Being a headhunter in two continents, working with international companies, and learning to work with people of various cultures has given me a broad perspective of the business world. There are some trends I see happening now that are going to change the way we do business and the way that we work dramatically.
I have met so many people who are simply miserable in their jobs or careers. They have followed advice or guidance from others and have ended up in a position where they feel stuck, frustrated, depressed, and quite frankly, hating their lives. Between 35-50% of our waking hours are spent on our jobs. We are not meant to live a life that we hate! We weren’t made for that. The problem is that so many people get wrapped up in being busy like a carousel going round and round in circles never going anywhere.
As a life coach, executive recruiter, and mentor, I have asked thousands of people questions about their dreams, their true desires, and where they want to take their lives. Often I get a look of a deer caught in the headlights on a night road—frozen with fear because they don’t know! My questions have often triggered some serious soul searching to figure out what they really want to do with their lives and this begins a journey of getting in touch with their inner desires.
What I see happening now in the business world is that our traditional models of doing business are beginning to crumble. Traditional big business, where companies only purpose is to make money, regardless of the good of others, are failing. Simply look at the Enrons of the world, or the banking system. The companies that I see thriving are those that have a clear and deeper purpose of serving the world in some good way. Many companies that are proactively taking measures to improve their carbon imprint, and have full and open reporting, who have appointed a Chief of Social Impact, Director of Social Responsibility and other such creative titles indicating social or global awareness for the organization. These are companies that will not only survive but are thriving during these difficult economic times. A company in line with a higher purpose has a better chance of being sustainable than one that is not aligned with its purpose.
But what does that mean for you as an individual? It means it is really time to discover why you are here! To find out your true purpose and figure out what work makes your soul sing. When I went to university, I loved art and wanted to study it. But I believed that I wasn’t good enough nor would I be able to support myself so I studied speech communication as well. My career has served me well and I have found ways to be creative in my work. But I do often wonder where I would be had I followed my love for art. I’ll never know really but I still paint as a hobby and love to go to art galleries and museums. I’ve done a lot of soul searching and know I am on my true path…to serve and help others find their true path and to stop living a life they are not satisfied with.
We are meant to love what we do for our work! Just imagine how that would feel and how it would trickle into all areas of your life if you were doing something you absolutely loved to do. Wouldn’t that feel wonderful? Isn’t it time to start figuring it out if you aren’t in that position now? Take time to yourself and write a list of things you absolutely love to do, things where you lose all track of time while you are doing it because you are enjoying yourself so much. That can give you a good start to discovering what you truly long to do.
Our world is changing quickly now. It doesn’t mean the world is coming to an end as some of the naysayers out there are predicting. It means the world as we have known it, with all the traditional systems, will be coming to an end. But those who are prepared will find their way through the chaos and be living the life they have dreamed about. Will you be one of those innovators? I hope so! We need as many people as possible now discovering and living their dreams. This is the best time ever to do this!
Karin Volo is known as your Dream Job Mentor. She has worked in executive search for over 15 years on two continents and has placed hundreds of people in their dream jobs. She has worked internationally and has a good understanding of cultural differences and understands how important the right job or career is for a person’s well being. Her interviews often led to coaching sessions as she dug deeper to find the truths about a person’s desires, hopes, and dreams. Becoming a certified life coach was a natural step in her career of helping people. Combining her years of business with her personal experiences, Karin’s purpose is to inspire people to discover their very best and she does this through mentoring, consulting, and writing. Karin believes in focusing on the things that inspire a person to bring out the best.