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It
only happened on Mondays. Sometimes I escaped the
unpleasant ritual. But, more often than not, right before
boarding I threw up in the ladies room of the train
station. It wasn't the commute I hated. It was the job.
The
reasons don't matter why a job I once enjoyed turned into
a job I didn't. It happens. Bosses change, companies
change, priorities change, budgets change,
responsibilities change. Some changes bring personal
growth and opportunity. Some don't.
What
does matter was the lesson learned that stayed with me the
rest of my career: a job is not just a job. That job I
hated helped my checking account. But my confidence,
creativity, health, energy for life and view of the world
was not as fortunate. When the alarm clock sounded, my
previous excitement to face a new day became cocoon-like
behavior, both in and out of the covers, wanting
protection from another day's battle.
It was safer for those I loved to refrain from
sharing important issues or concerns with me, never
knowing how I would react.
How
you spend a significant part of your day rubs off on the
rest of your day, and on those you share your life with.
Over time, it rubs off on your life. I'm not talking about
temporary potholes and work hiccups that come with change
or periods of work intensity, or the interim choices to
increase finances, or the normal setbacks and challenges
that should be dealt with at work. I'm talking about the
long term match between who you are and the job you have.
When you're in a job that's good for you, you can feel it.
And you can feel it when you're not. I agree with Barbara
DeAngeles, "No job is a good job if it isn't good for
you."
You
see, you can't be winning at working if you don't like
what you're doing, where you're doing it, or who you're
doing it for. If what you do feels like work the majority
of the time, you might want to think about why, and what
you can do to change it. That doesn't necessarily mean you
should change jobs or companies. Transferring to another
team, volunteering for a new project, or asking your boss
for new responsibilities may be all it takes.
But,
whatever it takes, you won't be able to offer your best
you at work and get rewarded with interesting work,
personal growth and financial rewards, if you aren't in a
good workplace environment and a good position match for
who you are, what you want, and what you have to offer.
I've
worked in jobs where I couldn't wait until Monday. That's
when I'm so excited about the new project or the new idea
or the next thing I'm working on that it's not work to me.
It's a challenging, interesting, stimulating and fun way
to spend my day. And, I'm a lot happier when that's the
case.
(c)
2004 Nan S. Russell.
All rights reserved.
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About
The Author
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at www.winningatworking.com.
Nan Russell has spent over twenty years in
management, most recently with QVC as a
Vice President. She has held leadership
positions in Human Resource Development,
Communication, Marketing and line
Management. Nan has a B.A. from Stanford
University and M.A. from the University of
Michigan. Currently working on her first
book, Winning at Working: 10 Lessons
Shared, Nan is a writer, columnist, small
business owner, and on-line instructor.
Visit www.nanrussell.com or contact Nan at
info@nanrussell.com. |
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