener if you don’t change the seeds!
• Don’t burn bridges – When it comes time to give your notice, give your employer adequate time to replace you and offer to train your replacement. You should also be candid about your reason for leaving. Most people are supportive when they know that you are doing what’s best for you. Finally, stay in touch with the people that you respected during your tenure. Most people have multiple jobs in their career, and you never know when those connections will deliver amazing opportunities down the road. 

Leaving your job is scary, but there is a right way to get it done. Remember, it isn’t nearly as frightening as a lifetime at a job that doesn’t excite you.

Turn it off!

A few posts back I talked about the importance that reading plays on elevating your professional abilities. Many people I have talked to tell me they just don’t have any extra hours in the day to take up reading, but the truth is that almost all of us have some time we could very easily use for better purposes.

 

Did you know that the average American watches over 4 hours of television per day? That’s more than 28 hours per week! That’s nearly the amount of productive working hours that the average American packs in per week at their job.

 

Now, I’m not anti-television at all. It’s important that we all take some down time to “veg out” or recharge, but I’m definitely not convinced that we need to do it for four hours a day. If you’re having trouble finding time to read, just make the commitment to give up 20% of the time you usually spend watching TV. You’ll be amazed at how much information (and enjoyment) you will absorb with just that 45minutes of reading or so each day.

 

Another great suggestion, if you are a die-hard television lover, is to try and make at least 1 out of every 3 television programs you watch informational, not just entertainment. Try turning on the Travel Channel, or the Discovery Channel, something that will build your stable of usable data and help you exercise your brain.

 

As you become less dependent on television, try using those rescued hours for more productive tasks like exercise, spending time with your family (and actually talking!), or pursuing a lost hobby you thought you were too busy for. No one needs to give up TV completely, but cutting out the programs you’re not head over heels in love with will give you back an astonishing amount of your time.

 

If you want to take an even bigger step to reallocating your TV-watching time, check out the folks over at TV Turnoff. Their website is packed with interesting information about our television habits. Try their suggestion about going one week without the tube and you may be absolutely stunned by how much more you get done.

In the News: A Look into the Future.

Recently, Fed Chief Ben Bernanke suggested that our country is in for quite a jolt as the Baby Boomers start retiring.

When an enormous segment of the populous moves out of the workforce and into retirement, it can be an enormous drag on government programs. However, it's also a serious issue for American businesses.

As you begin to think about the goals for your career, take into consideration the impact the changing landscape of our population will have. As the Baby Boomers retire, there will be a hugely inflated need for skilled employees, as well as growth industries (like healthcare retirement services) to help support the aging population.

 

If there was ever a time to up your game by going back to school, getting certified, or just upping your dedication to growth, that time is now. Those of us who raise our employee value over the next few years will become a priceless resource as our employers look to replace high-skill positions and workers that have retired and left the job pool.

Einstein's Business

On January 31st, an article I've written on "Paying it Forward" will hit bookshelves in a collection called Einstein's Business: Engaging Soul, Imagination, and Excellence in the Workplace. It is an excellent anthology of inspiring and informative essays from some of the most innovative figures in business today, including Robert Kiyosaki, Stephen Covey, Wally "Famous" Amos and Donald Trump, and I am honored to be included.

I was motivated to write this article in the same way that I am motivated to write this blog - I feel that the best way to repay those who have influenced you in your life is to pay it forward and influence other people in the same way. As I discuss in the article, I discovered that as I became more successful in my professional life, the more confused I was about my contribution to the greater good. I made a decision to radically change the way I looked at my career and began to work with those around me to help others make the most of their jobs.

My article outlines a four-step process in which you can pay it forward. Whether you are at the beginning, middle, or end of your professional life, the message is the same -  the time is now to figure out what you are passionate about in your career, how you wish to see that passion realized, and how you can influence others in the process.

Here's a quick sample of what I talk about in my article, which I think speaks a lot to some of the posts I've made on this blog:

I often use the metaphor of travel to keep myself moving forward. I love traveling to new places, meeting different people, and experiencing different cultures. Unfortunately, I absolutely hate planes. When I'm on a plane I am usually bored, uncomfortable, and irritable -- but it happens to be nearly impossible for me to get to new places without them. If I were to throw in the towel and refuse to get on another plane, then I'd be missing out on a multitude of amazing new experiences. The reward is ultimately worth the cost, and getting on a plane ends up being a small price to pay.

Doing more of what you're best at might feel like being on that plane: boring and less than ideal. Just know that you can't reach your destination without it. Soon enough you'll begin to see the changes that you are affecting and the work will become less banal and more stimulating. When the people you're working with begin their metamorphosis you'll be far too excited about the destination that you boarded your plane in the first place.

Once you've identified your personal strengths and begun to get the process off the ground, it's time to build up your network of support.

I've written previously about how to find passion in what it is you do. This article serves as a blueprint for how I rediscovered my passion for helping others and defines clear steps for others to do the same.

For more information on Einstein's Business, please visit the website or click the cover image to view its Amazon listing!

I Don't Have Time

For those of us looking to make the most of our jobs, time management may be the toughest skill to learn. We’ve discussed before that just because you are at work too many hours doesn’t mean that you’re working enough! The goal should always be to find a way to get more done in fewer hours. 

Finding a way to add impact to your working hours usually starts with cutting out the fat. Our modern world slams us with all sorts of distractions that interrupt us in the middle of tasks, or prevent us from focusing on work at all. 

To get a picture of how much time you really burn through at work that you could be using productively, try the tips below. After a few days of implementing these ideas you will find that you get a lot more done without sacrificing any quality of life. 

• Check your email a set number of times in the day. You’d be shocked how much time is wasted stopping tasks in the middle to check that email that just came in. Try checking it just 3 or 4 times a day, and answering all of your new inbox messages at once. In between these “checking times” turn your email interface off so you’re not tempted by those “new mail” sound effects or pop-up messages.
• While you’re working on a task, try unplugging the internet. The simple act of pulling out the      network cable can sometimes save you from the tendency to flip open to your favorite game or webpage when the work piles up. You’ll find that when you push through the stress or frustration, you’ll get a second wind, helping you solve the problem sooner and finish the task quicker. You don’t need to check the weather for the weekend again!
• Forward your calls. Or, better yet, turn off your phone completely. Most of the individual tasks that we have to work on are less than a couple of hours per project. Resisting the urge to pick up that call as a break from what you’re working on will help you stay focused and productive. Give your family/friends a co-worker’s a number to call you on if there’s ever a true emergency. Cutting out the annoying calls will really crank up your results.
• Create a prioritized “to-do” list each day. Once you’ve got your list, don’t do anything that’s not on it until the list is completed. This will keep you from switching to busy-work tasks when other more important items need finishing. Also when someone sends you a web video, or stops by your desk to chat, just having the list will help you politely excuse yourself and get back to work.

Kickstart Your New Year

Since a lot of us have committed to making the most of our jobs in 2007, it's a great idea to get the year rolling by jump starting our organization skills.

 

Here’s a great article that gives some simple tips on how to cut down the clutter and get your workspace more closely aligned with your on-the-job goals.

Improve Your Image

Are you really looking to make the most of your job? Are you aching for a promotion? Would you like to be noticed by the company leaders or maybe given a nice healthy raise? If the answer to any of those questions was yes, then you need to start looking like it.
 

I am often stunned when people talk to me about their jobs, often times griping about their lack of upward mobility, and can’t seem to figure out what is holding them back. About 95% of the time, I could have told you that they wouldn’t be getting that promotion or raise just by looking at the way they presented themselves.

Now, before you accuse me of being overly judgmental or superficial, think about your everyday reactions to others. Whether we like it or not, nearly all of us draw conclusions about people based on their appearance.It is often said that the key to getting the next job is acting like you already have it, and that statement couldn’t be more true when it comes to your image in the workplace.

Several of my businesses' dress codes are business casual, but if someone at those locations is interviewing with me for a new position I absolutely expect to see them in a suit. Making the extra effort to look professional sends the message that you take your job seriously and respect your company and position. On the other hand, coming to a meeting or interview unshaven or dressed down suggests you find your job insignificant and have no interest in appealing to those around you.

I myself am far from a fashion plate, and I am not suggesting that the only way to get ahead is to load up on $3,000 designer suits. What I am suggesting is that the way you present yourself at the job makes a big impact on the way you are perceived. For better or for worse, perception is often more important than reality.

 

 

In the News: Working Too Much?

You're not the only one.

 

Take a look at this article about the growing trend of work hours that devour our lives. For those of you who are looking to become more productive so you can stop living at your job, does this sound familiar?

What Are You Reading?

People often ask me if there is any surefire shortcut to getting promoted. My answer is that there is only one question that I ask every single person I interview, no matter what the job or pay: “What are you reading?”

 

Why do I place so much importance on reading? Because it’s the simplest way to identify a person who is constantly working to improve themselves.

 

Reading a book sounds like a simple prescription for getting a promotion, but it’s really about much more than that. Every time you read (for business or pleasure), your intelligence grows. Your vocabulary increases, your knowledge of the world expands and your creative mind is stimulated. If you’re reading a little bit every day, your capacity to deliver value as an employee (and a human being) is constantly growing. It’s only a matter of time until that raise or promotion comes your way!

 

So why aren’t more people reading? I wish I knew the answer! My best guess is that people just don’t know where to start. It’s a misconception that you have to read a book about your line of work to add value as an employee. In fact, you don’t even need to read about business at all. If you’re not used to reading, it’s important to start with something you’re interested in, even if that means beginning with fiction. Even fictional books, which can be great entertainment, will be full of interesting facts and perspectives that are new to you. I read an average of two books a week and I’ve never read a single one (even one I’ve hated) where I didn’t learn anything.

 

As your comfort with reading grows, you should expand into genres beyond fiction. There are plenty of real world topics that could interest you: science, history or even pop culture. It won’t be long before you start to realize how many benefits your new habit has – you’ll be more able to converse with superiors on a variety of topics, have more to contribute to meetings and projects, you’ll probably even be more interesting around the dinner table or on a date!

 

I’m not suggesting that you should immediately commit to reading for hours a day. Like anything new, you will need to build up your tolerance. In the grand scheme of things, the time you put in reading will pay huge dividends. Remember, there is no better place you can invest your time than in your own personal growth.

 

If you’d like a quick jumpstart on some reading material, feel free to check out the selections in the Recommended Reading section in the sidebar. These books are more business-related, but they are loaded with useful information that will undoubtedly spark your interest.

In the News: Focus on the Positive

Right now, Business 2.0 is running a great segment on ways to become successful in 2007.  I always learn the most from people who are truly experts in their field, and this piece has great nuggets of advice from 50 of today’s most interesting (and at times outrageous) business leaders.

The story I linked to will take you to a piece on Reed Hastings, founder and CEO of Netflix.  Since we’ve been talking about finding passion and looking for the opportunities in our jobs, his take on focusing on positive attributes was particularly relevant.