Second Military Careers - Military Times

Tips for a happy career

The greatest challenge facing the person who addresses the graduating class of 2007 is to say something students might remember for more than 24 hours, novelist John Grisham told the University of Virginia class last month.

So, here are three things, which if you can remember throughout your career, will give you more daily satisfaction and a happier career and life:

n Don’t do something just for the money.

Countless men and women have sat in my office depleted of energy and zest for life, looking for a way out of their great-paying jobs. They had nice homes and families they loved but barely saw because they spent way too much time dealing with business. Or they simply had well-paying jobs they hated.

Before you take a job because it pays well, ask yourself: Will I be doing work I enjoy? How does this fit into my goals? What will I sacrifice, and is it worth it?

When deciding on a position, pay should be considered, but not be your first priority. If you hate what you do or sacrifice what you care about for the money, you will resent your job and hate your life.

n Learn to face and deal with conflict.

Unless you sit in a room all day with your dog and never interact with humans, you will run into conflict. Whether in a two-person office or mega corporation, here’s what to look forward to:

People you’re counting on will not get back to you in a timely fashion — if ever — which will put other people off and make things late. People will do and say stupid things and put projects in jeopardy. You will say stupid things that upset others. Co-workers will make mistakes. You will make unpopular decisions that will lead others to want to get back at you. Clients will make unreasonable requests. Others will hate your ideas. Your boss will annoy you. Projects will run over budget. All of these things create conflict.

Most people run and hide when conflict arises. They silently brood or confide in colleagues about what’s eating away at them. They end up moving to new jobs or always hate their work. They haven’t learned to deal with conflict.

Conflict can’t be avoided. It can be managed. Learn the skills to approach conversations so you protect the relationship and get your point across. It will come in handy about 95 times a day. And you will feel you did your best and then move on.

n Become a resourceful and innovative problem solver.

On his Web site, Kenneth Cole tells how he began his business when he had just completed the design of his shoe collection. His limited funds didn’t allow him to do what big companies do next — get a fancy showroom to sell their wares. So he decided to borrow a truck and park it in midtown Manhattan. But he needed a permit, which the city only granted to utility companies and those shooting movies. He changed his firm’s name to Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. and applied for a permit to shoot the film, “The Birth of a Shoe Company.” He parked on Sixth Avenue complete with a director, models as actresses and sometimes with film in the camera and sold 40,000 pairs of shoes in two-and-a-half days.

He could have let many things get in his way. Resourcefulness won the day, and he built a successful fashion footwear, apparel and accessory company.

Your greatest challenge today is to not let obstacles and rejection get in your way — starting with your job search. And to remember these lessons for the next 30-plus years.

(Andrea Kay is the author of “Life’s a Bitch and Then You Change Careers: 9 Steps to Get Out of Your Funk and On To Your Future.” Send questions to her at 2692 Madison Road, No. 133, Cincinnati, OH 45208; or e-mail: andrea@andreakay.com.)