I often meet with people who are unhappy in their current work environment. No career advancement, no motivation from the management team, no longer interested in the job duties, no balance to enjoy life. In each case, the essence of the issue stems from the fact there is no change on the horizon.
Though it would be great if change came naturally, we know that isn’t the case. Change comes when the empowered are done settling.
Consider the following as you navigate the waters of change:
Fix Your Mood – A negative attitude is likely to result in procrastination and a “why me?” attitude that gets you nowhere. At the end of the day, you are in charge of your mood and the mood you project upon others. Driven individuals do not dwell on what could have been or should have been. The door to success and productivity is wide open when we think optimistically.
Assess Your Circle - People who want to progress can be infectious. Conversely, people who are stagnant or make excuses can be deflating. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who want to be great at what they do.
Visualize – What would you rather be doing? Where would you rather be? What is your goal? What will achieving the goal mean for you, your family, and your wellbeing? How does it look? How does it feel?
Create a Plan of Action – The visualization is often the end point, but how do we get there? A plan of action is meant to be fluid – do not hold fast to the original plan if a new road presents itself during the journey. Play Devil’s advocate – what could go wrong? How would I react if/when something does go wrong? Now that you have a plan of action, is the estimated sacrifice worth the end goal?
Share – Telling a friend, colleague, or significant other about your goals is a powerful accountability mechanism. Putting your vision out to the universe can keep you going when most needed.
Reflect – Do not let a day go by without reflecting on the day that was. Begin reflection on a detailed, nuts and bolts review of the day, which will allow you to step out of the weeds and view the larger picture from a treetop view. The sooner you become comfortable admitting you did not “bring it” the better.
Reward – Determine milestones along the journey to achieving your goal. Monitoring your progress is one of the best reinforcement techniques possible. Celebrating small wins can culminate momentum to tackle much larger hurdles in the future.
F*%# Fear – Wondering whether or not we will be successful reaching a goal causes many to avoid setting goals in the first place. The dread of failure is the single most counterproductive and debilitating detriment to success.
If we are going to spend a significant portion of our life working, we might as well make it both challenging and rewarding.
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