Sometimes We Bust Swallow The Frog To Taste Life's Sweet Nectar

There are few people in this world who do not need to work to provide for themselves and their families. As such, most of us spend more waking hours with our coworkers than we do with our families. During that time, we are influenced by those we are surrounded by and the cultural norms within the organization. In many cases we are so influenced that we begin to evolve into someone different than we were when we first embraced on the opportunity. This evolution will have a positive or negative consequence on who we are as a person. It will also affect our physical and emotional wellbeing.

You Are What You Eat

Every moment we are at work we are ingesting the attitudes, behaviors, energy, and values of those who surround us and lead us. Be it the people, the cultural norms of the organization, or the actual environment within which we work, it all influences us in one way or another, whether we know it or not. How our coworkers talk to one another influences how we talk to others. The behaviors and habits of those we are surrounded by influence our own actions and behaviors. The environment we work in and the values our employer establishes as priorities influence what we believe should be our priorities. In the end, our work environment and relationships can be more influential on who we become than just about any other factor in our life.

You're So Unlucky Because You Have a Job!

A “job” is something we must do because we need it to survive. Jobs kill people because they slowly eat at their mental and physical well-being. Most people who have jobs know this but are unwilling to do anything about it for obvious reasons. Mostly, they need the money, lack confidence, or fear change.

A person that finds themselves in this situation will never be happy until they get themselves out. This is because they are unable to reach their full potential and blossom. The only way someone in this position will realize their full potential is by having the courage to recognize their reality and move on. Moving on can be to a different position that is more aligned to their behaviors and interests within their present organization or to a new position at another organization.

Employers who employ people simply to fill “jobs” would be much more successful if they would recognize this danger and move people into positions that are more in line and supportive of their behaviors, motivations, and long-term interests. This can sometimes mean placement somewhere else, which may not be with their organization.

Influential Factors That Negatively Impact Our Health and Well Being

Every form of stimulus we are surrounded by has an influence on us. Some of them can lead to very negative, and in many cases, unintended consequences. If we ignore these factors, we just might find ourselves wishing we had taken more control over our lives after it is a little too late. This is easier said than done, especially when taking control requires changing jobs or employers.

You have a “job” if you:

• spend Sunday night dreading going to work on Monday morning;

• find yourself spending most of the time on Monday morning thinking about Friday;

• are bored at work and spend most of your day looking at the clock in anticipation of the time you can head home;

• are not working in a position that challenges you or utilizes your skills and abilities to their full potential;

• are not passionate about what you are doing or the line of work you are in;

• you can't stand your boss or don't see eye to eye with your employer's values.

The Trap

While most people can easily recognize these factors, rarely do they act on them. It could be because they believe they would not be able to find a job of equal pay doing what they love. It could be because they fear changing jobs and not fitting in somewhere else. It could be because they lack the confidence necessary to seek something they deserve, which is ultimately a better life. No matter the reason, most are false beliefs. However, those who have mustered the courage and changed are usually happier and regret not doing it sooner.

The Reality

All the above-mentioned factors that describe a “job” will eventually kill your spirit, your passion, and change who you are. If you are working for a boss or employer with misaligned values, eventually your values will be influenced. As such, they will begin to alter who you are deep down inside. If you are bored and lack passion in your job, you'll eventually become a boring lackluster employee and lose your drive for greater things. If you are not challenged, your mind will atrophy, and you'll lose your mental edge. This can lead to poor performance and an eventual job change that is not of your choosing. Therefore, changing before you are forced to change would be a wise move.

If you find yourself in a “job” and want to be the person you set out to be when you were most passionate about your career, you need to evaluate your current position. If you want to pursue the best version of yourself, you must continue to push yourself and put yourself in a position to achieve that dream. This requires recognizing factors that are preventing you from accomplishing what it is you set out to accomplish. It also requires actively making decisions, no matter how difficult, that will position you for greatness.

If you don't direct your life and career someone else will. Then you have effectively killed who you are and become someone else, someone that you never intended to be in the first place. Having the courage to seek what’s best for you is the only path to personal and professional success and happiness.

The same is true for employers as much as it is employees. The only way an organization will achieve its highest level of performance is by having the courage to do what is best for its people and the organization, which may not include keeping people in their current position. However, when both the employee and the employer are aligned in their goals, any necessary change will be welcomed by both.

Sometimes you have to swallow the frog and digest that bitter bite before you can taste the sweet nectar that is to come by being courageous and doing what’s ultimately best.

Randy Stepp is a Principal with Renaissance Leadership Group. RLG is a full-service business development company whose purpose is to help business owners realize their dreams of independence and freedom.

Visit Renaissance Leadership Group at www.renaissanceleadershipgroup.com to learn more about business development and franchising