A 2010 report released by the Conference Board says that American employees are increasingly unhappy – which they say is “a long-term trend that should be a red flag to employers.”  But it is also a wake-up call for employees who are experiencing increased workloads, ramped up stress and a lack of purpose in a place they spend more and more of their time in.  What’s alarming for our region is that according to MSNBC’s report on these findings, the greatest dissatisfaction is among the workforce in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. 

The kind of stress people are experiencing working more and more hours in a place they increasingly dislike has a ripple effect on physical and mental health.  Addressing this debilitating issue starts with dispelling the lies people tell themselves that keep them in these jobs and uncovering the truths that will set them free.  Many employees live with these lies that limit their happiness because they believe they’re trapped, that they should just be happy to have a job (which is what many employers actually say to them) and that there are no other jobs or vocations that would have them. 

The current overwhelming wave of dissatisfaction can represent an opportunity for people to evaluate and change directions in their careers.  There are those who believe that crisis is change waiting to happen.  Taking that to heart, there are many things employees who feel like the economic crisis is swirling around their cubicle can do to take back control and regain a sense of purpose and career satisfaction.

The Lie:  I’m trapped in this job.  I don’t have the skills, the resources or the desire to change directions with my career right now.

The Truth:  If you think you’re trapped, then you’re trapped.  Start challenging this belief by asking yourself, “How do I know I can’t find a better job?”  If the only answer is “I just know I can’t,” then you are making excuses for not trying.  To build confidence in yourself, start by taking inventory of your skill toolbox.

·         What skills do I use in my current job?  What skills have I developed through past jobs, volunteer experiences, church or synagogue activities, educational training?  Make a list.  Then, begin to think about the kinds of jobs that those skills could help you do.  Look beyond the direct link of a specific skill set to a traditional job.  Think about how you can translate or transfer your skill set to other opportunities in areas where you’ll find more fulfillment.  

·         We all have a lot of resources and we waste most of them.  Often, the work is in redirecting the way you use your resources so they serve you better.   Whether it’s talents, time, money, or relationships we can do a better job of marshalling our resources and putting them to better use.  Do you have to have coffee from your favorite coffee shop or can you save the money?  Could you get an extra job to make some additional money, or do you have to be free play basketball every Wednesday and Saturday?  Could you call a member of your network and ask for advice, or would you rather pretend that it’s best for you to figure out your next steps all alone?

·         If you don’t have the desire and you know you don’t, good.  In that case, stop hassling yourself about change, unless you like feeling hassled.  If you’re clear that you don’t have the desire, find a way to be satisfied.   Self-honesty is the best policy.  Then commit to being a part of your company’s solutions rather than another problem they have to manage.

The Lie:  I’m too old to switch jobs or careers.  I’m too old to learn new things.

The Truth:  If you want to challenge this belief, try to switch jobs or careers; try learning something new.  Put your full energy and creativity into it. 

·         Seek help and advice about the best approach to take for job-hunting in 2010.  Things have changed, so update your knowledge about the search and interview process.  One of the reasons we think we’re too old is because we don’t stay current.  We have to stay tuned in to how our culture and the world of work are evolving.  Knowing more about today’s world will help you to feel and act like you’re a part of it.

·         Take a course.  Stretch your mind.  Go into it with a commitment to learn.  Whatever you decide to learn, you can.  All it takes is a real, heart-felt desire and a willingness to put in the effort that learning requires from you.  No one else can set your standard.  You have to set your standard and live it.  Others may learn it faster, but you can learn too.  Be committed to your goal and you will see, your age will not matter.

The Lie:  I know what I like doing, but there are no jobs out there that will allow me to do it.

The Truth:  That’s true, for you, if you think it is.  But, how do you know?

·         Ask around.  Read the paper.  Look online.  Check out companies’ websites.  Invent the job, if you have to, and find someone with the need and sell the idea of the job (and of course you in it) to the person.  Believe me, if you like doing it, there’s someone out there that wants or needs it to be done.  Don’t limit yourself with a lie.  Give it a try and don’t quit on yourself. 

The Lie:  No one is hiring so why should I bother looking.

The Truth:  Even in the Great Depression, people found jobs.

·         This is the lazy person’s excuse.  Look.  Look in more places and through more mediums, than you’ve ever looked before.  Learn about the different ways people do job searches today.  Get current on all the ways to look and network.  Stop making excuses.  Excuses are like band-aids; they cover the wound but they don’t heal it. 

The Lie:  I don’t have the discipline to go out on my own and be my own boss.

The Truth:  Yep!  You’re right if you say so.  Or, you could challenge this story about who you are and what you’re capable of doing.

·         Discipline comes naturally to some people and others have to learn it.  You can learn to be more disciplined if you choose to be so.  Discipline means setting up a system and following it.  It will take more energy and focused attention for you to be disciplined, but that does NOT mean that you can’t be disciplined.  Just know that it’s going to be work for you, until you learn how and until you see the benefits of discipline.

·         Get a buddy to support you, or if you’re in a position to, hire a coach.  Let your support person help youset goals, organize your schedule and do progress checks with you. 

·         If you’re not up to the work involved in overcoming your lack of self-discipline, don’t lie to yourself (or anyone else).  Just be honest and say that you are not willing to do what it would take for you to become more disciplined.  If you are up to the work, get busy setting your goals, identifying milestones, creating your TO DO list, and setting up your system for tracking your progress.

·         One thing we can control is our own frame of mind and approach to how we learn and earn.   There might be nothing in your way but the beliefs you hold, the things you say to yourself, and the limits you set concerning what you will try.  Feelings do matter.  Your heart has to be in it.  Emotional desire is the greatest motivation.  If you truly desire a thing, you will use your head to strategize and figure how to make it happen.  That’s the way it works:  when your heart and head are aligned, you’re unstoppable.

The most important TRUTH is whatever you think and feel is the truth for you.  If you believe any of the lies above, they will influence how you think and feel, everyday.  They will define every decision you make.  These lies, unchallenged, will shape your life.  Your real job right now is to get busy uncovering and challenging each assumption that is keeping you stuck in exactly the place you don’t want to be. 

Author:  Teressa Moore Griffin

About Teressa Moore Griffin

Teressa Moore Griffin, Executive Coach and Founder of Spirit of Purpose, author of “Lies that Limit:  Uncovering the Truth of Who You Really Are” (to be released Spring 2010), blogger.

Teressa Moore Griffin uses the lessons that have helped C-level executives overcome professional obstacles to show every day people how to live better, more prosperous and purposed-centered lives. Through thoughtful reflection, Moore Griffin guides people toward making conscious choices rather than succumbing to the lies that limit us.  Moore Griffin has taught countless people to uncover and confront the limits they and others have placed in their hearts and minds.  The result: you are empowered to let go of the victim mentality, you gain clarity about your purpose and passion, and you are transformed, personally and professionally, into the person you were meant to be.  
 
Teressa’s corporate clients have included:

American Express

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals

AT&T

Consolidated Edison Company of New York

GlaxoSmithKline

Texaco

The Prudential

Thurgood Marshall College Fund

United Negro College Fund

Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories