Earlier in the week I shared research from Marcus Buckingham who is a New York Times Best Selling Author that states only 20% of people truly love the job they are in. The pleasing news was to hear many people I know, felt like they did fall into this 20% category and the jobs were all different that they held.
It did make me think about my past roles and what did I like about them. I am one of those people who would pride them self on staying in a role when it serves me and that it does genuinely get me excited to get out of bed. A role I know I can make a difference and create impact.
I am also conscious love versus like is a strong word and perhaps many really like what they do although may not love it. For some their worth is not tied up in what they do.
If you can sit back now and ask yourself a few questions, it might help guide you to the answer.
What did you love about work this week? Let’s be specific here and it makes it timely as it is living in the now. You should be able to quickly highlight what tasks or actions this includes. If you need to think for a long time what you enjoyed, it might be time to consider are you happy in this role.
When do you feel at your best? This question is quite powerful. Think about the work you do and the tasks you complete. When you tap into your emotions - what brings colour and light and empowerment and joy? What gives you a true sense of achievement and pleasure? You want those emotions to bubble up.
What tasks make you lose track of time? What do you get lost in? That is often a job that is providing interest and challenge and opportunity. It will bring you joy because you are fully engrossed in that activity at that time. We are obsessed by time now, so it is refreshing to sometimes completely forget about the clock.
This all flows back into the concept of control - what you control in your world and does this light the path for you to feel fulfilled and valued.
Yes, at times we have to take on a job because of circumstances although I would say the market continues to be strong so at least look for the right company or the right industry that will give you some balance if the job is not the perfect fit for right now and it is necessary for you to survive perhaps instead of thrive.
Do you love what you do?
