I think most of us have been in a job we didn’t love at some point. There’s nothing wrong with doing work that feels hard but worth it. I worked a job while I was in university that I didn’t love but it gave me lots of flexibility to go to school and also have food and shelter —it was hard but worth it. As soon as I could, I got the heck out of that job and progressively figured out something that paid the bills AND I didn’t hate. The goal was to eventually land somewhere that felt like an awesome fit in the ways that meant the most to me.
If what you’re doing now has the “feels hard” part but not the “worth it” part, that’s where the wheels fall off my friend.
That is what I call expensive. You have only the hard, there is no worth it. Here is what having a job you hate can cost:
Your health - increased stress, boredom, lack of motivation
Your confidence - lack of autonomy, growth, challenge, purpose
Your relationships - when you’re unhappy your relationships suffer
Your finances - not making enough to meet your needs, spending on things to try to make yourself feel better
You have to wrap your head around what matters to you and find your own unique blend of hard but worth it. You have to set up a container for your life that feels like you’re choosing it on purpose.
It’s not expensive to invest in yourself, ask for help when you need it, or take a step back so you can actually go further in the long run. It's not expensive to nurture your network before you need it, connect and engage with people, learn how to set and enforce personal, professional, and financial boundaries, embrace your agency, and act in integrity with your value system. The most expensive thing you’ll do is let your job create suffering that isn’t leading to anything helpful or meaningful. This is the suffering that erodes your health, your confidence, your relationships, and your finances.
Keep the lines of communication open, your expectations in check, and learn to validate yourself. You don’t have to love your job all day every day. You do need to be able to say and believe that it’s hard but worth it.
I know something brought you here and maybe it was a search for what to do next about your career. There are a few ways I can help:
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Sarah took the Make Work Better quiz and said this:
“Christine! I wanted to say thanks. I completed the quiz and then it clicked: I don't feel my contributions are recognized or valued by my employer. Time to have a tough conversation and make some decisions. Thanks for the nudge.”
Kim, a one on one coaching client had this to say about working with me:
I followed Christine on social media for quite some time before I reached out so I felt confident that she was the right coach for me. I’d recommend her coaching for anyone who feels stuck in their career and doesn’t quite know where to begin – anyone looking for accountability and motivation to change. Working with Christine led to a huge shift in my thinking about the level of power I have over my personal contentment. What I liked best about working with Christine was that I felt safe – she is genuine, honest and supportive – so I was able to be vulnerable and easily share what I needed in order to move forward. Her constant reassurance that it’s okay to continue exploring, shifting and changing as I grow was invaluable for my piece of mind. Most importantly, Christine believed in me when I had trouble believing in myself. She helped me truly internalize that no matter what obstacles and challenges arise, I can persevere and continue moving forward.
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