Make the decision before the decision is made for you.
As a career coach, I can tell you that people who stay in unfulfilling jobs often get a rude awakening when those jobs end whether by lay-off, firing, down-sizing, etc. The years of accepting “less than” come back to bite them. It’s as if the lay-off (fill in the blank) is the harsh wake up call that you’ve spent years doing something you didn’t like somewhere that didn’t interest you with people that weren’t your tribe and now you’ve got to figure out what you want to do when you grow up.
And now, perhaps, you’re no spring chicken!
I’m not writing this blog to beat you up. Let’s be honest. You are in good company.
The biggest reason people stay in jobs is INERTIA. Yes, that’s right – getting comfortable with the familiar, establishing a routine, and sticking with the same-old known even when that known is evil or mediocre.
And the second biggest reason people stay in jobs is logistics- things like the commute, the ability to pick up your kids after school, the geographic benefits.
And then there are benefits. Who doesn’t want someone else to pick up the health insurance tab or at least a portion of it? Or pay for time off when sick or vacationing?
Take this simple quiz to assess if you’re letting inertia decide for you.
On a weekly basis, do you Complain about your job? Your boss? Your salary?
On a weekly basis, Do you Count the days to retirement (and know all the details of what you’ll get and how long you have to work to get it)?
When your boss asks you to do something, do you say you Can’t do it, don’t have time… or communicate that you don’t want to with body language, energy and tone of voice?
Do you Call in sick to make sure you don’t lose sick time?
Do you Console yourself– it’s just a job, it’s not so bad, it’s (fill in the blank) but deep inside you wish there was something that inspired you?
How did you do? If you answered yes to two of these questions, chances are inertia is the reason you’re in your job. And it’s getting support the fears and doubts and questions that come up when you’ve spent years doing something unsatisfying.
No matter your age, your experience or your shoe size I believe that you could be happier somewhere else. And I’m going to offer you some C’s to chew on:
Commitment. Getting out of your career rut is like bodybuilding. You have to develop new muscles, which means working on parts of you that have atrophied. Like your commitment to work. Like developing a can-do attitude. Like believing work can be satisfying. Like your commitment to your satisfaction. Be willing to stretch and grow and feel some pain as you build new muscles, beliefs and skills.
Creativity. Finding your right work takes imagination and experimentation. It helps to get out of the mindset of work is drudgery and it’s just like what you’re doing now where you’re doing it. Getting from the known evil (or mediocre) to what’s possible, benefits from looking at the world of work with rose colored glasses and noticing what looks shiny, new and sparkly.
Courage. It takes courage to change jobs when you’ve been somewhere a long time, or when you’re older, or when you’ve only done one thing. It takes courage to look at yourself clearly and squarely and inquire into what gives you satisfaction, what you want to get out of work, and what you want to put into work. Courage and a leap of faith.
Compassion. Yes, it’s a big deal to change jobs after years in a so-so job. Getting out on a job search means putting yourself in the path of possibilities and of rejection. Most of us don’t get every job we apply for, nor do we find our right fit on the first try. Finding our right work can truly be a journey of personal growth. So, hold yourself with kindness and compassion and appreciate that you are taking steps for your greater fulfillment.
Coaching. Counsel. Support. Make sure you’ve got good support as you make the journey from inertia to fulfillment. You’re likely to have ups and downs particularly as you develop new muscles and stretch to places you haven’t been before. For some of us, it does take a village. If your gut says you’d feel better with help and support, ask for it. We want you to succeed.
So, consider one of these C’s the next time you Complain, Call-in-sick, Count the days or Console yourself!