Too many people in the workforce separate their lives into two separate and distinct categories. They compartmentalize their days into the hours of drudgery and clock watching that represents their job and the freedom that exists when they get to their own leisure and recreation time.
People who work five days per week to get two days of a weekend or who work 50 weeks out of the year to get two weeks of vacation are missing the joy and satisfaction that comes from enjoying their work.
Mark Twain said that the secret to success is making your vocation your vacation. Twain knew that enjoying your work will not only make you happier, it will make you successful. If you are in a job or business that you do not enjoy, and you are competing with people who enjoy their work, you are doomed to failure. You may have the talent and skill to succeed, but your competition who enjoys their work will always prevail in the end.
People who enjoy their work are more efficient, creative, and productive. If you find yourself in a job you do not enjoy, it doesn’t mean you have to quit today, but it should indicate that you need to start making some changes in your life that will result in you doing work that you enjoy.
If you are among the unfortunate who do not love your job, you may want to consider the following:
- Are there parts of your work or your job that you do enjoy? Maybe you can focus more on this work and make arrangements to make it a larger part of your job description.
- Are there jobs available within your organization that you feel would give you satisfaction, and you would enjoy doing? If so, you may want to consider a transfer, even if it is a lateral move or step down within the organization.
- Is there a job or profession you have always wanted to pursue? If so, what educational or training steps could you take now to prepare yourself to make the move later?
- If you don’t know what kind of work would make you happy, think of the things you enjoy in your leisure or personal time, and imagine how components of those activities could make up a job or business somewhere in your community.
As you go through your day today, realize that you can never be totally successful within your profession until you enjoy the work that you do.
Today’s the day!
Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network as well as a published author of many books including The Ultimate Gift. He is also a columnist and motivational speaker. He may be reached at 5840 South Memorial Drive, Suite 312, Tulsa, OK 74145-9082; by e-mail at Jim@JimStovall.com; or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jimstovallauthor.
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