Love the Work You're With

At a time of rising unemployment, when many downsized companies are continuing to layoff more workers, the job market is pretty challenging especially for those who are past 40. So if you are lucky enough to be employed, but not feeling fulfilled, here are some ways to help create more joy and productivity in your current job. To start, answer the following six questions to determine where you currently stand.

1. Does your work create energy rather than drain it?
2. When pressures increase at work are you able to remain calm grounded and clear?
3. Are you able to find the positives in negative situations at work?
4. When you are the obstacle to getting what you want at work, are you able to see and fix it?
5. Have you formally enlisted the support of others who can help you get what you want at work?
6. Are you able to be yourself at work rather than who you believe others want you to be?

If you have answered "no" to three or fewer questions then you can see what you can do to change each "no" to a "yes" to improve your work situation. If you have answered "no" to more than three of the above questions, you have a very challenging situation. But before you call a headhunter, consider the old adage, "the more things change the more they stay the same." How often have you seen a person switch jobs only to find the same problems in the new one? The same can be said about relationships. At some point it may not be about changing jobs but about changing yourself. 

Next: Getting the most out of your current job