Do you have a job? Or a career?
Hmmmm. You’re might be thinking that you hate your job anyway, so really, what’s the difference?
Plenty.
A job is something you may have settled for. A career is a choice.
And if you truly desire a job of your choosing, you don’t have to settle!
How a Job Differs from a Career
“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
A job is:
• A regular activity performed in exchange for payment.
• A position in which one is currently employed.
A career is:
• A chosen pursuit; a profession or occupation.
• The general course or progression of one’s working life or one’s professional achievements over time.
In short, what makes each term different? Satisfaction. Development. Advancement. PASSION.
How Did We Get So Dissatisfied?
Kathy Carpino, who writes about careers, leadership and women in business, says she meets people every day who are in careers or jobs they hate. When delving into the reasons why people are so dissatisfied with what they do for a living, one is very familiar: “…in the past 30 years, we’ve become slaves to the almighty dollar, addicted to acquiring things we can’t afford, which keeps us working long and hard just to break even.”
There are single parents who work just to make ends meet. Many people take jobs early in their careers and find it difficult to break free a decade or two later. Some students graduate from college expecting to enter the workforce and actually put their degree to use – only it doesn’t always work out that way – and many find jobs in fields totally unrelated to what they ever imagined.
But Carpino says there are other, deeper reasons people feel so unfulfilled in their jobs. “When people feel completely stuck, they get angry and defensive – like a caged animal. They experience themselves as victimized and backed into a tight, dark corner. They just can’t see a way out. But from my vantage point, there is always a way out; there are always new options and solutions.”
What Makes Us Feel Stuck in our Jobs?
Sunil, in Extra Money Blog, summed it up rather humorously:
“It has been said (and I agree) that most people die at age 35 and just refuse to get buried till they are 85 (or whatever the average life expectancy is today). In other words, people hate their corporate jobs. They can’t stand it, but have no other option than continue to show up to work with the rest of the herd every morning for the rest of their lives. They essentially compromise their lives.”
If you look at the issue more deeply, you’ll find that many people are lacking the structure, clarity, and self-confidence to develop an alignment with their true talents and greatest desires.
Caprino says people just don’t know themselves. Or, they think they know themselves – but believe they’re wrong. So, you might be saying things like, “I should be thankful just to have a job” or “I’m wrong to think I need a change”. Women in particular tend to do this.
She also suggests people sometimes lose the courage to act. Sometimes we get comfortable in a situation – even if it isn’t ideal. For instance, you may think that yours is the only job that will keep paying you what you want.
Maybe you’re hanging on to a title you think you’ve worked hard for – and aren’t willing or ready to give up yet. Or, you might feel that your job offers you some other perceived benefit that might not be easily replaced – like a flexible schedule, impressive health benefits…even a close proximity to where you live.
You Can Break Free…Finally!
If you’ve got a transferable skillset, you can bust free, says Chris Pearson at Pearsonified.com. You don’t have to be an expert now to make a career. “If you can even be considered reasonable ‘expert’ in a particular area, then there’s probably more work out there than you alone can handle,” Pearson suggests.
Quitting a corporate job can put things into a whole new perspective. You may realize new financial savings – gasoline, meals, parking, day care – and a host of other pluses. If you’re not ready to take a leap and quit your job just yet, you might consider starting your own part-time business on the side.
Whatever you do, don’t let fear take over. It is a huge step to change a long-term job. Stay aligned with your values as you focus on the light at the end of the tunnel – and don’t become paralyzed by your emotions. You can be happy and fulfilled in your work!
Do you want to develop the self-confidence you need to break free from an unfulfilling job? Be sure to sign up for my FREE e-series! Or, contact me via email or by visiting my website, BolderMoves.com, anytime!
Images courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net
Colleen Slaughter, Proud Executive Coach to the UN World Food Program, the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Winner
As an Executive Coach for Women in Leadership and Transformational Facilitator, my intention is to help leaders in positions of high influence to understand their worth at a profound level.
Supporting women leaders to truly thrive and step into their greatness, while succeeding in male-dominated industries and spaces is my native genius.
My technique and approach show you how to achieve incredible career success without compromising any part of who you are and what makes you magnificent.