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YOUR WORK. A BLESSING OR A BURDEN?

The odd thing about work is that while many wind up hating it or simply being exhausted by it, most of us, at one point, eagerly sought it out. And if your work were suddenly taken away from you, the pattern would repeat itself. You would once again eagerly look for new work. That's an economic reality for 95% of our population.

When you think about it, work is either a blessing or a burden, a prescription for personal happiness or a road to despair. No matter where you fall on that spectrum, this much is clear. Work is one of the primary parameters you use to determine your identity and mold your character. So, what if work isn't working anymore? What if who you have become is not who you want to be?

Ed Rickert found himself in that exact position two months ago. Ed has forty years of Human Resource experience under his belt. He spent twenty-five years in the banking industry. Then banks began to consolidate. His services were no longer required. High tech was next. Ed transferred his Human Resource skills to the computer industry. Seven years later, his company was sold. Same story as banking services no longer required.

A new start-up company in the automotive business was next on Ed's career trail. His expertise was highly valued by all at the new entity. He built an entire organization from scratch. He performed so well that the president asked him to take on an assignment as Vice President and Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer. Ed was so honored. "What a crowning moment in my career", he said to me. His plan was to work another few years, cash in his stock options, and enjoy an active retirement.

Oh but not so fast. Plans, it seems, are often made to be broken. The CEO abruptly resigned three months ago. Ed hung around hoping his talents would be needed by a new CEO, or even elsewhere in the company. They weren't. Services no longer required. For Ed, work quit working.

Having grown tired of the corporate shuffling, he wanted a new identity. But that was easier said than done. He'd been a "corporate guy" for almost forty years. Could he succeed at anything else? Self-doubt was clinging to Ed like a persistent rash.

Motivation to change, particularly in the later stages of one's career is not easy to come by. Peter Weddle, who ran one of the first resume databases, JobBank USA, claims that the majority of people he spoke with disliked their jobs, but due to fear or inertia, few were willing to do what was required to start anew. "They'd rather gripe and stick their heads in the sand," Weddle said.

Other than a nose full of sand, that technique won't get you much. In today's economy, career success depends on how creatively you think, how well you adapt to change and, most importantly, how willing you are to take the appropriate action to develop your own opportunities.

Ed's reluctance to move out of his corporate comfort zone caused him to seek yet another traditional Human Resource job. But, luck came to his aid. During the course of networking with old colleagues, Ed was asked if he'd be interested in a short term consulting role. Envisioning this as an opportunity to gain some additional experience, he took on the assignment. As part of his preparation, he spoke with another consultant in the field. It so happened that the consultant was looking for a partner in his business. The two have now teamed up on a full time basis.

When Ed phoned me yesterday, he seemed full of vigor and excitement. "I don't think I'll ever be returning to the corporate world", he said. "I'm not going to work for just one corporation. Instead, I'll work with several corporate clients and if one of them fires me, I'll still have all the others. I've got a new life ahead of me and I'm in control of it. What a great feeling!"

In their book, The Best Jobs for the 21st Century, Drs. Ron and Caryl Krannich predict that, "Fewer people will be obsessed with choosing traditional careers. More and more people will want satisfying jobs that enable them to pursue interesting lifestyle goals."

What are your lifestyle goals? What do you want to do with your life? What can you do today to begin the process of making it happen? Think about it.

Tom Welch is "America's Career Coach". A workplace expert, speaker and author of "Work Happy Live Healthy", the ultimate guide for career changing and job searching. E-Mail him at twelch@workhappy.com. For a FREE REPORT on "How to Stand Out, Get Promoted, and Make More Money ," visit www.workhappy.com.

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TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE

Continental breakfast is served in the lobby of the Fairfield Inn just outside of Denver every morning beginning at 6:00 AM. By 5:45, traveling business folks are already milling about waiting for a muffin and a cup of coffee to eat on the run.

I saw it first hand last week. My East Coast body clock told me it was 7:45, so I was also ready for my morning feeding. 7:45 seems so much more reasonable than 5:45. Yet, at that early hour, those business travelers were already mentally on the job beginning to feel the stresses of another day. The local Early, Early AM television show was airing the first traffic helicopter report of the morning. The freeway commuters were off and running.

Welcome to another business day in America. Welcome to another day in which you try to cram more and more into your new twenty-four hour allotment. The International Labor Organization completed a survey which indicated our workday is getting longer and longer. No duh! We don't need government studies to confirm the obvious.

You already know that you're asked to do more with less. You feel the exhaustion at the end of the day. You know your personal search for life balance seems futile. And no matter how fast you go, time always seems to run out. Life becomes little more than an endless to-do list.

Julie Sprocker of Englewood, Colorado is in what may be the most frantic group of Americans, working mothers between the ages of 35 and 44. She summed up her situation well when she said, "I often feel like I'm missing my own life."

The good news for Julie and anyone else who feels they are missing out on life is that there is a choice. It is you who decides to schedule a 6:30 AM working breakfast. It is you who chooses to come in early and stay late. You pack your briefcase full of files to be reviewed over the weekend. At the end of the day, it is your personal tolerance for long hours, lack of
sleep and increased stress. You must decide for yourself if the extra hours, the additional money, the advancement or the ego stroking is worth it.

Get off the merry-go-round. Think about your most precious of commodities, your own time. Your daily routine has probably become so automatic that you rarely take time to reflect on what you're doing and where you're going.

Your problems and stresses will keep popping up over and over again until you take the time to figure out what works and what doesn't and even more important, what you can do to improve your situation.

Here's an idea to get you started. Schedule some time this week to think about you. No interruptions allowed. Consider seven vital areas of your life health, family, financial, intellectual, social, professional, and spiritual. How are you doing in each of those categories? On a scale of one to ten, how well are you meeting your goals in each area? Where do you want to spend more time? Assign each facet a percentage of time you would like to spend on a daily or weekly basis.

Now, go make it happen. Remember, you are in control. As you plan your days and weeks, try to spend the appropriate time you designated for each category. It's your life. You have a choice how you live it.

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TIME for More MONEY?

If you could choose only one, would you rather have more time to do what you'd like to do or more money?

In some respects, it's the chicken and egg story all over again. If you choose more money, yet don't have the time to either spend or invest it wisely, what good is it?

If you prefer more time so your life is less hectic with greater balance, yet you don't have the finances to do what you want with that extra time, is it really worth it?

Over the years, when surveys asked that question, the answer was always more money, until now. Just recently, the tables were turned. Not by much, but enough for time to win out. When asked about the significance of this change, Bill Ellwood, a Colorado trainer and expert in getting more done said, "Most people will spend time to save money, but the smart ones will spend money to save time."

Many would still debate which is more important. My response to the issue is, "who cares?" They're obviously both important to us. So, is there a solution to getting more of both? Sure there is!

Controlling more of your time was the subject of a recent article on these pages. (If you missed it, you can read it at www.workhappy.com) That leaves money as the topic of the day.

Now, before you begin speed-reading to find the answer to the money question, figure out just how important money is to you. It's one of your values. In other words, it's critical that you have some of it, but where does it fit in order of priority? How does it compare with health, family, love, spirituality, a good boss, a fun job, and a balanced life? When you know where money fits in your value system, you're better able to judge what trade-offs you might make to get more. That's a good first step.

Keeping the concept of money simple will help you reach your goal. David Bach, author of Smart Women Finish First, believes that, "The biggest obstacle to wealth creation for both sexes is procrastination." He's probably right. The issues surrounding money seem so complicated and hard to control. We want more, but making it happen seems to involve too much. Too much effort. Too much time. Too much knowledge. Too much risk. Too much hassle.

When you shake off the confusion, you'll discover four simple facets to your money. What you earn. What you spend. What you invest How you invest. That's it. Although you may not realize it, you probably have far more control over these facets than you think.

What You Earn. Bach says, "I think the average worker right now is earning 10 to 30% less than they could be if they took a more proactive role in their career." Determine your worth. Know what value you are adding to your company. Learn how to track your accomplishments and how to negotiate to get the most for you. Or, if you're stuck in a financial rut at your current job, check out the market. Unemployment is low and employee demand is high. See what kind of offers might come your way.

What You Spend. You can spot those on the road to financial independence not by their big new cars or shiny jewelry, but by the coupons they clip. The message is clear. Live below your means. You don't have to be a miser or deprive yourself of necessities. Simply avoid trendy, unnecessary consumption. The "Living Below Your Means" message board of the Motley Fool web site has become one of their busiest locations (http://boards.fool.com). Check it out for some money saving ideas.

What You Invest. Once you're spending less, you can invest more. It's no secret that the earlier you begin and the more you put away, the bigger the jackpot at the other end. Stay disciplined. Use automatic withdrawal to fund your investments. Think about the freedom you'll experience after you've built your nest egg. Remember, the goal is to spend less and invest more.

How You Invest. If you're not an expert in the world of investments, become one, or find someone who is. Better yet, do both. Educate yourself. Books on investing could fill a library. Pick one you like and begin learning. Subscribe to a monthly financial magazine like Family Money or Smart Money. At the same time, find a broker or financial planner who is willing to work with you and help you prosper. Check out local investment clubs. They are a wonderful source of information for investors of every level.

No matter what method you choose, you will be making an effort to get your money working for you. When you do that over time, you'll end up with more money.

Tom Welch is "America's Career Coach". A workplace expert, speaker and author of "Work Happy Live Healthy," the ultimate guide for career changing and job searching. E-Mail him at twelch@workhappy.com. For a FREE REPORT on "How to Stand Out, Get Promoted, and Make More Money ," visit www.workhappy.com.

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WHEN TO SAY "I QUIT"

Jason Baker asked me the question during my appearance on KCMO talk radio
in Kansas City. "How do you know when it's time to walk into the boss and say, I'm out of here?" So many emotional and individual circumstances are inherent in our jobs that it is difficult to recite a pat answer that will be right for everyone.

In general, when your job no longer allows you to do what you do best or when your needs and interests are not fulfilled, it's time to move on. In simpler terms, if you no longer enjoy your work for whatever reason, go do something else. Jason's question got me thinking. How much responsibility should the employer take to assure the contentment and satisfaction of the employees? If bosses and companies paid more attention to their workforce, maybe questions like Jason's wouldn't be asked so often. What makes employees stay or go? If the solution were simple, we would bottle it for all to use. We'd have happier employees and lower turnover rates. But that isn't happening, so the answer must be a little more
complicated. Or is it? "There's no magic bullet," according to Catherine Farrell, a senior VP in the Outplacement Industry. "One of the most important things a company can do is give managers training in leadership skills, particularly communications," she emphasized. How right she is! Maybe that is the magic bullet. It has long been my contention that there are no truly great companies. There are, however, great leaders. If the company brass takes the time and commits the resources to invest in its leadership, the results will shine forth in the employees.

The Gallup organization conducted an in-depth study on worker beliefs and their effect on a profitable, productive workplace. The data was based on more than 100,000 employees from multiple industries. Twelve specific beliefs were identified. Analysis proved that these employee attitudes had a measurable impact on profits, productivity, employee retention and customer loyalty. The twelve belief statements from the most satisfied, productive employees are:

I know what is expected of me at work.
I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right.
At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day.
In the past seven days, I have received recognition or praise for my work.
My supervisor, or someone at work cares about me as a person.
Someone at work encourages my development.
In the last six months, someone has talked to me about my progress.
My opinions seem to count.
The purpose of my company makes me feel my job is important.
My fellow employees are committed to quality work.
I have a best friend at work.
This last year, I had opportunities at work to learn and grow.

Most of these beliefs are directly affected by the leadership style of the manager or supervisor. Read them again. They are not complicated. They are not difficult to grasp. They are rather easy to put into practice. The results might amaze you. For example, work groups that have these positive attitudes are 50 percent more likely to develop long-lasting customer loyalty. They are 44 percent more apt to produce above average profitability. Turnover is also lowered. Not a bad reward for a little improvement in leadership style. Proper training can produce effective leaders. Effective leaders produce enthusiastic, productive employees. Satisfied employees produce satisfied customers. Happy customers lead to profits and growth. Package that in the bottle and use it every day.

Tom Welch is "America's Career Coach" a workplace expert, speaker and author of WORK HAPPY LIVE HEALTHY, the ultimate guide for career changing and job searching. E-Mail him at twelch@workhappy.com. For a FREE REPORT on "How to Stand Out, Get Promoted, and Make More Money ," visit www.workhappy.com.

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