Getting your player ready...
Dear J.T. & DALE: I’ve been at the same job for 10 years, and I’m totally bored. However, every time I look into doing something else, I realize I can’t afford to switch careers. I’m getting more depressed by the day; it’s hard to get out of bed in the morning. I feel like it’s affecting my attitude at work, too. What should I do? – Brad
J.T.: That’s definitely a concern. I’ve seen many people grow resentful of their jobs, turn bitter and then get fired. Don’t let that happen! To start, get your finances in order. To free yourself of the golden handcuffs, you’ll have to cut expenses and start saving. At the same time, start looking at jobs that would let you pivot in a new direction. Even a similar job at a new company might reinvigorate you. Don’t think that you have to make one big, sweeping, perfect change to your career. There is nothing wrong with going through an exploratory phase. DALE: Meanwhile, how about exploring the option of not being bored? After all, what is boredom? For one, it’s the opposite of surprise. When was the last time you surprised yourself by coming up with new ways to do your job? Doing so is possible, even in a corporate environment. I spent years in corporate life, and I eventually found it stultifying. In response, I persuaded the company to undertake some exciting new computer modeling, which required me to spend a few days in Manhattan every month. Nothing boring about that. And part of that same job was giving presentations, so I joined Toastmasters and tried to be the best presenter in the company. Then I volunteered to get more involved with the ad agency, just because they were the most fun people. I’m not bragging; I’m trying to convince you that boredom is the smokeless detector – boredom is the silent alarm that lets you know when there’s no fire. Answer that alarm. J.T.: Nicely said, but let’s face it: Not every company is going to welcome the sort of experimentation you suggest. So, Brad, you may need to seek out another employer. Moreover, you owe it to yourself to determine whether you need a more fundamental career shift. This is a good time to consider career coaching. Just as many people benefit from a financial analyst to help them make better investment decisions, many people need the expertise of a career coach to think through their options. I work with some great coaches, and you can learn about them at careerHMO.com. – J.T. O’Donnell has coached, trained and mentored on a wide variety of career-related subjects since 1994. Her book, “CAREEREALISM: The Smart Approach to A Satisfying Career” is available at JTODonnell.com. Management guru Dale Dauten has written six books and is an authority on innovation in the workplace. His latest book, “Great Employees Only: How Gifted Bossess Hire & Dehire Their Way to Success” is available at Dauten.com. copyright 2013 King Features.
