 Finding on-the-job joy may be less complicated than one might think, according to John Izzo, Ph.D. In researching for his book and public television series, "The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die," Izzo interviewed more than 200 people ages 60 to 106, each of whom was identified by acquaintances as "the one person they knew who had found happiness and meaning." We spoke with Izzo about his findings and how they apply to the work world: The Creative Group (TCG): "You note that many people you interviewed for your book and television series made small career shifts that allowed them to slowly align with their true paths. How can small changes help people increase their overall career satisfaction?" John Izzo (JI): "I think the first thing is to recognize that many of us may already be living a life close to the one we want to be living. For most of those interviewed, it wasn't one decision that led to where they were. It was the small decisions they made over many years. These small changes may be more practical." TCG: "You also describe people who made radical shifts in their careers. This is something that can be scary to contemplate. What is your advice for someone who wants to try something new but fears failure?" JI: "As I interviewed these people looking back at their lives, one of the most striking things I discovered is how few of them regretted things they tried that didn't work out. In fact, they wished they had risked more. In some cases, a risk seems much bigger going in than in retrospect. "One woman I interviewed would ask herself [when taking a risk], 'What's the worst that could happen?' It's an important question because if the worst is something you can't handle, maybe you shouldn't do it. But, if you can handle the worst, then try to imagine the best possible thing that could happen. That's what this woman did, and that's what she would focus on after she made the decision. "When you're not following your heart, every obstacle seems unsurmountable." TCG: "It's interesting that some of the people you interviewed made their living one way but also carved out significant time for outside interests. Why do you think this approach works for some people?" JI: "No job is likely to fill all of your creative needs. Know what part of the job is 'dessert' for you and feeds your creative juices, and move toward doing those things as much as you can. Also, be a good student of what engages you. Don't just write off a whole enterprise in terms of what you might find interesting. "I've seen this in my own career. Conservation and ecology have always been a passion for me. Now, I bring more and more of those interests into the work I've been doing, and it's opened all kinds of doors. "Keep in mind that it's OK to make compromises sometimes. One of the things I've learned is not to be so hard on yourself. We can judge ourselves for taking risks, and judge ourselves for not taking risks. One commonality among the people interviewed was a lack of judgment about themselves. They accept mistakes and move on." TCG: "What is your advice for those who aren't sure what they want in their careers?" JI: "It's not an uncommon phenomenon. My first advice would be to pay attention to things that truly engage you – activities that cause you to lose track of time. Make a list of these things, and don't restrict them to work. Include hobbies, volunteering, etc. Then, look for common elements in those activities. "Also, think about the times when you have felt the most drained – 'a bad tired,' as my grandfather would say. We can learn as much from things that gave us a bad tired, as well as things that gave us a 'good tired.'" TCG: "We live in a culture where many people work very long hours and are increasingly connected to work, via cell phones, laptops, etc. What effect do you think this has on a person's happiness?" JI: "The statistics show that we're working about one month longer than our parents did, and we have significantly less leisure time, even though we think we have more. I think this has a big impact on stress levels and provides us with less time for reflection in our lives. Reflection is not very well valued in society; action is what is valued. "We're also surrounded by noise, and technology is making it worse. It's a matter of mastering it rather than letting it master us. Boundaries are a big thing in the workplace. I think people need to make more boundaries. I encourage people to take at least one day a week where they don't work. All of the research on creativity shows that if we get time away from a problem, we have the best ideas." TCG: "Why do you think people are changing careers more often these days?" JI: "There used to be the assumption that you could only have one career in your life. But the reality for many people is we either change or evolve, and there are more things we want to try. These career shifts aren't necessarily radical ones; usually they're more evolution than revolution. "I think it's a good sign that people are changing careers because it means people aren't getting stuck in things. It's not failure to change careers. I've had two or three careers in my lifetime, and I don't regret what I'm doing." TCG: "What's one last piece of advice you would give to professionals?" JI: "If there's something that you want, ask for it. One of the most poignant interviews I had was with a senior vice president of banking. When I asked him what he regretted, he said he loved his work, but he had always let work come first, before all personal pursuits. He said if he had to do it over, he would have just asked the bank for what he wanted – to take a leave, perhaps, or to not work extra hours. He said he thought they would have given it to him, but he didn't have the courage to ask. Don't assume the answer is no. Have the courage to ask if it's something you really want." Dr. John Izzo is the best-selling author and host of the popular public television series, "The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die." He also is a frequent speaker on great workplaces and creating spirited lives. Find more information at www.theizzogroup.com. |
