davenport | folio

1

New Year, New Career

The coming of the new year always brings with it the impetus for us to make positive changes in our lives, whether it be starting a newfangled diet, embarking on the latest exercise regime, or starting a new career.

Let me just say that, if you are not thrilled with your career, if you don't wake up excited about the day's prospects, or if you feel that your work has no intrinsic value, it's time to get serious about making a change.

The right career is a positive, productive and natural extension of you, your value system and your natural talents. The right career "fits"; it may not come effortlessly, but it does come naturally. It provides you with purpose, a positive self image and a sense of pride. Just like finding your ideal mate, finding your ideal career has a lot to do with compatibility on many different levels. Your career must be a comfortable match with your personality, lifestyle, interests, skills, spiritual inclinations and values.

You know you're in the wrong career if:

It is strictly a means to put food on the table
You'd rather have a root canal than sit in on one more meeting
It's just some job you took ten years ago because, at the time, it was the only one you could find
Your parents are proud, but you're bored to tears
You feel completely void at the end of the workday
Your job makes you unhappy, damages your self-esteem, compromises your values or undermines your integrity
You live for the weekend.

Here's another checklist to help you assess your current employment situation. Check the statements that apply to you:

____ S. I look forward to going to work most every day.
____ S. My employer treats me fairly and with respect.
____ G. I live for the weekend, or any days away from work.
____ S. I feel valued and appreciated for my professional contributions.
____ G. My workplace feels "toxic."
____ S. I can be myself at work and not have to worry about being judged.
____ S. I am included in my company's "information loop."
____ S. My employer discusses with me and provides opportunities for advancement and professional development
____ S. I am commended for the extra effort I perform.
____ S. I am stimulated intellectually and creatively by my work.
____ S. I feel that I am making a positive contribution to society.
____ S. I am compensated well for my work.
____ G. I find myself daydreaming frequently about a new career.
____ S. I feel that my work is a natural extension of who I am as a human beinG.
____ S. I see myself as successful.
____ G. I feel trapped and stuck in my current position.
____ S. I feel in control of my career destiny.
____ S. I am working at the level of my full potential.
____ G. My current career negatively impacts those close to me.
____ G. I have a desire to try something new and different.

Now, count the number of "S" and "G" responses you have. "S" means "Stay" and "G" means "Go." This checklist is a reliable indicator of whether or not your present job is a good fit for you. Clearly, the more "G" ("Go") responses you checked, the more critical it is for you to start thinking about new opportunities.

Okay, so maybe your particular employment situation isn't dire. Perhaps you just feel like you've outgrown your present career. Or maybe you can't quite put your finger on it, but you know there has to be something better out there.

So what's keeping you stuck in your rut? Most likely, the answer is a combination of a three-pronged issue: fear, complacency and/or a lack of self knowledge. Changing your career is synonymous with risk-taking which, quite naturally, is sure to conjure up some unsettling feelings of fear. For many people, a rut - albeit unpleasant - is more desirable than exploring the unknown. A dead-end job with a steady paycheck can remain a safety zone for decades, making it easier to be complacent than to change direction midstream, even if it means finding a career you can really feel passionate about. And after a long, unfulfilling week at the office, engaging in the pursuit of self-discovery can seem exhausting, if not overwhelming.

Hopefully, you're not so completely depressed at this point that you put down your Business Journal and go straight to bed. Take heart, dear reader, there is hope!

First, it's important to realize that, if you are solidly planted in the rut of job dysphoria, you're not alone. In fact, I would venture to say that a good majority of the American population are dissatisfied with their jobs. Unfortunately, most of these folks don't take action to remedy their situation; don't be one of them. It's time to start thinking about getting to the next level.

Next, make a list of everything you do like about your current career, and everything you don't. This exercise is the first step in the self-discovery process - your lists will give you important clues to determining your next direction.

As you begin your "passion search", you may want to cull a variety of books and other resources to guide you in the process. Some of the books that have been very helpful for my clients include: Do What You Love, the Money Will Follow, by Marsha Sinetar; Do What You Are, by Barbara Barron-Tieger and Paul Tieger; The 5 Patterns of Extraordinary Careers: The Guide for Achieving Success and Satisfaction by Richard Smith; and Stop Postponing the Rest of Your Life and Passion for Work: Our Lifelong Affair, both by Paul Stevens.

Over the next few columns, my goal is to reach all of you "career complacents", help you get unstuck, and perhaps even point you in the direction of a livelihood that fills you with passion instead of pessimism. The journey will be rewarding, and I'm looking forward to taking it with you.

Debra Davenport, PhD, is a Master Professional Mentor and the president of DavenportFolio, a licensed firm with offices in Los Angeles and Phoenix that mentors entrepreneurs and professionals. She is the creator of the Certified Professional Mentor® designation and certification program and the author of The Ten Commitments of Highly Successful People. debra@davenportfolio.com or (866) 232-6492.

	© 2002-2007 The Davenport Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Proprietary material. No information from this Web site may be copied or reproduced in any manner without express written permission.
Privacy Protocols