Work Your Money, Not Your Life

Chapter 7How to Tweak Your Job

Have you ever felt so stressed or unhappy at work that you thought you needed to do something extreme to fix the situation, like quit your job, travel the world, pursue very early retirement, or all of the above? Been there, done that. Whenever I used to have a bad week at work, I'd be quick to think about making a major change. Drastic times call for drastic measures, right?

Over the years, what I've come to realize is that the solution to remedy non-ideal work situations doesn't have to be severe at all. Many times, small changes in your role can significantly improve how you feel about your job and your overall quality of life.

Tweaking your current job may be easier than you think and generally involves less risk, less time, and a lower upfront monetary investment than other strategies, which is why I recommend using this strategy as a first step. Cara Brennan Allamano, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Udemy, says, “No matter what role you're in, own your performance and how you can impact the business.”

What Do You Mean By “Tweak”?

When you began your current job, you probably inherited a job description that included an outline of your responsibilities. These tasks were likely assigned based on what a prior employee did in your role. While your initial job description is a fine place to start – especially while you're still getting up to speed in a new role and company – it can and should change over the duration of your employment. ...