In 2007, Gallup asked thousands of US workers this question: “At work, do you have the opportunity to do what you do best every day?”
“Only 32% of people said that they did…
This represents a remarkable misallocation of talent: imagine the huge overall gain to productivity that would come from reshuffling everyone into roles they are suited for! More here.”
You know what the 68% do? They spend most of their time correcting their weaknesses or fitting themselves, a round peg, into a square hole.
Apply this rule to your own business. Are you doing things for which you have talent? And that you enjoy? Or are you like Lulu – trying to turn yourself into someone you aren’t? Because your upline insists, or you feel you should? How much fun is that?
Add to the mix that Lulu’s not making any money and we know why she’s depressed.
Hi Kim,
I met Lulu a couple of weeks ago. Maybe not your Lulu, but a real Lulu just the same. She was very nice. She was not wearing the "I hate myself …." badge, though.
I believe that the "job" is slowly becoming extinct and evolving into a time sensitive, contract based, income project. It will be imperative for people to identify their longsuits or strenghts in order to compete on a bid basis and pull down a reasonable income exchange for their invested time in these projects.
It is not always easy to identify ones strengths. They seem to be much more apparent to the observer than the possessor. I remember following your advise in an ancient blog to ask others what they thought that I was good at.
Perhaps a contributor to the 68% unfulfilled work force is the debt compulsion. You know, "I owe, I owe, so off to work go."
With the information age continuing its global make over and the labor pool encompassing the planet, I am certain that we will witness some radical "job" changes in the next 15 to 20 years.
The survivors are already adapting.
Wishing You Plenty To Live,
Tom Doiron
Atlanta
http://www.PlentyToLive.com
Hi Kim,
I'd say those 32 percent are fortunate. I'm a little surprised that the number was that high.
I just wrote a piece today about the two rules for living life: (1) Find something you love to do, and (2) Find a way to make a living doing it.
Most people go in the opposite direction. They find a way to make money and seldom get around to finding something they love to do.
Thanks, as always, for helping us think.
Steve Devane