Deepen your roots
 "I'm
dissatisfied, and the only option I see is to move to another job or
company because I just don't see any solution to my problems here. But
the problem is, I tend to do this every two to three years." Is this
something you've ever said to yourself? Have you ever thought something
similar? We all have mornings when we wish we could stay in bed the
whole day and not have to call on offices or travel an hour to visit
one key doctor who will often refuse to see us. We may sometimes find
our job frustrating and less than inspiring. But when you feel that way
all the time -- whether it's due to the type of work you're doing, a
lack of a promotion, a shortage of challenges, a micromanaging boss or
an annoying co-worker -- does that mean it's time to make a change? There are other options Usually "change" means quitting, but quitting isn't always the best option or even an option at all -- especially during rough times (mergers, patent expirations or restructurings) when new jobs are scarce. In those cases, quitting may be a big mistake. People often think the only way to grow is to go. Perhaps the answer is not to leave, but to deepen our roots. We see companies every day that are focused on keeping the best people they have. The biggest challenge company managers experience is finding great performers. That means now, more than ever, company executives are willing to let their key representatives take on new roles and experiences. The truth is, we can do more and do it faster when we already know the ropes. We're familiar with the territory in our current company. We also know how to navigate throughout the organization. Begin by pinpointing the source of your dissatisfaction. Start with taking a step back, taking a good look and making a list of what you need to be your best. Stop noticing everything that's wrong. Instead, be willing to look through new eyes in order to enrich your experience. "Everything has gone bad" is not the right answer. Unhappiness at work can cause depression and even lead to serious illness. Many people who experience stress at work find that it spills over into their personal life. But leaving isn't the only option; there are a few things you can do to make your work life a little less agonizing: Ask for what you need. We all need self-expression to find fulfillment in our daily lives, and since we spend most of our waking hours on the job, much of this satisfaction must come from the work we do. This is especially true for pharmaceutical representatives, because pharmaceutical selling is more than a nine-to-five job. Depending on the situation, the best first step may be to talk to your boss, who may be oblivious to your dissatisfaction. Send your boss an e-mail outlining the problems with your job, but don't stop there. Include a list of possible solutions and ask if you can discuss them in person. Solicit ideas in conversations with friends, your spouse, your team or other representatives you know. Relax and focus on short-term goals. Take note of the good work you do and give yourself credit for it. Set short-term goals and allow yourself to take satisfaction in achieving them. "A lot of people hate their jobs because they take them so seriously," says Cathy Goodwin, a career-counseling expert. Focus on doing a few things really well rather than being the absolute best at everything. Work less but work smart; doing the minimum at work may not sound like a smart way to move your career forward, but sometimes it can help you relieve burnout, and this may lead to improved performance. Often when people relax and say, "I'm just going to do what I need to and focus on myself and my future," they become so free of stress that they actually perform better and start getting noticed by their manager. Remodel your work approach. Recognize the difference between the things you can control and the things you cannot. Reshape your daily work to fit your interests and talents. Look at the things you most enjoy about your job, and do more of those and less of what you don't like. If you enjoy doing more lunch-and-learns or dinners, do that. If one aspect of your job helps your business and motivates you, focus on that. This works quite well, but a lot of us don't feel we have the power or ability to do it. Remodeling is a gradual process, so don't try to do it all in one day. Maintain work-life balance. You must plan and implement your own work-life balance. Take time to think about balance and how to get it. Remember yourself, your needs, your wants and your happiness -- these make up the ultimate barometer of balance. When an old solution isn't working, don't persist. Search for new ideas, ask others what they've done to keep work and personal aspects of their life separate, or consult a professional who can assist you. To hold onto your perspective, try to find meaning in outside activities. There are other facets of your life that are great, and enjoying those can be the key to coping with a job that you don't like and can't seem to fix. Mark out a clear path to growth. Use time on the job to boost your market value, but remember that it takes work -- and creativity. Take advantage of any training or tuition reimbursement your company offers, and look for opportunities to develop new skills on the job. Sometimes learning will spark a new interest or reignite an old flame. It can also give you a little perspective so you're not as stuck in the moment. Maybe at present your job is going badly, but that doesn't mean your whole career path is wrong.
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