You will probably hate your job and resent your boss in 2010. Haven’t we covered this?
I think you should feel lucky. Part of your salary covers the hassle and inconvenience of waking up in the morning and hating your boss. People in China don’t get paid to hate their jobs. They just get paid to work. Barely.
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Now I’m no psychologist, but I think you need more meaning in your life. Every career advisor suggests that you volunteer, including me, so it’s officially time to get off your butt. Volunteer. Make a commitment to your local community and spend time focusing on the needs of others.
Oh right, you have kids and your whole life is dedicated to the service of others. Whatever. Even Walt Disney wants you to volunteer. You can search on the website and sign up. It’s so easy — it’s almost not volunteering. Only in American can you teach your kids that volunteering comes with a Disney reward — unlike work, which only comes with a paycheck.
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I know that my life was infinitely improved when I started volunteering with Kalamazoo Animal Rescue. I picked up a few cats, but I also learned leadership skills and how to balance a budget — something I didn’t really learn in Human Resources. Whether it’s Disney or a local animal rescue, I think it’s important to meet new people, demonstrate empathy, and help those who can’t help themselves.
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Volunteering for a telephone crisis line launched my career as a counselor. Volunteering for various arts groups and activities helped me establish a name as an artist in my community, launching my second career as an artist. Helping out animal charities around the world via social media has endeared me to people who love animals, thus launching my visibility as a pet portrait artist.
In the modern era, success is not about location. It is about networking. And volunteering gives you opportunities for networking like nothing else will.
I did not set out to launch my career(s) through volunteering. I did it because I wanted to do something good for the world. But in the process, I found other people who were interested in my passions, and they gave me support and connections that made the next step possible.
If you are too busy to volunteer, perhaps you are too busy to go ahead in your career.
Yay Laurie! Excellent advice. I’m thinking though (just off the top of my head here) that maybe the thing to do is volunteer for a cause that comes in at #2 on your list of things you care about. Let’s say that animals come in at #1 (like they do with me). You may not necessarily be assigned to office detail. You may be assigned to tasks that will break your heart (like intake) and cause you to bring home more mouths to feed. (Last time I went to the Santa Fe humane society to donate castoffs, “Do you want to see where the cats are?” received an immediate NO! I still haven’t seen where the cats are. And won’t. Ever.)
So with me, it’s domestic violence. It comes in second but a very close second. And I can use my writing skills for good (I wrote the very first article ever challenging the HR world to face up to the fact that domestic violence impacts the workplace and therefore it’s HR’s problem too). A lot of really great corporate work was already being done along those lines, but the word wasn’t widespread.
So that’s my little corner of the world. It’s personally meaningful to me, and it keeps my kibble bill down to a low roar.
Volunteering is part of my new year theme, specifically to be more involved with the local HR chapter. I did some last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. I made some great friendships, learned some things about myself and had blast at the same time.
I dint know that I could volunteer at am animal shelter. As much as I love my furball, she likes having the run if the house and volunteering there would certainly lead to me bringing home more. #crazycatladyinthemaking
@BZ I just hate the notion that we’re all too busy to volunteer — especially when most of us solve problems that other volunteers need to fix. I spay and neuter my animals, but I’m sure I have a negative impact elsewhere. Trying to keep my dysfunctional footprint as small as possible.
@Martha Totally good point!
@dowling What could go wrong? Look at my awesome life with all these cats.