Dear friends,
I found myself in the meditation
mode not long ago and the object of my rumination was why some people seem to
derive so much fun in their jobs – bubbling in their productivity therein –
while some only do the required rounds, watch the clock and tick the day.
I know this is a much-discussed
issue in the career industry worldwide, with various postulations and
sophisticated theories. So, I was under no illusion that I was going to come up
with a groundbreaking solution that would land me a Nobel Prize for solving a
nagging human problem. However, the Pilot of my flight of consciousness was not
discouraged, but kept on conducting me to a point where I was able to capture
some bits on what usually separates an excited worker from a placid one.
The distinguishing factor is
interest – borne out of the natural configuration of each individual. It is a
fact that we are not all wired the same way; even identical twins may not have
identical emotional sparks. Therefore, individual interest plays an important
role in job gratification, which in turn results in productivity. That does not
discountenance some external or psychological variables that may facilitate or
hinder job performance, such as remuneration, work environment, and
self-esteem, to mention a few.
So, on the fulcrum of interest only,
I came up with the following 10 submissions that will help an individual to
ascertain what kind of job s/he is naturally cut out for, and if s/he is
presently engaged in one. I’m not sure the list below can be described as
authoritative, neither is it exhaustive; so, I’ll welcome inputs from you guys.
Ok, now to the titbits: how do you
identify the job you are naturally cut out for or ascertain the one you are
doing now is it?
1. You will enjoy doing what you do, and it won’t be a drag or
drudgery to you.
2. Time will not be “of essence”, and you will not be watching
it, since you can start whenever you like and end whenever you like. I agree
that this one may be a hard pill for the apostles of structure to swallow. But,
check it out in the lives of those who are all fired up about their job.
3. You flow seamlessly into the work, with minimal or no
friction anytime, any day, and in most places. You also hands off your work
with a teeny feeling of reluctance, but a soothing sense of accomplishing
something.
4. You are doing something by which people generally hail you
or associate you whenever they see you or thoughts of you pop up on their mind.
5. Money is not a major consideration for doing what you are
doing. Although it is a necessity of life and a viable motivation factor, your
primary drive is derived from your sheer involvement in and satisfaction with
what you are doing.
6. You want to learn all you can about the vocation, or certain
aspects of it where you feel you can still be better.
7. You want to make everyone who comes into contact with you an
artisan in the vocation. You want to teach them, help them, guide them, and/or
instruct them on how to do it. And you will be willing to do all these, even at
no fee.
8. You want to passionately defend, justify, or clarify certain
notions about the vocation, or its operational aspects, that you feel is
wrongly bandied or misconstrued by people.
9. You are agitated when you see people who are similarly
engaged doing the same work the way it ought not be done, either by
underperforming, under-delivering, or not conforming to certain norms and
standards pertaining to it.
10. You
eagerly look forward to getting up from bed every day you have to work to get
on the task or an assignment you have in hand. And you won’t mind sleeping
late engaged in what you are doing. In the event you are busy doing something
else, you are not so excited and you can’t wait to be done with it to get back
to your love vocation.
Like I mentioned, this list is
neither authoritative nor exhaustive. You may be presently engaged in the job
you are naturally cut out for and not find yourself in any of the above bits.
We will like to learn your own slant to this.
Cheers!
