Happy with your job?
There is a hidden sarcasm in the title of this blog. The word JOB! If you consider what you are doing a job, then you are probably unhappy with whatever it is.
Do you consider what you do a CAREER? If not, you have two options to turn what you do into something you really love.
- Re-Invent your position. Take what you do to the next level and make it more valuable to your company. This works with any position. Every business has what writer Seth Godin calls a Linchpin . Are you irreplaceable? If not, you can be. And when you do, your options are limitless…a raise, a promotion, more money, more clout and a chance at happiness in your work surroundings.
- If you don’t consider option #1, then you may want to Consider a Different Career.
There is an obvious sarcasm in option #2. The reason is, if you aren’t going to consider option #1 and you aren’t going to consider option #2, you will always have a JOB!
Im Your Ad Guy 
Great post Phil as usual.
I would add a point 1.5 – that people need to have the vision to see if the organisation they work for doesnt accept change/new direction/suggestions; if you find that you cant become a lynchpin (UK spelling, Two nations divided by a common language and all that ) and you are not ‘barking mad’ then the organisation is ‘closed’.
So whilst your career may have become nothing more than just a ‘job’ , simply moving organisations to a more ‘learning’ and open organisation can kick start it right back into a career again.
Some organistions just stifle and crush creative people and you (the worker!) need to understand and recognise this and make the decision on when to ‘cut and run’…
I had a career that due to organisation changes became a ‘job’ for 3 years, and it was 3 years of hell… I now have been hunted back into an organisation that appreciates what I bring to the table. Once again I have a career and with it a new lease of life again.
Thanks so much and your feedback is well put!
Fantastic observation and I like the 1.5 approach. The trick is taking a larger organization to the level of accepting change and encouraging creativity. The larger the organization, the more processes you have to drudge through. Although it is possible, this is a task that takes time and much effort. It is much harder to control.
The one thing ‘the individual’ can control is their world…their job or career. Once you change your world, you can lead by example. It will spread like a virus at that point. 🙂
Keep the feedback coming and I am glad you are working for an organization that allows you to be creative. I too am lucky like that!!!