We all have 24 h a day and we all need to have at a few hours to sleep (for example, 8h)

That leaves us with around 16 hours a day for working, spending time with family,  exercising, shopping, etc.

If we add commuting to the 8h workday, most of us spend over 50% working for a company or in our own business, at least, from Monday to Friday.

If you’re going to spend that much time on something, you better make sure you’re enjoying what you’re doing. You only have one shot at life.

When I think of a job I enjoy, this comes to my mind:

1.. You are excited to wake up in the morning and start your day. 

You do not complain about the need to go to work. You might feel tired at the end of the day, but in a satisfied way.

2.. You are looking forward to some challenges you might have and the people you will meet

You like to figure out new ways to do tasks, brainstorm ideas with colleagues, and offer a solution. You don’t mind doing a few extra tasks that are not assigned to you.

3.. You are proud to mention to others what you do.

When you talk to others, you feel good talking about what you do, the position you have, the company you work for.

4.. You feel fulfilled.

You know that you are using your skills to help the outside world and feel like doing something of value.

5.. You have a sense of appreciation.

You see that your knowledge and experience are noticed and appreciated by others. You are getting your market salary or above. You feel that it is not that easy to replace you.

Remember:

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.

– Steve Jobs

We would like to have a fulfilling job that motivates us to wake up in the morning and  start the work day.

What can we do if we feel miserable and have to force ourselves to go to work?

1. Recognize that you are “stuck” at a job that is Not right for you.

2. Find something positive that this job brought to you: a few skills or insights that you got while working there.

This can be dealing with difficult colleagues,  discipline, learning new software, experience in a specific industry, etc.

3. Prepare a list of your assets: experience, education, specific skills you have.

4. Check the job market. What are the opportunities out there? What could be your market salary? Job positions?
5. Look at your analysis and find what you like. Which skills would you like to use? What industry, location, type of job seems to be right for you?

6. Set a goal and make a plan. Choose 1-3 types of positions you would like to get and write the steps towards getting them.

7. Take action! 

Update your resume and LinkedIn profile, prepare a few cover letters, create a strategy for job search.

Believe it or not, there are other jobs out there!

Career can give us a lot of opportunities.

We can be surrounded by professionals with similar values, create new connections, learn new skills, gain confidence and get a professional identity.

Here are few steps:

1. Set your goals

Before you start moving forward, find a destination… What should your work day be like? What are you doing, who are you talking to? How much money are you making?

….We might have a beautiful luxurious car… but if we don’t know where we want to arrive, we might end up being nowhere.

2. Create a strategy

Define the major steps towards your goal.

Who can help and how?

Get the best mentor or a coach for your field, who can guide you on the path to success.

A career and life coach will help you to figure out why you are not advancing and will motivate you towards success.

3. Build a network

Each person around you plays a certain role. What roles are missing?

Think who should be around you on your way to success? … their habits? … skills? … values?

4. Step outside your comfort zone.

You have to start doing things differently to get a different result.

Learning new skills often creates some resistance and gives us discomfort.

You will have to sacrifice to advance in your career.. You can’t get anything in comfort zone. Step outside and work hard for your goal.

5. Take daily actions

Create an action plan and start taking small steps every day.

You will create new habits and build new skills.

By learning new skills you will be more valuable to an employer.

Save your energy … Keep asking yourself: “How does this action help me to achieve my goal?”

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