The
Mental compass point concerns the intellectual tasks of life—school and,
ultimately, our life’s work, whether paid, unpaid, or a combination of both. Developing
this part of ourselves is one of the two great challenges of adult life— to
love and to work. Strive to do your best in school, and when you do take a job,
do it to the best of your ability. Learn to be a reliable employee with a
“can-do” attitude. Stay with it and don’t impulsively quit without a good
reason, such as education or a new job that can enhance your career. If your
current job is not the best fit or is not what you ultimately want to do, you
are learning commitment and gaining valuable experience while you work on your
career plan. Here are some tips:
1. If you are in school and not enjoying a course of
study, talk with your advisor and consider making a change.
2. If you are working and don’t like your job, think
about what the problem might be. Does the job not suit your personality,
interests, or abilities? Is the work environment or schedule stressful? Do you
feel inadequate to the task and need more training or education? Are your
coworkers or bosses difficult or the circumstances (like a long commute)
aggravating? Weigh the pluses and minuses. If this job is the best option for
now and you cannot easily change it, try to change your attitude. Difficulties teach us a lot about
ourselves, and learning to manage problems helps us to grow. Here is an example
of a young man who could not change the circumstances of his job, so he changed himself.
Desmond had an hour and a half commute in traffic
each way to his internship. He found himself becoming progressively angrier and
more frustrated with this waste of time until he realized that he had to come
to grips with the situation. He could not change things, so he thought of ways
to adapt. He listened to music, audio books, or used the time to think about
problems and life in general. Soon, the dreaded commute became his special
alone time.
3. Every career and job has its ups and downs. Emphasize
the strong points and try not to dwell on the deficiencies. Before you quit,
have a practical plan in mind to improve your career situation or get some
career counseling.
4. If you are not quitting in order to return to
school, don’t quit without having secured a new job. Try not to be someone who
changes jobs frequently, as such a pattern often raises red flags in the minds
of future employers.
5. If you make a mistake, it’s not the end of the
world! You have just “bought some experience.” You can course correct.
6. If the only rub is money, ask yourself some hard
questions. Are your expectations realistic and fair? Are you making enough to
live? Can your employer afford to pay you more? Does this job reward you in
other ways that you would lose if you left— like friends or a career that is,
by its nature, helpful to others?
7. Some people get caught up in a money-driven “rat
race” and can’t seem to get out of it.
Are you? This is a slippery slope, with major implications for your
mental and physical health, relationships, and your soul. Read about the Money
Shadow in my book, Keep Your Eye on the Prize! (www.keepyoureyeontheprize.org). We will also discuss it in a later blog.
No comments:
Post a Comment