ZEN AND 7 STEPS TO A MORE FULFILLING JOB
CareerBuilder.com

Monday, March 22, 2004
MSN Careerbuilder

Many people today find themselves in unfulfilling work situations. In fact, one in four workers is dissatisfied with their current job, according to the recent "Plans for 2004" survey by CareerBuilder.com. Their career path may be financially rewarding, but it doesn't meet their emotional, social or creative needs. They're stuck, unhappy, and have no idea what to do about it, except move to another job.

Mary Lyn Miller, veteran career consultant and founder of the Life and Career Clinic, says that when most people are unhappy about their work, their first thought is to get a different job. Instead, Miller suggests looking at the possibility of a different life. Through her book, "8 Myths of Making a Living," as well as workshops, seminars and personal coaching and consulting, she has helped thousand of dissatisfied workers re-assess life and work.

Like the way of Zen, which includes understanding of oneself as one really is, Miller encourages job seekers and those dissatisfied with work or life to examine their beliefs about work and recognize that, "in many cases your beliefs are what brought you to where you are today." You may have been raised to think that women were best at nurturing and caring and, therefore, should be teachers and nurses. So that's what you did. Or, perhaps you were brought up to believe that you should do what your father did, so you have taken over the family business, or become a dentist "just like dad." If this sounds familiar, it's probably time to look at the new possibilities for your future.

Miller developed a 7-step process to help potential job seekers assess their current situation and beliefs, identify their real passion, and start on a journey that allows them pursue their passion through work.

Step 1: Willingness to do something different.

Breaking the cycle of doing what you have always done is one of the most difficult tasks for job seekers. Many find it difficult to veer off a career path or make a change, even if it doesn't feel right. Miller urges job seekers to open their mind to other possibilities beyond what they are currently are doing.

Step 2: Commitment to being who you are, not who or what someone wants you to be.

Look at the gifts and talents you have and make a commitment to pursue those things that you love most. If you love the social aspects of your job, but are stuck inside an office or "chained to your desk," most of the time, vow to follow your instinct and investigate alternative careers and work that allow you more time to interact with others.

Dawn worked as a manager for a large retail clothing store for several years. Though she had advanced within the company, she felt frustrated and longed to be involved with nature and the outdoors. She decided to go to school nights and weekends to pursue her true passion by earning her masters degree in forestry. She now works in the biotech forestry division of a major paper company.

Step 3: Self-definition.

Miller suggests that once job seekers know who they are, they need to know how to sell themselves. "In the job market, you are a product. And just like a product, you must know the features and benefits that you have to offer a potential client, or employer." Examine the skills and knowledge that you have and identify how they can apply to your desired occupation. Your qualities will exhibit to employers why they should hire you over other candidates.

Step 4: Attain a level of self-honoring.

Self-honoring or self-love may seem like an odd step for job hunters, but being able to accept yourself, without judgment, helps eliminate insecurities and will make you more self-assured. By accepting who you are - all your emotions, hopes and dreams, your personality, and your unique way of being - you'll project more confidence when networking and talking with potential employers. The power of self-honoring can help to break all the falsehoods you were programmed to believe - those that made you feel that you were not good enough, or strong enough, or intelligent enough to do what you truly desire.

Step 5: Vision.

Miller suggests that job seekers develop a vision that encompasses the answer to "What do I really want to do?" One should create a solid statement in a dozen or so sentences that describe in detail how they see their life related to work. For instance, the secretary who longs to be an actress describes a life that allows her to express her love of Shakespeare on stage. A realtor, attracted to his current job because he loves fixing up old homes, describes buying properties that need a little TLC to make them more salable.

Step 6: Appropriate risk.

Zen monks believe that the way to enlightenment comes through facing obstacles and difficulties. Once people discover their passion, many are too scared to do anything about it. Instead, they do nothing. With this step, job seekers should assess what they are willing to give up, or risk, in pursuit of their dream. For one working mom, that meant taking night classes to learn new CAD skills, while still earning a salary and keeping her day job. For someone else, it may mean quitting his or her job, taking out a loan and going back to school full time. You'll move one step closer to your ideal work life if you identify how much risk you are willing to take and the sacrifices you are willing to make.

Step 7: Action.

Some teachers of Zen describe action in this way, "If one wants to get to the top of a mountain, just sitting at the foot thinking about it will not bring one there. It is by making the effort of climbing up the mountain, step by step, that eventually the summit is reached." All too often, it is the lack of action that ultimately holds people back from attaining their ideal. Creating a plan and taking it one step at a time can lead to new and different job opportunities. Job-hunting tasks gain added meaning as you sense their importance in your quest for a more meaningful work life. The plan can include researching industries and occupations, talking to people who are in your desired area of work, taking classes, or accepting volunteer work in your targeted field.

Each of these steps will lead you on a journey to a happier and more rewarding work life. After all, it is the journey, not the destination that is most important.

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