My business is about giving women the systems, strategies and resources to start their own business but becoming an entrepreneur isn’t for everyone!

If you are not satisfied with your current job or role there may be many possible actions you could take.  The questions below are designed to get you thinking about what is important to you in your professional growth.

These questions are based on basic human needs which I first heard at a workshop many years ago.  In an ideal, balanced life we would get these from different aspects of our life, such as our relationships, social connections, health/fitness, spiritually, family, financial, learning and our work.   If you spend a huge portion of your time at work it would make sense that at least some of these needs could be met whilst you are in your workplace.

If meaning and fulfilment whilst you are at work is important to you and this isn’t currently happening these questions may help.

Find a quiet space, determine what each need means for you, whether you are having any of these needs met at work and if so in what form?  Answer honestly and think about why you came up with your answer to see if you can find any gems within to help inspire the changes you want.

1. Is there certainty in what you are doing?
   What certainty means to you will depend on what you value.  For example, at work it could be job security,  confidence in your role, being about to perform your tasks the way you want to, having work colleagues you can rely on, knowing you can start or finish at a particular time, knowing you will be listened to etc.
2. Do you have uncertainty or variety?
   As the opposite of the first question we also need a certain amount of challenge or variety (variety is the spice of life as the saying goes).  If everything in your work environment is exactly as you anticipate it, nothing ever changes and you don’t have this outside of your work then maybe you crave some stimulation or adventure.
3. Do you have significance at work?
   This may be in a leadership role or respect and friendship from colleagues.  Maybe you are the person everyone comes to for work or personal solutions .  You may be the expert in your field and find that others don’t utilise your strengths.  Do you feel needed and valued for the unique individual you are and what you bring to your work culture?
4. Do you have connections at work?
   Maybe there people at work that you can’t wait to see or share what is going on.   There may be some mentors who you learn from or enjoy stimulation to apply to other things.  The connection could also be with a project, something aligned to your vision or what you feel strongly about and value highly.  Is there someone or something you share a bond with?
5. Does your work environment allow you to grow?
   This could be to learn new knowledge or skills, advance in your organisation or position, utilise your strengths to enhance efficiency, have your ideas incorporated or request changes to be made.  Do you feel you have the room to expanded in what you do?
6. Do you feel a sense of contribution within your working environment?
   Are you listened to?  Are you able to make a difference to your colleagues, clients/customers?   Is there a way you make a difference in the lives of others?

If you are still with me I am going to assume you have thought about these (if you haven’t read them again and think about each one and how it relates to you)!

How many of these needs are met in your current work environment?  How many are met outside of your work?  How many are not met at all?  Which ones would you like to be met at work?  Do you think there is a way this could happen?  If so, is there some way you could put this into action?

I would like to point out again that living a balanced life is a holistic process and your work or business life is only one part of it.  There are as many combinations or possibilities as there are people and you will need to be honest with yourself.  This includes being aware of your own values, priorities and needs.

For example, maybe you would like more variety, growth or contribution in your work but your highest priority is the certainty you have in your job and you do not want to move into the unknown (more pain than pleasure), particularly if you have the other needs met outside of work.

All of these can be related to the pain/pleasure relationship and when this ratio changes, for example you make a choice based on more pleasure than pain and you or your circumstances change and what you are feeling is more pain than pleasure.  This is when you may be more likely to do something differently.

My purpose for writing this blog is to help you decide whether leaving your job is your best option or if it is possible to increase the satisfaction you can get in your current job (making the assumption you are not getting the fulfilment you want from your work).

If you are clear your working culture is not where you want to be, now may be your time to start planning for the transition out.

If on the other hand you feel you want to stay and believe you may be able to inject some changes, this may be your time to either determine what you can do in your work environment (physical or perception) or to find other means outside of your work to balance your dissatisfaction.

If you are struggling to see a way out in either of these scenarios and would like a complimentary discovery session to discuss one on one where you are at, please contact me! 

This is my first blog!  Well technically it is my first blog.  I have written others over the years but they never made it into the actual world where someone could read them.  At the time of writing this is isn’t live, so it still hasn’t happened but this year is different.  I am determined as part of an awesome new year to get my plans off the ground and make my intrepid first step across the bridge to what it is I really want to be doing.

Why I have taken so long to start something I really want to do?  Good question and I often let myself off the hook with sayings along the lines of,  ‘it mustn’t have been the right time’, but I think it is more than that.

I spend a lot of time planning and researching and seem to get caught on the details…which program, how many words, what colour, who to, etc. etc.  What then happens is overwhelm, then I leave it for a bit and the action phase gets skipped.

There are probably many of you out there who need less action and more planning/research.  If this is you, contact me as we could produce wonderful work together!

I think there is another reason I don’t find myself executing my chosen steps and when I found the following quote it struck a chord with me.

“Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it. ”  M. Scott Peck, the author of ‘The Road Less Travelled’.

Mmm, ok, although there are countless circumstances I can legitimately give as valid reasons for not living my life true to my purpose, none of them are going to help me move forward and neither will beating myself up about it.

My interpretation of this quote is to move forward with passion, confidence and certainty and connect to who I am, my experiences, skills, knowledge and wisdom.  When I tap into this,  feel my fears, value myself and what I have to offer and focus on the people I really want to help I feel that is when everything starts to make sense!

Sounds easy enough doesn’t it?  After all I really love helping others reach their potential and as a teacher I know the best way to teach or lead is by example, so it makes sense to feel connected to myself, get out there and share this with the world.

The challenges along my road less travelled?  Zoning out when overwhelmed and stopping when the fear is strong just before the action phase!

And my first step?  Well that is nearly done…my first blog published!  Yay!  First couple of rungs along the bridge and hanging on tight!