When a Regular Job Isn't Enough Anymore

When a Regular Job Isn't Enough Anymore
We all know someone like Bob, the guy at work who started
complaining incessantly about his job, about the company,
about the staff, about his clients, etc. One complaint
after another? after another. Nothing is good enough for
this guy anymore. Or, more accurately, nothing could ever
be good enough for him because of his poor attitude. Not
only is he a nuisance, but he drags down the energy of the
workplace and few people seem to enjoy his company now.
Often you wish he were to simply quit his job and leave.
Good riddance!

Wouldn't you be surprised to learn, however, that quitting
his day job and leaving is exactly what Bob is longing for?
He just doesn't know how to do it, or more importantly, he
doesn't really know why he has to do it.

Few people actually recognize the signs that indicate when
it's time to move on from a regular job, and so there are
countless Bob's in the corporate world working at jobs they
dislike or sometimes even despise. They'll often change
employer only to find that the same scenario repeats
itself. But somehow, even though they are miserable at
work and would rather be doing something else, they
convince themselves that "this is as good as it gets."

The reasons why people stay at jobs or careers they dislike
are countless, and the majority of those reasons are
probably very legitimate: A family to feed; a house
mortgage to pay; a new car to buy; college tuition for the
kids; medical bills from a family illness; consumer debts
to repay; etc. The "this is as good as it gets" syndrome
is often exacerbated by the "I can't afford to make it any
better right now" belief, which, as real as it might
appear, still is mostly a belief conditioned by the
circumstances that people allow to govern their lives.
Stated differently, life and work are as good as it gets
only when we stop striving for something better.

In Bob's case, his situation shifted to "this is as bad as
it gets," possibly even progressing to stress-laden
circumstances that brought out the worst in him. Numerous
factors entered into play, of course, particularly in terms
of the fit between his competencies and the requirements of
his job. Was he the right person for the job? Did he have
the skills and abilities required for his role? Was his
job performance up to par?

But consider the reverse perspective as well, namely, the
fit between the requirements of his job and his
competencies. Same difference? Not at all. Was the job
the right one for Bob? Did his role call upon his best
skills and abilities? Were the job performance
expectations suited to him?

The prior perspective is focused on the job. The latter
perspective is focused on Bob. The prior is typically
quantitative; the latter is typically qualitative. The
prior might lead you to conclude that Bob has failed in his
job. The latter would lead you to conclude the job has
failed Bob.

For every Bob in the world who experiences similar
difficulties and challenges at their job, there are
alternate circumstances and conditions that can bring out
the best in them. Would it surprise you to know that,
after quitting his day job and leaving his firm, Bob went
on to embrace his most cherished hobby full-time and opened
a successful photo-boutique? Would it surprise you to know
that Bob is now a sought-after public speaker in his
community on the topic of "living your dream"?

What are the differences between the nightmare Bob was
experiencing on the job and the dream he was now living in
his photo-boutique? There are many differences, of course,
but there is one main difference that makes all difference:
Bob recognized that a regular job simply wasn't enough for
him anymore. Working for someone else was "as good as it
gets" for a while, particularly when he started in his
career, but as Bob grew more frustrated and more despondent
at the workplace, he began to become aware through his
inner explorations that there was something else calling
him, something that was "better than this job." The call
was to a dream that had been relegated to second spot years
before, but that at the appropriate moment began knocking
at the door of his consciousness in a more pressing manner.

For Bob, his dream was like a beacon drawing him forward to
his life calling. His photo-boutique? well, that turned
out to be his lifework. A regular job simply wasn't enough
for him anymore, and the time had come to move on. It took
incessant complaining and a negative attitude on his part
to make him realize there was something seriously amiss in
his situation. It then took constant support and
encouragement on the part of his family and friends to make
him actualize his dream. Today, Bob would be the first to
tell you that when a regular job isn't enough anymore, it's
time to hear your life calling and fulfill your lifework.
It's never too late in life or work to start again on the
right path.

Has that time come for you as well?

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The author of this article is also the author of a book
named Turning Your Passion into a Profession. A book about
discovering your true life calling and learning how to live
the life you have always wanted. Get more information at
http://www.turnpassiontoprofession.com