Kat,Plain But Definitely Not Simple

Is Job Satisfaction Really Achievable?

2009-05-02T05:59:00.000-07:00

All my life I dreamed of what I would be when I grew up. Now that I've reached middle age, I sometimes find myself having that same thought, except I am grown up. I currently have a full-time position with a company, and I also have a freelance business on the side. My lack of job satisfaction has bought added stress into my freelance work, and I'm eager to find a resolution.

Recently I started asking myself these questions.

How can I get satisfaction in my current job?
Am I in the right career for my personality?
What do I like about my current company, and it is the right fit for me?

Recently someone asked me, "if you could have the perfect job, what would that be?" I thought that was an easy question, but my mind began to wonder and I really wasn't sure.

I have worked in the internet industry now for about 12 years, and I do love the excitement of the ever changing technology and the power that the internet has on our world. But I continue to ask myself, is this the right place for me and how do I achieve job satisfaction?

I find that when I start a new job, it is so exciting. I'm learning new things, meeting new people, and I think, this is it! This is the perfect job! Then as time goes by, as the workload increases, and stress creeps in, it doesn't seem fun anymore.

So I ask myself, "How do I restore meaning to my current job and feel that excitement after the newness wears off?"

Daily stress can cause lack of job satisfaction and lack of job satisfaction can cause stress. So how do I figure out why I'm not happy in my current job?

Here are a few things that have caused me stress and lack of job satisfaction:

- Poor communication from those in charge
- Conflicts with co-workers and lack of resolution
- Increased work loads, that require extreme overtime hours
- Having little say in decisions that affect my position
- Lack of planning and process
- Lack of rewards

To begin the process of figuring out how to maintain job satisfaction, I know there are certain things I need to keep more balanced.

- All work and no play makes Jake a dull boy. This phrase is very true and I need to bring more of a balance between my work responsibilities and my personal life. Everyone needs time for relationships, sleep, health, and hobbies.

- Attitude. When stress creeps into a my life, my attitude usually shifts. Trying to stay positive and keep an optimistic point of view can make you more productive and less stressed.

- Volunteering. Even though I have very little extra time, I volunteer. Do something to help your community. It feels good to give of yourself.

I'd love to know what you do to maintain job satisfaction.

Facts to get through this Economic Crisis!

2009-03-08T11:13:00.000-07:00

Did you know?

If you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, you are spending approximately $98.51 a month, and a total of $1,182.09 per year. Good time to stop smoking, you will have better health and more money.

An average 12 oz. cup of coffee from Starbucks costs $1.40 (does not include lattes or mochas), and a total of $506.80 a year for one cup a day. If I brew coffee at home, an average cup costs $.54 for a total of $195.48, for a savings of $311.32.

A few tips that I like to live by....

1. Never go to the grocery store hungry. You will buy way too much food and items you don't need or want.

2. Avoid the urge to make an impulse purchase, put the item back and wait a month or two, usually after time passes, you no longer want the item.

3. Take advantage of your company's 401(k) or IRA match. No other time in your life will someone give you free money. Take it!

4. Use your local library for books, movies and CDs. Garage sales are another means to get cheap stuff that is in great shape. Paying full price is a waste of money.

5. Get a membership to your local Sam's club and buy paper towels, toilet paper, and trash bags in bulk. You will buy less often and save money.

6. Pack your lunch, it is a healthier choice and can save you hundreds of dollars.

7. Ask for water when you dine out. The price of soda and alcoholic beverages can add so much onto your bill.

8. Avoid buying things that are individually wrapped which will sometimes double the price of the item.

9. Try to use all the groceries you purchase and find a recipe online for using leftovers.

10. Drive your car longer. Cars are not considered investments so if you keep your vehicle up with routine maintenance, it will last longer and save you on monthly car payments.

The Power of Simple Things:Top Five Things that Fill Me with Awe

2008-07-04T07:37:00.000-07:00

1. The beautiful blooms that open after a nice summer rain. After a rain, my flowers have a beauty that is very different than when I water them. Nature has a way of supplying life with something more significant.

2. Good people - no strings attached. As I go through life, I find that I am filled with so much joy from the good people around me. I often meet new people who are decent and kind and have a unique quality of good in them.

3. The rise and fall of the ocean. There is something magical that comes from the waves of tides. On Sanibel Island in Florida I walk on the beach with water rushing in and sand between my toes and a peace overtakes me. I could stay here in this moment forever!

4. Family - blood IS thicker than water. When I was young, I didn't realize the commitment my family had to me and I left them in my dust as I went out to explore the world. Even with imperfections, to know that they are always there is so profound.

5. Touch - an instinctive human need. There is something very therapeutic about physical touch. I have a new nephew and all I want to do when I'm around him is hold him in my arms. A loving touch is known to reduce heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormones. As a result, the immune system works better and people stay healthier.

Do you need a good photographer?

2008-05-25T11:35:00.000-07:00

There are many reasons a person may need a photographer. With today's technology, and the point and shoot digital cameras that will do just about anything you want and the iPhone, which I personally own, taking photos have become so easy and allow individuals to capture parts of their life that they want to remember forever.

But, if you need professional photography, that goes way beyond your capabilities, I have the perfect company. Meet Cory Piehowicz and Rainer Zeihm of Hello PZ. They have amazing talent and are great to work with. I recently had the opportunity to spend several days with them on a photo shoot and they are a delight to work with. I received the most amazing photos and will definitely work with them again in the future.

What Do Blue Skies and BabiesHave in Common?

2008-02-09T12:53:00.000-08:00

Shawn Corry, Baby Planner, Consulting & Design and my new client! If you have ever had a baby, you know the stress of becoming a parent. It is the most wonderful time of your life and the most stressful at the same time. I remember when I had my son I didn't know what I was doing, I lived away from my family and I was so worried that I would do everything wrong. It would have been nice to have had a little help. Shawn has started a new company called Blue Skye Baby, which provides many of the resources related to planning for the arrival of baby and beyond so that this time of your life can be less stressful and more enjoyable!

Whether you need assistance with your baby registry, nursery design, baby shower, house cleaning, a personal chef, meal delivery, or a personal trainer to get you back in shape, Shawn has all the right resources. She is an amazing person, and is ready to help make this the most wonderful experience of your life.

My Client Goes To "Hollywood"

2008-02-01T21:45:00.000-08:00

Laura Hamrick, of Westerville, Ohio invented OnTray™, a container that attaches to a shopping cart and can hold such things as snacks for your children, a calculator and your coupons. Laura's product will be provided to the Oscar nominees in their gift baskets. I feel so honored to have Laura as a client and to be her friend.

Read Press Release "ONTRAY™ GOES HOLLYWOOD".

You can purchase the OnTray's for $6.99 on her website www.ontray2go.com or if you like to see the product before purchasing you can visit Hey Diddle Diddle in Westerville, Ohio and Irwin's Hallmark in Gahanna, Ohio. Laura also has many other retailers throughout the United States and even Limoges, France.

Way to go Laura, I'm so proud of you!

Is It Really Just Business?

2008-02-01T21:14:00.000-08:00

When I was working hard at advancing my career I constantly used the phrase, "it's business, not personal", and "I'm here to work, not make friends". It's sad I know, but at the time I really believed that. My expectations were so high for myself and I expected others to follow that same strict guideline. Now that I'm older and I have softened up a bit, I realize how personal business really is. When a person works 80 hours a week to produce great work for their client(s) and they put their heart and soul into it, that goes way beyond just being about business.

I find as I get older that I want to be friends with all my clients. I want it to be more personal. I really just want to give my clients the knowledge that I have learned throughout my work experience so they can help themselves and not be taken advantage of and hopefully meet their business goals.

I still have very high expectations of myself and I accept that others don't work the same way as I do. I learned that each person has a different work method and I now respect that. In the end, we all achieve the same goal, we just get there from a different direction.

So to all those people who I may have pushed to hard, or complained because I didn't think you were working fast enough, I apologize! If I knew you now, I would want to be your friend, and it would be way more than business!

I Just Want to Connect!

2008-01-27T19:51:00.000-08:00

I've had some interesting conversations with my friends lately about the grocery store! I recently moved to a new area of town and people are just not friendly at the grocery store. I am disappointed that no one talks while they shop. I'm thinking that I have moved to a snobby community, then I talk to my friends and they are wondering why I want to talk to people at the grocery store. Is this something that people generally do not want to do? Is focusing on your grocery list that important that you can't connect with someone in the aisle? I guess each time I leave my house, I'm on a mission to find someone that I've never met, someone with an interesting story, someone that I can connect with. Isn't life about people, or has it become more about the groceries?

Now, I have to tell you the story about the man I met at the grocery. The only person in 3 months that has talked to me during my shopping. I was just getting over a cold and still coughing like crazy when I entered the soup aisle. There stood a tall, slender, older gentleman wearing a Navy ball cap and he looked at me and said "you better stop that smoking or it will kill you!" Ha! I've been waiting 3 months to talk to someone, make my connection at the grocery store, and this was the beginning of my first conversation. I was so excited that someone spoke to me, that I smiled and said, "I don't smoke and never have". Then I said, "well, wait, I did smoke one cigarette in 8th grade with a couple of girlfriends behind the church house that was located across from the middle school and I choked and coughed until I was sick and I never smoked again". He said, "did you get in trouble?". Now we were off and running. I finally made a connection. So, as the story goes, he was the nicest man and a rebel at that. He told me of his life in Wyoming, how he never follows the rules. He cracked me up when he said, "you know those forms that say don't sign below this line, well, I sign below the line just to spite". He made my day and I hope I made his. He looked to be in his 80's maybe, and I wondered if he lived alone. Maybe his grocery store escapade may be the one time that he gets out and connects with people. I'm so glad I met this man, I never asked him his name, I actually didn't even think to. I just felt like we were old friends catching up.

So whether you like to talk to people at the grocery or not, try and connect with someone today!