Monday, December 16, 2013

Majority Hate Their Job but Only 25% Looking; How to Find Your Way to an Authentic Career

If you don't like your job, you are not alone. Forbes notes Unhappy Employees Outnumber Happy Ones By Two To One Worldwide.

That statistic comes from a Gallup Study that reviewed 25 million responses in 189 different countries. Globally, the study found only 13% of workers feel engaged by their jobs.

In the US, the survey shows that of the 100 million people who hold full-time jobs, only 30% are engaged and inspired at work while roughly 20 million (20%) employees are actively disengaged.

In short, 30% are happy, 20% are miserable, and the rest are going through the motions, at best.

Young and Unhappy?

The Huffington Post says Young And Unhappy With Your Job? Just Keep Waiting. Maybe Forever.

I assure you there is better advice than the conclusion of the Huffington Post article which ends with "So it may take more than just 30 years of waiting for today's young workers to end up in careers that make them as happy -- and as rich -- as their older colleagues."

Twenty-Five Percent Looking

A recent Rasmussen Reports survey shows 25% Are Looking for a New Job.

Given the level of reported unhappiness, why isn't the number higher than 25%?

Undoubtedly some feel trapped, others lack motivation, and many have no idea what they really want to do.

Finding Your Way: Book Review

For those motivated enough to do something, I suggest reading Finding Your Way to Your Authentic Career by Adam Taggart.



I just finished reading the book. It is easy to read and understand, and offers practical steps to follow for those in jobs they don't like.

For those who don't know the name, Adam Taggart is president of Peak Prosperity which he co-founded with Chris Martenson.

Although the steps are easy enough to follow, some of them are going to take a great deal of time, and more importantly, lots of  motivation.

Adam informs me that he did follow all of the steps.

He switched from being an unfulfilled vice president at a Fortune 300 Silicon Valley tech giant to working as a business partner with Chris Martensen. His story is much like my own story of switching from computer programming to being an economic blogger and investment advisor for Sitka Pacific.

I had an advantage over many. I knew what I wanted to do. I was extremely happy in the mainframe computer world for over 15 years. The next few years were going through the motions until 911 forced me to do something else.

The steps Adam outlines to help you figure out what you want to do are time-consuming, as well as the most difficult part of the process.

So don't think you will pick up the book and be off and on your way. You won't, especially if you need to follow all of the steps to figure out what it is you want to do. But those motivated enough to see the steps through are more likely than others to find a fulfilling career at the end of the process.

Finding Your Way to Your Authentic Career is available in book form or on Kindle.

It's good reading for anyone unhappy with their job and motivated enough to do something about it.

The book also makes a good stocking-stuffer for parents/grandparents who want to help their kids/grandkids find purpose early on in their careers.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com

No comments:

Post a Comment