"The world is my idea."
--Arthur Schopenhauer
I Think My Job Stinks, Therefore it Does.
If you think your job stinks, you're right. If you think your job is awesome, you're also right about that. Your personal interpretations about your job morph into beliefs about what those interpretations mean to you. Then, after that, your beliefs turn into ideas regarding your hopes, dreams or fears about your future. There you have it, your job is your IDEA. You think, therefore it is.
This Job Makes Me Want to Hurl
For example, before last week, walking door to door trying to sell bottled water was not in Samuel's world. In order to survive, he HAD to take the job. Now that he's recognized the concept exists, he's interpreted it as being a horrible job. He hates walking mile after mile in the hot sun. He hates begging strangers to purchase something he knows they'll never want. He hates not having a guaranteed income. There's nothing inherently wrong with door-to-door bottled water sales, but Samuel's idea makes it horrible.
The Glass is Half Full
Then there's Billy, the guy who walked door to door with Samuel yesterday. He knocked on as many doors as Samuel did. He tried to sell the same bottles of water in the same neighborhoods too. His door to door experience was exactly the same as Samuel's, but he doesn't feel nauseous. He feels pretty good; in fact, he can't wait to get out into the fresh air today and start pounding the pavement. How can anyone in their right mind think there is anything positive about door to door sales? Billy does, because his job is his idea.
Let's look deeper into Billy's supposed cognitive shortcomings.....first, Billy likes being outside. He says, "It's better than being chained to a desk." Second, Billy likes getting exercise from walking all day. He says, "I save money on health club dues and I get paid to exercise!" Third, Billy believes in the product he is selling. He says, "This is great water, and it comes with a great delivery service. I have been buying this stuff for years and I'd swear by it---besides, it really does sell itself. And it's easier than selling something people don't really need." Fourth, he loves the challenge of cold call sales. He says, "Sales is a numbers game, you have to get through so many NO's before you can get to a YES, but once that YES comes, it really makes me feel good. Besides, it helps me become a better negotiator when I hear more NO's."
How Reframing Works
Billy works on reframing his IDEA of their door-to-door sales job by using this process:
1) Uncover the aspects you like and focus on them. Did you notice how Billy was always interpreting an experience in terms of strengths? No matter what it was about door- to- door sales, he noticed something he liked and tried to ignore what he didn't like.
2) It could always be worse, and be thankful it isn't! Did you recognize how Billy was always comparing what he liked about door- to- door sales with something that wasn't so positive? He'd say something like, "It's better than being chained to a desk all day," which would help him like the outdoor experience even more.
3) Draw a connection from your job to your personal values. Did you pick-up on how he is CONGRUENT with the product he is selling? He believes in the water, he's used the product for years and he's comfortable promoting it to others. He is true to himself and his beliefs, and that congruency is what helps him feel good about his job.
Any fool can complain, and most fools do.
So, how can we ensure that our interpretations of our "not so great" jobs become positive IDEAS?
1) The key is comparison. People who have held a variety of careers and jobs, have gained experiences in industries such as health care, education, entertainment, manufacturing; in other words, they have experienced it all. Like Billy, when they run across a situation that truly is potentially negative, they will reframe it right away. For they know "it could always be worse." Spend a few years being chained to a desk for 14 hours each day, then when you get a job that requires you to be outside, guess what....you just might appreciate it!
2) Find a learning experience in everything you do. No matter how horrible, traumatic, inconvenient or nasty the job, ask yourself, "What is this experience teaching me right now? What can I take away from this seemingly horrible experience that will make me a better/smarter person/employee?" If you can find some value in what you're doing, chances are your IDEA will automatically shift and you will reframe the situation from being nauseating to becoming a valuable experience.
All's Well That's Reframed Well
As for Billy, his great attitude got him off the streets in 6 months because his sales were record shattering. He was promoted to business development manager where he made six-figures securing new acounts with bottled water suppliers. He was also paid a little extra on the side for his role in developing a company-wide sales training program for their door-to-door and telemarketing teams.
Samuel, needing major training and support to help his abysmal sales numbers was seated in the front row of Billy's first seminar. Samuel felt embarrassed and demeaned by his partner's promotion and his front row seat in Kindergarten for sales people. But someone overhead him say, "This class is degrading and a blow to my ego, but at least it's getting me away from pounding the pavement for a while." Nice try with the attempt to reframe, Samuel. Nice try.
Tylor Behrens - 25 years of career guidance experience ranging from corporate, higher education, start-ups, consulting to teaching and professional ...
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