Whenever I feel negativity in my work, I always remember that scripture in the Bible where all the drudgery of labor started. It is back where Adam and Eve disobeyed God. From then on, God cursed the ground and told man that he will have to sweat in order to eat and survive.
Working is hard, but whoever does not work, does not eat.
Is it possible to be happy and thrive at work? That is the million-dollar-question. Currently still referring to this book, "Lessons from headhunter". I am wondering whether this person who claims to have found joy in her career can take me to where she is at right now.
So, let's start the exercise.
1. Write down what you believe about your current job. Are you getting what you want out of work? If not, what's missing?
My current job is a blessing. I had it when I was really desperate and insecure about finding a job here in the States. My company gave me the opportunity and the grace to grow. I've committed a lot of mistakes, costly mistakes in fact, but they were very gracious to let me find my own rhythm and become better at what I'm doing.
I can honestly say that I've overcomed a lot of weaknesses through this job. Being a teller calls that I make my customers feel at home whenever they're in my window. So, while I was formerly shy and uncertain about my command of the English language, I've grown to become confident, to start conversations, to introduce myself, and to signify interests in others.
I've also grown in my sales skills. I've learned that sales is a numbers game. You win based on how many people you ask. You don't need to be an expert salesperson like I thought you should be. You just need to ask. And you need to ask everyone as much as you can in order to get great results.
I think I've also recovered some of the competitive spirit. By that I meant, I wanted to excel and I wanted to be outstanding. But this time, my competitive spirit has grown mature. I've learned that I must only strive to be the best I can be and hit my goals and focus on that. By being the best I can be, I may eventually become THE best.
One thing I think that's missing in my job is compensation. I have a feeling that this job deserves more pay. Being a teller is a multi-faceted job. You are in customer service, sales, accounting (by virtue of accuracy in handling cash). You get graded in everyone of them. You are the face of the company.
I may be wrong, but something else that I've been feeling is I deserve to earn more. I have a bachelor's degree. I have great experience in sales, customer service, event management, advertising, marketing, couseling, coaching, and even starting my own business.
I am meant to do greater things. I am meant to make a difference. I feel that I can not be held by the confines of a bank environment. I want to have a versatile life and touch many people's lives.
2. What parts of your work do you want to take with you? What parts do you want to leave behind? What are your reasons for wanting to make a change?
I want to take with me the confidence that I can sell and I can rise above my weaknesses, my inhibitions and doubts. I can be confident and initiate conversations with people.
I want to leave behind the confines of a building or a cubicle where I had to stay all day long. I want to be able to move around, get out of the office if I had to, have the freedom to go somewhere if I had to do some creative thinking. I want to be able to interact with people and listen to their concerns, goals, and propell them forward.
I want to make a change because I want to start a career, not just have a job. I want to start my journey to my self-discovery and be able to live to my fullest potential.
3.) What do you believe about success and failure? Do you believe that success is for everyone or just an elite few? Is success something that's hard won?
Success for me is fully utilizing your talents and skills and becoming your best. It is also being able to find a venue where you can be most rewarded for your hard work. Success is being able to touch people's lives to make a difference. It is about leaving a legacy behind for people to remember and an example to imitate.
Success is financiall stability, which eventually should lead to financial freedom, when you are able to spend most of your time for things that matter most to you: like faith and family for me.
Success is hard won. It is rarely a product of luck. It is not for the elite few but it's for people who are able to break through the barriers of self-doubt, undiscipline, laziness, mediocrity, apathy, fear, and faithlessness.
4.) What do I envision work to be?
I work in an entrepreneurial environment that oozes with creativity, passion,and vision. In it is a team of professionals who respect and uphold each other's capabilities and considers each other indispensible. Our business is beyond monetary gain. It is about making a difference. The gain is secondary but it flows. It flows because we are on the right track.
This job greatly rewards me financially while still giving me the time to pursue other endeavors, like coaching other people. It also allows me generous time with my family because they are my priority in life.
In this job, I am able to grow as a person to be able to build my own enterprise someday and become financially free.
CAREER COMFORT (quoted from the book)
"I bless this job and thank my Higher Power for sending it to me when I needed it. I am choosing to lovingly release it and pass it on the next person who needs it. I now choose to move on to a position that meets my needs and helps me fulfill what is best in me."
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
LESSON 1: You're Never Stuck
To begin the process of contemplating, ask yourself the following questions:
1) Do you believe that your work situation is the product of choice or chance?
My work situation right now is a product of my choice. Being new to the states (April 2007), I was anxious to find a job. I sent so many resumes around until finally two companies gave an offer. I accepted this present job because it's nearer to my home (I could walk during the summer). Back then I had no car, no license to begin with, no experience with working in the states. I accepted my job because it was the more convenient choice. The other job actually offered double, but I had to work so much more hours and it was far.
Now that I think I am more confident about my skills, I want to do something else. I want to build a career, not just find a job.
2) Do you believe that you're stuck?
No, I don't. There is something more out there. It's more a question of, what is out there for me? How can I find it? Where do I start?
3) What thoughts or beliefs do you need to change, in order for you to accept that you are NOT stuck?
I need to believe that there is an opportunity out there for me. That there is actually someone who can help me and mentor me. THat I will find my career path, even if I had to start from scratch. The truth is however, I have much to offer. But how do I display that? How do I convince people that I can start from scratch and grow to learn and master something I knew nothing about?
I believe I have a great capacity to learn. I already had so much experience in the past and so much I've learned that I can contribute. But, if I had to start from nothing in order to pursue the career that's for me, I would do so. I just want to make the most out of this life.
I just want to live to my fullest potential.
Let me end this by quoting Gil Bailey, "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
1) Do you believe that your work situation is the product of choice or chance?
My work situation right now is a product of my choice. Being new to the states (April 2007), I was anxious to find a job. I sent so many resumes around until finally two companies gave an offer. I accepted this present job because it's nearer to my home (I could walk during the summer). Back then I had no car, no license to begin with, no experience with working in the states. I accepted my job because it was the more convenient choice. The other job actually offered double, but I had to work so much more hours and it was far.
Now that I think I am more confident about my skills, I want to do something else. I want to build a career, not just find a job.
2) Do you believe that you're stuck?
No, I don't. There is something more out there. It's more a question of, what is out there for me? How can I find it? Where do I start?
3) What thoughts or beliefs do you need to change, in order for you to accept that you are NOT stuck?
I need to believe that there is an opportunity out there for me. That there is actually someone who can help me and mentor me. THat I will find my career path, even if I had to start from scratch. The truth is however, I have much to offer. But how do I display that? How do I convince people that I can start from scratch and grow to learn and master something I knew nothing about?
I believe I have a great capacity to learn. I already had so much experience in the past and so much I've learned that I can contribute. But, if I had to start from nothing in order to pursue the career that's for me, I would do so. I just want to make the most out of this life.
I just want to live to my fullest potential.
Let me end this by quoting Gil Bailey, "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
On my way to life to the full
What will it take to realize my full potential?
I work for a great company right now (Wells Fargo). My pay as a teller is meager, but the benefits are good. I would say that in the five months that I've worked there, I've had my ups and downs.
Most challenging to me was balancing my cash drawer at the end of the day. I must admit I never handled so much cash before. Aside from not being familiar with the system, I wasn't familiar with the coins as well. I can still remember how my heart would stump wildly when a customer was depositing so much cash and coins. It seemed to me that they sensed my trouble and that made me all the more nervous.
On a good note however, my manager did tell me that there was a remarkable improvement on my balancing the past few months. I just need to keep on doing the system that works for me.
My sales are doing great. On my first and second quarters, I reached silver on my sales goals. On the latter quarter, I actually had the most sales among the tellers of our branch (although I was not at the top of the chart because sales are weighed based on hours worked too). This first quarter of 2008, things are looking up. I'm hoping to go for gold, and I know that with hard work, and of course with God's help, nothing is impossible.
Despite the successes I've seen in my job so far, something tells me I'm meant to do something more. I am made to influence people and help them become better individuals. I am made to lead, probably not corporations and groups, but individuals. I want to help people transform and become successful.
But I am yet to see that in my own life.
I am yet to see myself break down the barriers of mediocrity, procastination, lack of direction, half-heartedness, laziness, and doubt. I need direction. What is the career that will permit me to do what my heart desires to do? What are my options? Where do I start?
I need help. I hope that someone could read this and become my mentor. I need one.
For the meantime, let me finish this book I just started, "Lessons from a headhunter...with a heart." It's written by Patricia Comeford, J.D., and Gina Sauer, J.D. The first few pages have been interesting so far. I am thinking of e-mailing them and getting their advice.
It seems to me like they went through what I'm going through right now. That is important to me.
I'll keep you updated with what I'm learning.
Ciao for now.
I work for a great company right now (Wells Fargo). My pay as a teller is meager, but the benefits are good. I would say that in the five months that I've worked there, I've had my ups and downs.
Most challenging to me was balancing my cash drawer at the end of the day. I must admit I never handled so much cash before. Aside from not being familiar with the system, I wasn't familiar with the coins as well. I can still remember how my heart would stump wildly when a customer was depositing so much cash and coins. It seemed to me that they sensed my trouble and that made me all the more nervous.
On a good note however, my manager did tell me that there was a remarkable improvement on my balancing the past few months. I just need to keep on doing the system that works for me.
My sales are doing great. On my first and second quarters, I reached silver on my sales goals. On the latter quarter, I actually had the most sales among the tellers of our branch (although I was not at the top of the chart because sales are weighed based on hours worked too). This first quarter of 2008, things are looking up. I'm hoping to go for gold, and I know that with hard work, and of course with God's help, nothing is impossible.
Despite the successes I've seen in my job so far, something tells me I'm meant to do something more. I am made to influence people and help them become better individuals. I am made to lead, probably not corporations and groups, but individuals. I want to help people transform and become successful.
But I am yet to see that in my own life.
I am yet to see myself break down the barriers of mediocrity, procastination, lack of direction, half-heartedness, laziness, and doubt. I need direction. What is the career that will permit me to do what my heart desires to do? What are my options? Where do I start?
I need help. I hope that someone could read this and become my mentor. I need one.
For the meantime, let me finish this book I just started, "Lessons from a headhunter...with a heart." It's written by Patricia Comeford, J.D., and Gina Sauer, J.D. The first few pages have been interesting so far. I am thinking of e-mailing them and getting their advice.
It seems to me like they went through what I'm going through right now. That is important to me.
I'll keep you updated with what I'm learning.
Ciao for now.
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