"I can't stand my job," says the comedian, "but I'm laughing all the way to the bank."
It's a sad commentary on modem life that this line never fails to get a laugh. Many people don't like the work they do, but they do it for money or social pressure, in the belief that it's okay to hate their work because, after all, a job isn't supposed to be fun.
What nonsense! If you're not happy with your job, chances are it doesn't meet your internal requirements, the combination of needs and personality traits that make you unique. It's high time that you identified the things that are important to you and set about placing yourself in a position where they're being satisfied.
If you're a square peg trying to squeeze yourself into a round hole, you're going to be miserable. If you're trying to mold yourself into a round peg, you'll be no better off".
Unfortunately, I can't give you ten easy steps for identifying your needs. It's a matter of doing a great deal of introspection and bouncing things off of people who are close to you or are trained in such matters. It could well be the most difficult task you'll ever undertake, since, for a variety of reasons, we often suppress our needs rather than face them squarely.
(I'm reminded of a client who repeatedly denied that he needed money and who, despite the fact that he was extremely talented, consistently placed himself in jobs that barely paid him enough to feed his family. It turns out that this man's father was a strict disciplinarian who believed it was wrong for anyone to earn more than what one needed for survival. Having forgotten that his father ever said such a thing, this man was still unconsciously obeying his father. Realizing this was a shocking and life-altering revelation for him.)
Here, then, is a sampling of internal requirements, or personal needs - that we all have to one degree or another. Use them as thought-starters toward identifying your own.
1. Leadership. Aggressive personalities in particular have a need for leadership and will fight for it. At the same time, there are many who deny or suppress this need.
2. Independence. Some people were meant to be running their own businesses, or at least, they require broad latitude as employees.
3. Advancement. This word is commonly misapplied. Most people think it means a raise or a promotion. In fact, it means some form of personal growth. Most of us have never identified the ways in which we want to grow.
4. Surroundings. Think of the forest rangers you've met. Can you picture them being happy in an office job? Safety is a real concern for some people. Healthful surroundings can also be important. It may be important for you to have high respect for those you work with and for you to be equally respected in return.
5. Social interaction with co-workers. Is this important to you? Many people prefer not to socialize off-hours with co workers.
6. Security. Whether in terms of money, ego, or protection from job loss, this need often overrides all others. Obviously, a debt-ridden man with children in the hospital will have a justifiably strong need for security. Most of the rest of us place too much importance on it.
7. Ethics (professionalism). Some people are deeply concerned about the values and practices of the business they work for. This has been demonstrated lately in the growing number of people who, at great personal risk, report injustices and illegal practices performed by their organization.
8. Status. Most people deny they have a need for status because of the negative connotation society places on the word. Properly defined, status is important to all of us. Think of it as your standing with reference to something outside yourself, with that something selected strictly by you.
9. Geography (roots). Some people have a need to stay put. Others need to keep moving and exploring new areas.
10. Creativity. This is one of the most difficult of needs to define, as one person's creativity is another person's boredom. What's more, companies tend to stifle creativity by drawing up job descriptions and molding people into them. Highly creative people often substitute doing a number of different things for creativity and become chronic job-hoppers. They move around for the excitement of doing something new rather than because the new job is right for them.
11. Income. It may be true that money can't buy happiness, but for whatever reason, some of us need more of it than others. Contrary to appearances, most people put high income rather low on the list - after they really think it through.
Once you have identified your needs, open your mind to job possibilities that would meet those needs. Dream a little.
