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Running with the Bulls – How you Race today affects your Success at Work

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Thoughtful Commitment + Authentic Character + Exceptional Competence = Confident Humility and Extraordinary Performance
I recently came across an insightful book on work ethics and management strategies for the future titled: Run with the Bulls – Without getting Trampled: The Qualities You Need to Stay Out of Harm’s Way and Thrive at Work, by Tim Irwin.

In authors’ own words: Run with Bulls Without Getting Trampled is about personal transformation. How can you grow to your fullest potential and becomes someone who will spend those forty or more years until retirement working for meaning, not just money?
Irwin brings together some thoughtful and adventurous personal incidents and brilliantly and meaningfully directs these experiences on how to achieve success and satisfaction at work.
Very thought-provoking chapters here and forces one to think on the often side-lined personal values and the substantive meaning that must be given a primary focus in our daily work lives.

He says, “Our work life – the focus of this book – is a run with the bulls, replete with both opportunity and danger. Some of us work skillfully, navigating through and around danger, while others are repeatedly knocked down… We are in the race whether we want to be or not. We must run with the bulls skillfully to avoid getting trampled, gored, or repeatedly knocked down. This requires great wisdom and forethought – we must develop a strategic mindset.”

His thoughts so much resonate with my own; I was constantly nodding my head in approval while reading the book. Irwin says, “Our work so dominates our waking hours that it’s hard to imagine how we can be successful at life without being successful at work.” Can’t agree more, it is something which I have always emphasized in the Careerbright posts all along.

It is quite important to read such books from time to time or when we are at the crossroads questioning ourselves on work satisfaction and finding more meaning at work. It is not just money that satisfies us at work, unless we can connect our true passion and the higher reason that we have been given as an individual to contribute to the world, true satisfaction can never be achieved.
Overall a very refreshing and thought provoking book from a think-alike that I highly recommend to those in the management race or those who wish to be in the race sooner or later. And also for the Millennials – the new generation at workplace or those seeking direction and meaning in their careers – you will find some great words or wisdom here – values and personal standards which direct you to success at work and life.

And why should you read this book? Well, if you have ever asked yourself this:
“Whatever we’re doing with our lives or considering doing, it’s good to ask ourselves, does this pursuit really possess the seriousness worthy or our life energies? At the end of our lives, will we have given ourselves to a calling bigger than self-fulfillment? Will it inspire us to achieve something greater than simply filling up twenty four hours a day with activity?”
Thoughtfully indeed, Tim Irwin has an informative website if you would like to read more on about him and his book, see http://www.runwiththebulls.net/. He also presents a self-analysis of your job and your personal characteristics through a click-through test, though I certainly would have preferred if he had kept it short. 23 pages just could not keep my attention on! But since I did complete it, I was happy to receive an instant analysis report via Email, some tips here are valuable treasures to be getting back to now and then.
“A life of significance requires focus, intentionality, effort, and forethought. Complacency and resulting passivity keep us from being thoughtful about where we are going in life.”
- Tim Irwin
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What matters most – Making more Money or having a more Satisfying Job?

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According to a survey of 5,000 households done for the Conference Board, only 47% workers were satisfied at their jobs in 2006, down from 59% in 1995.

When deciding between money and job satisfaction, of course you can have the both together but as it is often seen the more money you make the less time you have outside of your work life – the struggle for a balance intensifies and there goes the overall satisfying feeling.

Many of us have this feeling that work and life are best kept separate and even if one is in a lousy job but making good money life can be great. But of course opinions differs either due to upbringing or circumstances and even location. But I feel that personal happiness goals and achievements are closely linked to our work – our passions.

Often we get caught in the belief that we need to make “X” amount of money to be happy, to meet the family demands, to pay that mortgage and still be able to add to the savings account, other liabilities and aspirations drive us to the higher paid jobs and higher education because we “need” that money. But how often do we really stop and think about on what is the minimum we can live on? Would you rather be happy and satisfied at what you do today and the rest of your life as compared to a job that offers more dough but an equal amount of frustration?

I asked this question (What would satisfy you more – more money at a job or more satisfaction at workplace?) on Yahoo answers and got some very interesting replies, sharing some here:

“Satisfaction – I would rather go to a lower pay job I love than a good paying job I hate. Being happy also lowers your sickness rate so it means less time at the doctors office and less time on medication.”
“I would say a balance of things. I wouldn’t emphasize one just one point only. A good balance between the two is good.
Ideally, (I would want both) good money and a great work environment. But in life, you don’t get what you want. So if I am given a choice, I would choose the balance between an acceptable salary and work atmosphere.
Too much money with in a miserable work environment makes a person unhappy, and a good environment with very little money is not going to let the person enjoy social life outside of work.”
“Sure a balance would be great but to answer the question… which would I rather have, I rather have a job I loved versus a job that I didn’t love and paid a lot. We all hope to find a job that we love that pays great.
I have had jobs that paid great but I didn’t enjoy them and in the long run I ended up hating the job and hated going to work, finding reasons to call out… can’t make great money if you aren’t at work.”
“I am for both of the above…. Money is a perk from achieving your personal goals. Although if found in a predicament in life, which can happen easily, money does do the talking- and your human spirit kicks in – hopefully people in this place will “bloom where they are planted”.”

 

It also depends on circumstances, for a single mother working two jobs none of these could be satisfying to her creativity or self, but money becomes a top priority when you have a family that depends on you. Many a times you don’t have the option of the freedom of choice, you are forced to flow with the circumstances of life. And, most of us are “common people”, right? See the saying below on what prompts me to write this:

The difference between great people and everyone else is that great people create their lives actively, while everyone else is created by their lives, passively waiting to see where life takes them next. The difference between the two is the difference between living fully and just existing. – Michael E. Gerber

But yet again we fall in the circle of thought, what if we had a job we truly loved though not making as enough money as you would have in a crummy one? How do you weigh job satisfaction to more dough? It is a personal choice but I do feel that in the long run if you do what you love with practical planning and a roadmap for success, success and money will reach out to you. If you move diligently towards your goals your goals will move towards you at the similar speed.

As David M Rubenstein, a financier co-founder of Caryle Group, says, “I don’t feel like I’ve worked a day in my life. If you’re going to be a success in life, you have to love what you are doing.”
In my opinion, our most satisfying work comes from helping others.
There are so many entrepreneurs and people with enormous bank balances, oh well, come to think of it even the modern day princesses who have everything they can wish for but a satisfying life and career! Money does bring the means to happiness but the most satisfying jobs and careers are eventually those that lead to a making something better or touching lives and to a greater good of humanity or Earth or a greater cause which is above oneself.
 
Ratan Tata, Chairman of the Tata Group of industries, India’s largest private sector business group says:
“….in everybody’s life, there are certain moments of satisfaction; you feel that after that has been achieved, it is a nice time to step away—to change gears. In an ideal world, an occasion like this would be a good time to step away. I didn’t say that this was what I could do. You achieved something, it is successful, it’s a nice time to leave because you may not have the luxury of being able to do that (later). And you don’t want ever to have a situation when somebody sort of whispers, when is he going to leave? Recently, I have had occasion to meet Michael Schumacher several times. I asked him, are you sorry you retired? He said, ‘No. I am very pleased… I retired at the peak of my career. How much more could I have done? I may have gone down. I am now test driver for Ferrari. I am enjoying what I am doing, I am enjoying my new life, I am really enjoying myself.’ I think there is a lot to be said for that. You don’t want to fade away by hanging in there too long. You would love to go on the back of something that is exciting or a great achievement. It is so selfish also. (Smiles.) “
You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement.

- Woodrow Wilson

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Filed Under: Career Self-Help, Career Woman Tagged With: , , , , , ,

How to find the Best Opportunities for a Part-Time Jobs

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Who all are looking for part-time jobs?

  • Teenagers
  • College Students
  • Retirees
  • Young Mothers
  • People with Medical Problems or Disabilities
  • Single Parents in Need of More Cash – A Second Job
  • Someone in Search for a Good Life-Work Balance

Why do you want to Work Part-time?

A Teenager looking for a Summer Job

  • Summer vacation is close and I need a part-time job which pays me well and also hones my creativity.
  • I just need a part-time job to get through my college loans, willing to work up to 10 hours a week.

What does a Stay-at-Home Mom say?
If you are a stay-at-home thinking of getting back in the job market what would you prefer — full-time employment or working only part-time? It is no dispute that working part-time brings many advantages to a working mother’s life -work balance act. Here are the top 5 reasons why women prefer working part-time when re-entering the workforce:

  • I can have more energy and less stressed in the evening after a 5-6 hours work day. Evenings are not just the time spent on getting ready for the next work day, but more to be lived in the moment.
  • I am spending less money on general daycare expenses and after school programs for kids
  • I can have more time to enjoy with kids and in helping them with their homework or just finding time to interact with them
  • I can have more “me-time”, even before picking up kids from school; you may find time for that half-hour pedicure / manicure or a quick shopping trip without the kids in tow!
  • A satisfying feeling of self-accomplishment and outlet to creativity through work as compared to being a full-time stay-at-home mother

If not one the above, there may be some of your own personal reasons for wanting to work part-time.

Some Tips – How Best to Find the Opportunities

Networking
Not just networking but networking smartly will help you in the long and short run. Contact your friends, family and send them your resume and also ask them how they could help you in improving upon the resume to match suit the company needs. When emailing friends do ask them if they can provide emails or contact information of their acquaintances who are in similar fields in which you are interested.

Where to Search for Part-time Jobs?

Resources
The internet is a great resource for searching for the part-time jobs, here are some useful site which talk about where and how to search for the part-time jobs.

  • About.com has great resources for searching for the part-time jobs and also advice on how to go about the job hunt
  • A Careerbuilder.com article that has some very interesting listing on jobs that are fun and could be considered non-traditional and pays a lot more than you think
  • Craigslist offers current local listings which might interest you
  • Look for jobs at non-profit organizations which also offer part-time and other paid and volunteer job options. One such online resource: http://www.bridgestar.org/
  • Looking for a job that offers good benefits and flexible schedules, contract work options? Perhaps a government job might suit you. You can search here: http://usajobs.opm.gov/
  • Part-time Jobs for Teenagers, also look for your campus job listings online or career fairs
  • BLS website
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This is how you can Build Better Relations with your Co-workers

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Be a team player; build a supportive relationship with co-workers. Good interaction amongst your own group will help in generating good vibes and a good team to work with makes a great place to work in. Offer taking up project responsibilities for your colleagues / co-workers who wish to go on vacation. Being a team player and a good colleague has its value and who knows when you have to take a vacation or a break and then you might not need to even ask for a cover-up, the offer will come before you can ask. What goes around comes around.

Show appreciation at work not only to your colleagues but also to the managers and the receptionist or others that you come in daily contact with at your workplace. Don’t shy away from doing something nice for a colleague today, the time you spend at office is more than that you spend at socializing elsewhere, you would be pleasantly surprised how satisfying you can make your workplace by random acts of appreciation, help and giving.

Respect cultural differences and colleagues with a different work style. With a diverse work force part of every country’s work culture you may very well be working in a group of 10 people with no two colleagues of same country. The style of coding and the communication stream may be different from yours, but consider it an opportunity to learn from others rather than undermining their efforts or lack of communication abilities. Rather be a supportive co-worker and encourage them to enhance their communication skills and also be open to learn from them. Respect and acknowledgement are essential for a healthy relationship, be it in an office environment or or your personal life.

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