| You've no doubt run into that strange species, the | | | | accomplishment and control, which in turn help you |
| "workis contentis" - it can be found in almost | | | | love your job. |
| every organization. They're the creatures who | | | | 5. Do what you like and delegate what you don't |
| arrive at work every day with a smile on their | | | | like. This boils down to focusing on your strengths. |
| faces, raring to tackle any challenge that crosses | | | | No one is good at everything; we are all born with |
| their desk. They sit in an office, just as you do. | | | | individual talents. Spend your work day doing what |
| They receive a paycheck, just as you. But | | | | you love and your job won't even feel like "work." |
| something about them is so radically different. | | | | If you work on a team, have open conversations |
| THEY ACTUALLY LOVE THEIR JOB! | | | | about how the members can cooperate and |
| You can see it in the way they walk; you can see | | | | collaborate to share responsibilities based on the |
| it in their daily activities and you can certainly see | | | | individuals' strengths. Try to determine how each |
| it in their productivity and the quality of their | | | | person can be most valuable to the achievement |
| work. Why do they thrive while others languish? | | | | of the team's and the organization's overall |
| The difference is they have found a way to live | | | | objectives. |
| the life they love. And guess what? You can learn | | | | 6. Clean it up. Disorganization is one of the biggest |
| to do the same. | | | | causes of dissatisfaction at work and at home. |
| Here are 7½ secrets to living a life you love: | | | | Clutter contributes greatly to stress. If you spend |
| 1. Be true to your purpose. Take time to identify | | | | many minutes or even hours each day locating |
| your strengths and passions. What makes your | | | | documents, files, e-mails and so on, your |
| heart beat faster, your eyes light up with | | | | productivity will suffer. Clutter translates to being |
| enthusiasm? Do you thrive as a leader? A | | | | out of control; it makes you feel defeated before |
| listener? An encourager? An innovator? An | | | | you even start. Make it a top priority to deal with |
| implementer? Complete the following statement: | | | | everything that crosses your desk-either deal |
| "My purpose in life is..." Once you are able to align | | | | with it, file it or toss it. Believe it-all that mess |
| your passions with your daily activities, your | | | | stands between you and a better work |
| productivity and level of fulfillment at work will | | | | experience. |
| soar. | | | | 7. Make a decision to embrace change. When was |
| 2. Talk it over. Have an honest conversation with | | | | the last time you mastered a new skill? Consider |
| your supervisor and co-workers. Host a discussion | | | | going back to school or taking a training course. |
| about the organization's mission and vision. Is it | | | | The more you know the more valuable you will |
| possible you have not fully understood the real | | | | become, not only to your company but in your |
| purpose and importance of your job? Once you | | | | own heart as well. If you want to reignite your |
| recognize how your talents and skills add value to | | | | passion for work, raise the bar on what you |
| the organization, you may quickly regain respect | | | | expect of yourself. Arrive at the office 15 |
| for your work and feel a renewed sense of | | | | minutes early to give yourself time to read |
| purpose. | | | | professional journals and trade magazines to keep |
| 3. Reestablish written priorities and boundaries for | | | | up with what is going on in your business. When |
| your life. If you truly want to live a life you love | | | | you read about a superstar in your industry, |
| you must first determine which parts of life you | | | | contact him or her. Create and maintain a |
| value most. What is most important to you? Is it | | | | network of people with whom you can exchange |
| your family, health, financial security, faith, hobbies, | | | | information and advice. Find out who is on the |
| and so forth? When was the last time you sat | | | | cutting edge in your industry and ask him or her |
| down and created a written list of your priorities? | | | | to be your mentor. Consider becoming a mentor |
| Often we allow some parts of our life to squeeze | | | | to someone just starting out in your business. |
| out our favorite activities. Making a written list will | | | | 7½. Appreciate what you've got. Create one |
| help you reestablish priorities that, while important | | | | more list: write down 10 things you actually love |
| to you, have somehow fallen by the wayside. | | | | about your job. Think back to your first day at |
| 4. Reclaim your day. How much of your time | | | | your company. What were you most excited |
| each day is spent on accomplishment and | | | | about? How can you recapture that enthusiasm? |
| productivity? How much time is wasted on | | | | Your job may not be perfect, but like much of |
| unproductive matters? Time to make another list: | | | | life, it's all about what you make of it. Focus on |
| write down all of the projects you need to | | | | the positive and try to change the negative. |
| complete, then rank each numerically according to | | | | The moral of the story? When you love life first, |
| its importance. Focus on the tasks that really | | | | you will love everything that comes with |
| matter. Simple time management strategies will | | | | it-including your job. |
| allow you to feel a greater sense of | | | | |