The Vocational Coach

Last Month's Ask Craig

Q and A for August 2004 with The Vocational Coach™

Craig,

I don’t expect joy in my work; it’s just a job, a way to pay the bills

Name Withheld

If you expect boredom and misery from your work, that’s what you’ll receive. Joy in one’s work only comes after imaging what is possible in one’s work. This only comes after imagining what you want and then taking action to move towards a more desired state. The choice and action is up to you

Craig

Craig,

I recently took on two roles, given the recent layoffs in our company. I didn’t like my existing job and now I have two jobs I don’t like. What should I do, quit?

Wendy- Product Support

Dear Wendy,

Congrats! You are the first person I have heard from who has two jobs at the same time, which doesn’t work for them. The problem with jobs is that they are defined by someone else. You have two choices. Continue to do two jobs you don’t like or begin to create the vocational role you desire. How do you do this? Imagine you had unlimited funds. How would you spend the rest of your life? What exactly would you do? Examine those patterns and then design your perfect day. There will be a gap. Now, determine next the first steps to close the gap. There are many choices if you can create them first in your mind’s eye.

Craig

Craig,

Lately, I am not getting along with my peers. It seems they are jealous of me since I seem to get the most opportunities at work. What should I do?

Name Withheld

How do you know they are jealous? We all bring to work our mental maps of our lives. It’s hard to observe this. I doubt they are jealous. They are probably experiencing some unhappiness in their roles and figure the only way out is to make more money and perhaps you represent a threat to them. Smile, be friendly and role model someone who loves what they do. You might rub off on your co-workers.

Craig

Craig,

I enjoyed your new book, P is For Perfect. I still don’t understand the difference between career and vocation?

Sam- Retail

You retire from careers and then one day your life is over. With vocation, you experience a sense of meaning that stays with you over the long haul. With vocation, it makes it difficult to retire from meaning and fulfillment

Craig

My company recently implemented a new policy where we have to take our vacations only at certain times of the year. This totally conflicts with my personal vacation plans.
What should I do?

Ken- Sales

Ken,

It continues to amaze me how many companies implement policies which force employee’s to take time off when it is convienent for the company. Since I doubt you can influence this, my suggestion is change your vacation schedule in the short term and in the long term, seek to combine vacation and vocation. This way, every day will always be the same for you; full of meaning and fulfillment

Craig

Craig,

My new job, which I just started, is only paying me 80 % of what I require. Should I work extra hours to increase my chances for promotion?

Name Withheld

I would suggest you focus on what you can control. Promotions you can’t control. Your vocation is something you can take control of now. In your spare time, focus on doing more of what you love and creatively figure out how as a result you can generate more income. We all have exactly 24 hours a day, no more, no less.

Craig