Increasingly I find that people I work with are extremely capable, work hard, deliver results, however they put their work demands ahead of their own (including career planning). Does this sounds like you?

Are you feeling like your employer gets the best of you, your family / partner / friends get a piece of you and then there is nothing left for you?

Taking a couple of minutes now to think about your career.  When asked 'what are you good at', 'what do you really love doing' or 'what makes you happy' are you able to provide answers?

Someone  I spoke with today remarked "I'm not sure if I really enjoy these areas of if it is because they are aspects of my job and I am good at them".  An interesting insight for her, and she is not on her own in thinking this way.  She said she didn't have the time to focus on non-work stuff during her working day and often worked in the weekend.

Sound familiar?

Often we feel we enjoy doing something simply because we are good at it or others tell us we are fabulous!  Can you recall a time where you were learning a new task or trying to find a solution to a problem you had not encountered before?  How were you feeling? Were you enjoying the experience?

You don't have to be good at something to enjoy it.

My challenge to you is:

Find a piece of paper, create a word / excel doc, or use a whiteboard if you have one.  Now list or mind map everything you enjoy doing.  Yes I do mean EVERYTHING. From wrapping presents to baking bread to fixing machinery to ordering stationery to writing ministerials to negotiating a sale.  Once you have completed this, and it may take some time, highlight the tasks / activities involved in your current job.

What do you notice?

About the author

With Tracy you can be sure that your career goals, whether you're changing jobs mid career or later in life, will be met with a customised career coaching programme. Coaching opens the mind to alternatives, new thinking, solutions and different ways of approaching situations. It is also a time of reflection, self-evaluation and big picture thinking.