Satu Kreula's column

By changing your attitude you could find your dream job a lot more easily - you could even be sitting on it but not have realized it, as your attitude may have prevented you from seeing it! More

On a course I did recently we were introduced to the concept of ‘enemies of learning' - what are the thoughts and attitudes that prevent us from learning and being open to learning. It made me think of the work I do one-on-one and so I went through my client notes from the last few months, and surely enough I found a lot of reasons not to change that were similar to the ones that I'd learned about learning. So here's a selection, in no particular order, of what I would call: ‘enemies of change'. See if any of them sound familiar - and think how they might be preventing you from starting your career shift... More

I was recently told of a scene from the movie Fight Club. I'd seen the movie ages ago, but had forgotten this particular bit. Brad Pitt's character walks into a restaurant and holds a gun to the dishwasher's head. The dishwasher begs for his life. The dishwasher says: ‘I'll do anything, just don't kill me'. Pitt's character asks him: ‘Is this what you want to do with your life? Is this what you dreamt of as a kid?'
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You may have caught this bit of news a few weeks ago. Norwich Union surveyed 1200 people over 40 about their views on jobs and careers. Two thirds said that they were unhappy in their jobs, and more than half of those surveyed said they'd be happy to go for job satisfaction over ‘conventional measures of success'. Most of those surveyed said they could see themselves moving on to careers that were more fulfilling and which made more of a difference to others and the world - hence the term ‘zenployment'. More

I bet you can come up with loads of reasons why your dream job is not possible or realistic, right? I've heard quite a few of these just in the past week alone. Yes, but it doesn't pay anything. Yes, but I'm too old. Yes, but it's not a proper conventional job. Yes, but what would my friends think of me. Yes, but (fill in the blanks). More

Have you sent an email with your CV to someone you didn't know and are still looking to hear back from them? I woke up this morning thinking about all the things I have hanging. Three emails in my inbox came immediately to mind. You see, I have three people's emails with their CVs awaiting a respose from me. I know what the response is, no, but among all the other things I have to do, I just haven't got round to sending those emails. More

I read this quote recently: "Successful men and women find out what it's going to cost to make their dream come true then they find a way to make it happen, they don't complain about the work it takes to achieve their dreams." More

I come across quite a few people who have played the ‘escaping game' many times, i.e. they have ‘escaped' from one wrong job to another without taking time to think through what they really wanted. They're now so burnt out that they have a fear of making yet ‘another wrong move'. Having said this, I have also met people who haven't changed jobs much, but who are also fearful of making the wrong choice. They seem to mostly be fuelled by well-meaning friends and family members who are telling them to stick to what's safe and what they know. Either sound familiar to you? More

"You are not good at maths"... "You should study sciences"... "You've got so much potential, why waste it in X?"... "You should get a real job."

Most of us at some point in our lives have heard someone else's opinion of our capabilities, skills, possibilities. Take a moment to reflect on this. What are all the various opinions that you have heard about what you are good at, or what you should develop, or what you should do with your life.
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Have you had a lot of jobs? Do you feel that no matter where you go, you don't seem to have a good boss? Or that there's too much politics? Or that you just don't seem to be treated like you'd like to be treated? If so, then perhaps it’s time to take a look in the mirror...
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