You see a spark of excitement in the eyes of a high school student, who focuses on college much like how a hungry lion stares at a gazelle. The student takes challenging courses, takes part in school sports, and also volunteers in the community. It’s all about improving your skills to the point that you appear irresistible to a college admissions director.
The spark continues for a college student focused on a career. These people will get up at the crack of dawn, if it means taking an important class with a special professor. The student also pursues internships that give a taste of the business world. Whether it’s at live events or through the social media site, LinkedIn, the student will announce to the world a simple message: I am worth watching and I should be on your team.
The student graduates, gets a good job, and then something unexpected happens. The spark dims or goes out.
It’s okay if things like family or hobbies are the primary focus in your life. A career does not have to be the biggest thing in your world. Priorities can change over time.
But I also see the results of the Gallup State of the American Workplace survey. The most recent findings show that “70% of American workers are ?not engaged? or ?actively disengaged? and are emotionally disconnected from their workplaces and less likely to be productive.?
I’m sure this high level of disengagement bleeds into people’s lives away from work. Maybe it’s time to try to reignite the spark you had when you were younger.
- When you were a student, you had a goal. What’s your goal for next year? Is it a new job, a promotion, or a higher level of performance that could lead to both.
- Did you stop networking? It’s a great way to learn new ideas as well as get help from people who may be facing similar challenges.
- Did you stop learning? As a student, you gladly charged into the next class, ready to go. What’s the last new idea you brought to your job? In the next 30 days, can you investigate a new best practice and possibly bring it to your workplace?
As a student, you took control of your future. Shouldn’t you do the same as a professional?
