Section 12: Look for Jobs That Align With the Organization s and Your Personal Goals


Overview

Jos never got very inspired about his work. It was a job, it fed the family, but he never felt that it “connected” with who he really was. This went on for sixteen years, until he started questioning: is this all there is?

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Jos hooked up with Sam, a career coach, who helped him examine his true career goals and how to find his own direction. He ultimately changed organizations and learned a number of skills he never considered before. He has never been happier because he knows he’s getting so much more out of his experience than just a paycheck.

And as Jos learns more about himself and his interests, he sees possible jobs he wants to go after in the future. He’s building his skills and connections so he will be considered a prime candidate for those jobs when an opportunity opens up. He’s having fun again.

Jos is finding the state of balance that you might be seeking. Companies attempt to keep the employees who deliver the most value to them. People would like to work for companies that offer them an environment that supports their personal goals.

You need to take an active role in seeking out jobs that get you closer to this balance. The ideal job for you:

  • lets you build on your strengths and skills,

  • gives you challenges you are ready for at this stage in your career,

  • is highly valued by your employer, boss, and customers, and

  • is in an environment and with people who give you joy and energy.

It is critical to believe such a job exists for you, even if you have to create it yourself. If you believe it right now, then work with a coach or self-development tools to get clear on what you truly want in your life. Describe the various jobs that might meet your needs and then start investigating them in more detail.

This also gives you the formula for creating your own job in an organization if necessary. Conceptually, it is rather simple.

  1. Get clear and focus on what you need from and can give to a job.

  2. Find specific decision maker(s) who are willing to work with you.

  3. Find out what would bring them so much value they would be compelled to give you the freedom to do something unusual.

  4. Create an implementation plan and sell it to the key sponsor(s) based on delivering this compelling value.

  5. Work with the sponsor(s) through all the organizational barriers to success.

This process is not trivial or quick, but you can use it to custom design jobs for yourself. It might take years of investment, but the payoff is huge: you may gain a job for which you are uniquely adapted and totally dedicated.

This is the life you were given, and no one can tell how much you might have left. How important is it to find a career that truly fits your life goals? How much work is it worth to find, or even create, this career?

In order that people may be happy in their work, these three things are needed: They must be fit for it; They must not do too much of it; And they must have a sense of success in it.

—John Ruskin, English writer




Mondays Stink. 23 Secrets To Rediscover Delight and Fulfillment in Your Work
Mondays Stink!
ISBN: 1591099080
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 43

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