| Many people turn a beloved hobby into a | | | | you already have it.3. Catch a partner or |
| vocation. They have a gift, a talent | | | | co-worker doing something great each day. |
| screaming for expression. It means doing | | | | Verbally acknowledge the dedication and value |
| something that they love. At last, they feel | | | | that they contribute. Use sincere words and |
| empowered.However, this newfound empowerment | | | | actions to show colleagues that they are |
| is inside the person, not in the changing of | | | | valuable. Share your goals with others, and |
| careers. How can you feel empowered if you | | | | express sincere appreciation for their |
| are already successful in your work but feel | | | | participation.As children, we learned to |
| discontent? You must recognize and feel the | | | | communicate and relate to others by |
| value within you and your work every day!A | | | | participating in a mutual action-speaking |
| colleague and I were presenting a workshop on | | | | environment. We did not simply listen and |
| career satisfaction to a group of health-care | | | | respond. We built trust-worthy relationships |
| staff members. His segment, "Feeling | | | | by joining with adults and peers in |
| Empowered in Your Career", and my following | | | | cooperative activities that matched words and |
| segment, "Empowerment in Words and Actions", | | | | feelings with action. Showing appreciation |
| complimented each other splendidly.A majority | | | | for others will reflect back and enrich your |
| of the participants had indicated before the | | | | experiences.4. Seek constructive suggestions |
| workshop that they were happy with their | | | | from both co-workers and clients. Dive right |
| career choice. Their need was to feel more | | | | into the experience of value, and acknowledge |
| contentment during the workday. Many felt | | | | constructive suggestions with gratitude. |
| isolated or emotionally distant from | | | | Focus on your value by challenging yourself |
| co-workers. They felt successful but not | | | | to make improvements each day.5. Put your |
| content.They all believed that their work was | | | | value into positive-action words. Then catch |
| highly valuable. However, as one participant | | | | yourself in the actions. Our words, actions, |
| said, "I don't feel connected to the people I | | | | and focus of attention will pull us toward |
| work with or feel enough satisfaction in the | | | | the contentment we seek. Journal your |
| value that I provide."There is a big | | | | experiences of providing value. Review them |
| difference between believing in something and | | | | frequently.6. Nourish and maintain yourself |
| deeply experiencing the same thing. An old | | | | physically, mentally, and spiritually. |
| expression suggests, "It will not help to | | | | Discontentment may be a warning sign of burn |
| believe in ladders unless you climb one." | | | | out. Get regular medical checkups and follow |
| Many people are highly skilled, successful, | | | | a balanced lifestyle for maximum wellness. |
| and competent in their work. They are | | | | Daily periods of relaxation and meditation |
| intellectually aware of their value. However, | | | | are important for renewal and wellbeing.Leo |
| they do not experience the internal | | | | Buscaglia wrote, "The majority of us lead |
| satisfaction and contentment that they want | | | | quiet, unheralded lives as we pass through |
| and deserve.How can we experience the most | | | | this world. There will most likely be no |
| contentment and satisfaction in our careers? | | | | ticker-tape parades for us, no monuments |
| Here are several key ideas to remember.1. | | | | created in our honor."Yet we can be both |
| First, check your motivations for being in | | | | successful and content with our lives and |
| your career. Success is the result of skills, | | | | careers. We create the most meaningful |
| actions, and choices. It is not a mandate to | | | | monuments from the love and enthusiasm we |
| remain in one place. You can be successful in | | | | have for our work.Create a monument everyday |
| many different endeavors depending on your | | | | by doing what you love and focusing on the |
| motivations, interests, and natural gifts.Use | | | | value you bring to others. Acknowledge also |
| an assessment such as the complimentary MAPP | | | | the value that others contribute to your life |
| found at to check your motivations. Your | | | | and career. These actions coupled with a |
| personalized MAPP reveals whether your true | | | | healthy, balanced lifestyle can add |
| motivations match your work. It also uncovers | | | | contentment and improved relationships to |
| unique talents and interests.2. Start with | | | | your career beginning today.© Copyright |
| your desired result. Notice how the | | | | 2005 by Steve Brunkhorst. Steve is a |
| participant's words focused on not feeling | | | | professional life success coach, motivational |
| connected. After that gap has been | | | | author, and the editor of Achieve! 60-Second |
| acknowledged, it is time to shift focus. We | | | | Nuggets of Inspiration, a popular mini-zine |
| move toward the object of our primary | | | | bringing great stories, motivational nuggets, |
| attention. It may seem backwards, but begin | | | | and inspiring thoughts to help you achieve |
| at the end. Imagine and focus on what | | | | more in your career and personal life. |
| contentment would feel like for you as though | | | | |