Description
Book SynopsisAWARDS: Independent Publisher Book Award 2015 (Silver) and National Mature Media Award 2015 (Bronze)
Step-by-step tips for revitalizing your career
Yes, it is possible to have a job you love, and it doesn''t require starting from scratch. Love Your Job is a guide to making work fulfilling and fun again, or even for the first time. Why count down the hours of the day or the days to retirement when you could reinvigorate your workday, transforming the daily doldrums into a daily dose of enjoyable activity? Kerry Hannon, The New York Times columnist and AARP''s Jobs Expert, focuses on the little things that can make a big difference in how we feel about work.
Love Your Job is all about the routines, habits, and thought patterns that, over the years, may have turned a dream job into a drudge or, worse, a nightmare. Changing these habits and attitudes is simple, and this book shows you how to identify the little things that mak
Trade Review
"It provides a great deal of actionable steps to take to enjoy work more. There is a good deal of useful data and interesting anecdotes" (The Marketing Society, June 2015)
"Hannon's book is a valuable tool for those who are dissatisfied in their work" (Entrepreneur Middle East, October 2015)
Table of ContentsIntroduction xi
What My Dog Taught Me about Loving My Job xi
Chapter 1 Curing the Workplace Blues 1
Should You Switch Careers? 3
Chin Up! 6
Take It Up a Notch 7
Loving Your Job 8
The “HOVER” Approach 9
Get a Grip 10
How to Use This Book 12
Chapter 2 Creating the Blueprint for Your Dream Job 15
Map Your Future 16
Your Past Isn’t Prologue 16
Nothing Is Forever 18
Look at the Big Picture 19
What Would Make You Love Your Job? 21
What Are Your Work Goals? 23
Adopt New Ways to Envision Your Career 24
Chapter Recap 27
Chapter 3 Do an MRI on Your Work and Your Life 29
Create Your Job “Budget” Sheet 30
What Does Your Work Really Mean To You? 32
Write in Your Journal Every Day for a Week 35
Is Your Pay What’s Really Bothering You? 38
A Can‐Do Philosophy 38
Consider Taking a Self‐Assessment Test 41
Get Ready to Love Your Job 44
Chapter Recap 44
Chapter 4 Refresh Your Attitude: The Keystone to Your Love Your Job Action Plan 47
Attitude Adjustment 48
Create Your Own Purpose 49
Write It Down 50
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words 51
Build a Bear 51
Practice HOVERing 52
Mental Games 57
Adjusting Your Attitude 59
What to Do If You’re Bullied at Work 60
Step Right Up and Enroll in My Three‐Step Fitness Program 64
Chapter Recap 71
Chapter 5 Beyond the Job Description 73
Take Time for Renewal 74
Volunteering and Mentoring 77
Adding Value to Your Job 85
Take Control of Your Time 94
Get Involved in “Extracurricular” Activities 96
Chapter Recap 98
Chapter 6 How to Build Flexibility into Your Job 99
Work Flexibility and Happiness 100
A Myriad of Flextime Options 102
How Is Flextime Working? 104
Is Telework for You? 109
The Risks of Working at Home 111
Chapter Recap 119
Chapter 7 How to Upgrade Your Game 121
The Benefits of Learning New Tricks 122
Learning and Healthy Aging 123
Getting Over the Hurdles 128
Chapter Recap 135
Chapter 8 How to Have the “What’s Next?”Talk with Your Boss 137
The Time Is Now 138
Questions to Ask Yourself before the Big Meeting 140
Your Plan-and-Prepare Strategy 142
Carrying Out the “Ask” 146
Chapter Recap 158
Afterword 161
Resources 165
Ideas for Further Reading 165
Helpful Career Happiness Web Sites 169
Acknowledgments 173
About the Author 175
Index 177
