‘Through my Eyes’ column: Do what you love, love what you do

In today’s society, it is not too hard to find people that hate their job.

In fact, according to a Gallup poll posted on nydailynews.com, a staggering 70 percent of U.S. employees are currently unhappy with their line of work. The main reason most employees are unhappy has to do with the green stuff, of course: their pay. People feel that they put in a lot of hard work that sometimes does not get the full appreciation, or pay, that the employee thinks his or her work deserves.

Another main reason is the work itself. According to psychologytoday.com, younger employees feel that they are not given the chance to fully use the skills they have, while older employees are sick of being stuck in the same routine. Also, not having a manager that is doing a good job of dividing tasks or communicating well with employees does, in fact, present significant challenges for the employee. These items have a direct correlation with not being happy with the work one is doing. Having the same schedule can be boring for everyone, but if you are working directly out of an office, it is easy to fall and get sucked into the routine trap. Some employees can solve this by working on projects that involve more of a high-energy pace.

People who know others who are unhappy at work might think to themselves, “Why don’t they quit?” That is easier said than done for the majority of America. Most people stay with their jobs because it is hard to start completely over. A new job requires building new relationships at work and also proving to your new employer that you are a credible and reliable person. Also, starting completely over means not having your past job’s income or benefits coming into the household.

In some cases, people who do not love their jobs might have a lack of a clear career direction. They are living in this limbo of not knowing really what they want to do — or in some cases do know, but are stuck in how to get to where they want to be.

With all of these people who are unhappy at work, we must ask whether there is a solution to the problem that is not quitting and trying to find something new. The good news is that there might be.

The first step in trying to find the solution is to determine why you are unhappy. If there are issues going on between you and other employees, try to find a way to work through the issues — or try to resolve the problem before you quit.

Another step an employee can take is talking to their boss, but he or she must do so the right way: by asking his or her boss about different opportunities that might be coming up that will stretch the skills he or she has. This conversation will not only show the employee’s boss that he or she is interested in taking on more responsibility and wants a challenge at work, but will also give him or her a reason to learn new things within the company.

Adding to the conversation might be getting feedback from your boss on the work that an employee is doing. Some might feel that all the time and effort they put in their work is not fully appreciated. Find out what your boss sees as your strengths, weakness and what he or she would like to see improved. Having these regular meetings with a boss can help you keep track of how you are performing, but also let you know that your boss is noticing what you are doing. This can boost your confidence about doing your work and will likely make you want to continue doing a good job. It also feels good to know that you are learning and improving on your work.

Changing your attitude toward your work might also have an effect. Your attitude is everything. If you have a negative attitude and negative thoughts, those thoughts will plague you all the more. Not to mention that you will be unhappy. If you start thinking about the positives and the bright side of things in your life, it will be much easier to find happiness.

We have all heard the saying “if you find something you love, you will never work a day in your life.” All it takes is hard work and dedication to find a job that you absolutely love.

And that is how I see finding a career that you love ‘Through my Eyes.’