The first business coach I ever worked with had me started with this gratitude exercise. I was to invest in a gratitude journal and log in at least 10 things I was grateful for every day. Which after I was done logging in all my family, friends, health, shoe collections, and other blessings I was thankful for, left my career up for grabs…
Sure, most of us are thankful to have a job that pays the bills and even allows for the not-so-occasional shoe shopping spree. But unless you’re working the job of your dreams (which in this case gets upgraded from J-O-B to an exercise in self-fulfillment), expressing more than basic gratitude for your 9-to-5 may seem daunting…
“The more grateful you are about something, anything, the more abundance you create around it in your own life!”, was my coach’s take on the whole career gratitude thing. In other words, if you want to improve your career, you must start by being thankful for where you’re at professionally. Regardless of whether you think you’d much rather be hiking the Himalayas or translating the Thesaurus in Latin, than writing that hundred-page long report…
Easier said than done when your “work cup” is running over (in terms of to-do’s and deliverables that is)…Or when you’re facing challenges with your team or boss. Or just dreaming about a totally different career as you’re parking in your assigned spot in the morning. Or even because of that long overdue vacation you haven’t yet taken this year…
The point is, it’s not just about uttering a few thank you phrases here and there, or even passing out some of your leftover candy from Halloween as a (sweet) token of appreciation…It’s really about understanding the power of gratitude in your life and career…Think of it as a muscle, the more of it you practice, the stronger it becomes. And the stronger it becomes, the better whatever you’re grateful for becomes…Kinda of the gift that keeps on giving…
As Thanksgiving is approaching and tradition has it to throw some thanks in the Good Fortune basket of our lives, your career should be included in the mix too…Whether you’re highly satisfied with your current job and want to scream it out loud for everyone to hear… Or you’re daydreaming of escaping to Maui, alone…
And before you start rolling your eyes at me, here’s a quick reality check on why giving thanks may actually just be what your career needs right now (in addition to you putting down that smartphone):
You’ve got a job which pays you money you can invest in doing what you love. You’re welcome.
So here…That paycheck you earn every couple of weeks or every month is allowing you some financial freedom to enjoy what you really love. Whether it’s spending time with your family, go kayaking in the Great Lakes, or fund that side hustle of yours, most of the activities you do on the side require money. Having a day job allows you to earn that money, while having some financial peace of mind in the process.
Looking for a change? Sure. But in the meantime, appreciate the fact that you don’t have to stay up all night wondering how to pay the electric bill…And feel free to enjoy life and work on bettering yourself and your career, minus the money headaches and financial stress…
Working with other humans is challenging. Learn from it. You’re welcome.
One of the common misconceptions around work is that it’s not really the work that makes work challenging, but rather the people. Well, isn’t that the point?
Seriously, if work didn’t involve people, then it wouldn’t really be work…Whether you’re selling products, advocating for a cause, or writing the next great American novel, most likely, you’ll have other humans involved…Challenging? Yes. Filled with opportunities to learn and grow? You bet.
Think of how many learning opportunities you actually have when working within a team at your current job. From learning to network, whether formally or informally, to learning the art of negotiation and compromise, you can take a wealth of knowledge from your current job to your future self, business or dream.
Got career setbacks? They’re here to teach you a lesson. So stop and give thanks.
If you ask me, failure is the one single most powerful motivator to success. There’s nothing like having to pick your face up off the floor to teach you a lesson or two about breaking your own and others’ barriers to achievement…
What your current job is teaching you through the setbacks you may be encountering, is to build the tools you need to beat those roadblocks in your way. Without those setbacks, you wouldn’t be ready for the promotion you’re expecting, or the business you’re striving to build, or even this career change you’ve been considering. So stop and give thanks for the great tips you’re learning on the way to where you’re going…
Not sure how to be more thankful at work? Here are a few suggestions:
Start or keep a gratitude journal.
Grab that notebook laying around on your office desk, open the first page, and write on top: “Gratitude Journal”, with your name on the side. This is the beginning of a new journey for you…
I know you may be rolling your eyes but now, but take five minutes each day to write at least five things you’re thankful for, including around your job. Don’t think, don’t rationalize it, just do it. Every.single.day.
It takes three weeks to build a habit. Do this for three weeks, and watch your life and career change…
Say thank you to someone at work.
Whether you just walk over to a colleague’s desk, or send them an email, or go one step further and buy a nice thank you card, take the time to say thank you. Someone may have helped you with a project, taken some responsibilities off your pile of work, or just said a kind word in your favor. Acknowledge it and say thanks.
Even better, say thank you to someone who may not be getting any thanks for what s/he does. Someone like the janitor, or that security guard who signs you in every time you forget your badge…
It’s not just about making someone else feel good. What you get out of it is that satisfaction and fulfillment of making a difference. And just that is taking your career to the next level…
Show appreciation to your team.
How about bringing some cookies to your team once in a while? Or organizing a team event? Find ways of showing your appreciation to your team. Not only does it bring morale up, it’s also helps you re-discover the purpose of work and your mission as a whole…
How do you think being thankful for your career will improve it?
To Your Success,
The Corporate Sis.
