As we approach the new year, a lot of you are probably thinking about your resolutions. Maybe yours is to lose 10 pounds or quit smoking. Or maybe it’s to have a fulfilling year, starting with your career. According to a study by Gallup, 63 percent of employees worldwide are not engaged at work, meaning they lack motivation and are unlikely to invest their energy in meeting their company’s goals.
We spend a lot of time at our jobs — one in five full-time workers puts in more than 60 hours per week — so we should make the most of this time. We should find fulfillment in our work, not just a paycheck. If you are not fulfilled by your job, do something about it — either find a way to be more engaged or find a new job. Life is too short, and we spend too much time at our jobs, to do anything less.
Here are five signs that you’ve found “the one” — that is, a fulfilling career.
1. You dare to be ambitious. You must have a desire to succeed in your company in order to be happy. Simple as that. Ambition is what moves you forward, in and outside of the workplace. Do you take initiative on new projects? Are you constantly looking for ways to self-improve? Without this enthusiasm and drive, it’s difficult to excel in a job.
2. You are not afraid to take risks. Risk-taking is often viewed negatively, but sometimes the greatest opportunities can spring from it. You have to pursue success and happiness — it won’t just fall into your lap. If you take the right risks in your career or business, it shows your confidence and makes you stand out as a leader in your organization.
3. You are attracted to the experience, not just the money. Do not define your success by the size of your paycheck. Define your success by the value of the experiences at your job and how you achieve your goals and make a difference in your organization. These are things that build gratification.
4. You don’t mind the boring work. There may be tasks that you don’t want to do, but if you are passionate about what you’re doing, you won’t complain about them. Think of these small tasks as stepping-stones to reach a larger, company-wide goal.
5. You surround yourself with like-minded individuals. You spend most of your time with your coworkers, so you should like them and learn from them. Surrounding yourself with compatible individuals makes you more productive and motivated in the workplace. Your teammates should inspire and energize you to succeed.
Think about these five indications of a fulfilled career. Do any of these resonate with you about your current position? If not, I urge you to set yourself up for success this year, starting with a plan to find a career that matches your purpose and values.
Andy Bailey is lead entrepreneur coach with business coaching firm Petra and serves as the entrepreneur organization’s global membership director. Visit his blog atwww.petracoach.wpengine.com for more business and leadership insight.
This story was originally published in The Tennessean.