Love Your Job

CHAPTER 3 Do an MRI on Your Work and Your Life ■ ■ ■

It’s not cool to complain.

It’s remarkably easy to fall into the trap of whining and grumbling about a boss, coworker, or employer, but it rarely makes things better. For some people, it’s standard practice. It’s a rote response you get when you ask them about their job. They roll their eyes and wearily spout out something derogatory. But, frankly, it’s self-defeating. It saps your energy, and honestly, those around you grow weary of hearing it.

Get over it. Do something. Change comes from within. No one is going to do it for you. As the ubiquitous Serenity Prayer says, “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

That means you have to look underneath the lid to get down to your center and take inventory. You need a clear vision of what would make your job better for you. It’s up to you to unearth the ingredients that will create a solution to your current unhappiness or boredom. I’m not saying everyone can find that solution where they work right now. But you need to try, and you need to be willing to make compromises.

Changing jobs is not a great option for many of us in our 50s and up. Our salaries are too hard to replace at another employer. Our age is a red flag for many employers, even if no one wants to talk about it. It’s reality. And while starting over in a new career or starting up your own business may sound dreamy, ...