Not settling for less than you deserve in the workplace is well worth the fight.
It's no secret that falling into a mundane routine at the workplace is not just easy, but totally common. Stuck somewhere between complacency and unrealized dreams, all of the sudden life can get pretty, well, boring. When you spend most of your time at work, away from your family and your home, it's essential to make that place an environment where your achievements are recognized and where you actually care about what you're doing day to day. Getting stuck in a rut can totally suck out your soul — and impact your success both at work and in your personal life.
I'm here to tell you how to make sure that doesn't happen.
People will say to create your own opportunities, and that's absolutely great advice. But it's not always easy, especially when your bosses or superiors try to calculate your worth at a lesser amount than what you know you bring to the table. Common signs of this are adjusting your bonus at the last minute, or rearranging your commission structure half way through the year, or dangling a promotion over your head and then giving the opportunity to someone else. These kinds of things make it discouraging to fight for the next big goal, especially if the reward is not going to outweigh the fight. If that's the type of environment you are working in, where the company is literally holding you back from achieving your potential, it is time to start testing the waters. See what else is out there and what the market will bear.
Networking is a great way to start. By making connections you can learn what other businesses are doing to challenge their employees. It's also one of the best ways to find a new gig — or get new ideas to bring back to your workplace that will make ou shine. Shake hands, remember people's names, and make lots of introductions. You never know when you will see the results from your efforts.
Opportunity shows up when you least expect it to, so think about what you'll do when it comes knocking — and you better answer. Recognizing when something great has presented itself takes some guts, but if you never take a leap of faith, then nothing will ever change. Yes, it's scary. Yes it's easier to dance with the devil that you know than the one you don't, but every once in awhile, you've gotta close your eyes and jump and start fresh.
The truth is that abandonment can be a darn good thing — in fact, it's an opportunity. For a lot of people it feels like a surprise when they start to wonder if they are on the right career path. The truth is that you should always wonder if the path you are on is taking you in the right direction. And if it isn't? Don't settle for anything less than you deserve and make the change.