So you finally had a chance to sit down and RELAX after the holiday season. You have been back to work for a day or two and have tried to get back into a “routine”. Something, however, just doesn’t feel the way it once did.
Was it the 10 lbs. of your aunt’s potato salad you crushed since Thanksgiving? Maybe….
Was it the additional debt you accumulated buying gifts for your sister’s quadruplets? Possibly…..
Or could it possibly be that the time you were able to spend with your loved ones made you see life a little differently? Probably…..
For countless unnamed reasons, American’s return from the holidays and according to Unhappy People in the workplace 43% of workers are UNHAPPY with their current job! Yes, you read that correctly! 43 out of 100 people in YOUR office are unhappy to the point they will admit to it and ACT ON LOOKING FOR NEW EMPLOYMENT!
So, what in the world in going on here?! What is the reason for this post holiday “paradigm shift”!?!? I asked several friends, colleagues, and overheard side conversations to come up with the following list of quotes…..
-“My holidays were great! We had a great time with the kids. We took them to (blank) and had a blast. I really wish I could spend more time with them. There is just so much pressure at work right now and they are cutting jobs….! If I could just find time to start my own business!”
-“I’ve been thinking lately, ‘Is the money even worth it?’. I mean, I’m on the road for half the year! I wake up and it’s December…and I’m still not free! I need to find something to get into to start my own business!”
-“This Christmas I spent some time examining my values and comparing them to my career track! Something has to give! I want to work for me!”
-“I’m tired! I finally felt like I was able to relax right after New Year’s and then it was back to the Grind! I need a vacation from my vacation!”
-“My boss called me at least once a day! Twice on Christmas! Twice! Who the heck works on Christmas?! I told her I was on monster.com browsing…. I need a plan!”
It seems that we are collectively looking at our lives and re-aligning what is most important to us. Most of us…yes, US…. never really disconnect from our workday. Regardless if a given career involves a board room, coaches office, sales route, or operating room…..we almost always bring our mental checklists home.
Cell phones still ring….
Texts never stop…….
And our Laptops….they never close……
Our personal lives have become the seasonal jobs that our parents and grandparents talked about. We work ourselves to the brink….and then attempt to salvage what is left for our loved ones. (And we wonder why from 1999-2012, American’s Use of Antidepressants DOUBLED)
Why so many people are on edge and discontented!!!???
Remember our little statistic from salary.com? ??? GET THIS: We are so on edge because 43 out of 100 people (and I suspect a lot more than that), are absolutely MISERABLE in their jobs…..the place they spent a minimum of 40 hours a week! According to this The American work week article, most full-time Americans are logging over 47 hours a week….with nearly 4 of 10 report working 50+ hours a week.
Anything you work on for 50+ hours a week…..will eventually force you to answer the following question:
DO WE EVEN KNOW WHO THE HECK “WE” ARE ANYMORE!?
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As a small exercise, answer the following questions as brutally and honestly as you can:
-When was the last time (specifically) that you had fun?
-When was the last time you looked at yourself in the mirror and SMILED?
-What is your personal Ethos? (the guiding beliefs of a person, group, or organization)
-Name the 5 things you value most in your personal life:
-Name the top 5 sacrifices that progressing in your career will require of you:
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In 2017, the absolute best gift we can give our loved ones is an impassioned, driven, happy US! We owe it to ourselves to identify where we are and make decisions for a better us!
Dr. Kevin Elko said it best in his Monday Morning Cup of Inspiration titled, “Make It Happen”!
http://www.drelko.com/inspiration/
Here is what I have learned over the past decade. Happiness is a word that can only be defined by the individual. While one person may work in a cubicle for 40 years and be happy….I simply cannot do that! Working off the Louisiana coast on an oil platform is the only way to live for many people…while even holding a philips head screwdriver gives some anxiety. Point is: we have to stop asking every person around us for their opinion and learn how to identify what makes us tick!
We can only hold those around us accountable for so much! Eventually, we have to decide to look at ourselves in the mirror and find a way to smile.
Don’t ever be one of those 43 people in that statistic!
Strive to never say you were forced “WORKED” 50+ hours a week!
Find what you are passionate about and people will suddenly start feeding off your energy!
Find that thing that wakes you up and forget the snooze button!
Most importantly, find YOURSELF!
Go Get 2017!
Coach KD
coachkd.org 