Got a little something different for you today.

An essay.

It’s actually an essay I wrote while I was mid-blitz publicizing The Zebra Code.

A popular magazine (who shall remain nameless) asked me to write a first-person essay on a problem I’ve encountered and solved.

An issue I would consider systemic so it would help lots of people.

First thought…career happiness anyone?

Anyhoot and long story very short, after I wrote it, they decided not to publish it.

I shrugged it off because, in the overall scheme of life, their decision is meaningless to my journey.

Life happens FOR you, not to you.

After I ran over this emotional speedbump that lasted literally a nano-second, I immediately thought of my wonderful community who would gladly benefit from an email directly into their personal inboxes.

So, I decided to share that little essay with you in this week’s digest.

I hope you enjoy it!

FIND FULFILLMENT IN TODAY’S ACHIEVEMENTS!

Happiness is a funny concept. Many believe it lies in a distant future, as in, “I’ll be happy when…” The reality is, if you think happiness is elsewhere, you’ll always be right—because it will never be where you are. Happiness is a state of mind, not a state of hope.

I’ve experienced the elusiveness of career happiness firsthand. Over my 36-year career, as a consultant, executive recruiter, and career coach, I’ve helped people and companies realize their potential. I’ve worked with tens of thousands of individuals, many of whom are unhappy and spend their careers in roles well beneath their capabilities. Interestingly, most people agree their happiness is more about their feelings toward their situation than the situation itself. Their trajectory matters more than their current status. If they feel they’re on an upswing, they’re generally content.

In my new book, The Zebra Code: A Step-By-Step Guide to Mastering Career Skills That Make You a Standout Professional, I address the systemic issue behind career unhappiness: the lack of professional growth.

My firm milewalk® interviewed more than 15,000 job candidates, over a 15-year period, regarding the reasons they were unhappy and left their jobs. The top two reasons were poor management and lack of growth opportunities.

Your career management is not something you can delegate. Post-academia, many struggle to find a clear path for growth, often hopping from job to job or endlessly searching how-to videos online for answers, which leads to frustration rather than fulfillment.

So, how can employees find happiness, career satisfaction, and fulfillment? I advocate a proactive approach to help employees enjoy the journey and position themselves for success both within and outside their companies. The Zebra Code offers a framework for developing a career plan, identifying essential skills, and effectively implementing this plan. However, for immediate improvement in job satisfaction and future prospects, I recommend starting a Career Achievements Journal (download FREE).

This journal serves multiple purposes: it’s a tool for performance reviews, a way to enhance your resume, and a means to prepare for effective job interviews. It also acts as a reflective practice, helping you recognize and value the impact of your work. By documenting specific elements of your projects—such as scope, challenges, solutions, outcomes, benefits, and lessons learned—you not only prepare for future opportunities but also gain immediate satisfaction from acknowledging your accomplishments.

Reflecting on your progress is crucial. I often say, “No matter who you are or how successful you are, you’ll never feel successful unless you reflect.” That’s because we often focus on what we haven’t achieved rather than how far we’ve come. This journal allows you to see the tangible results of your efforts, enhancing your sense of achievement and satisfaction.

The “diary” aspect of this journal is invaluable for your future positioning. Consider how difficult it is one month or one year from now to recollect the details of your work projects. That’s why it’s vital to capture the key data while you’re performing the project.

Imagine how much more effective your résumé bullets and job interview stories will be when you have this information readily available. How often have you tried to update your résumé or express your accomplishments only to wish you would’ve captured this information? Now, you won’t need to worry about that because you’ll have all the information whenever you need it.

In conclusion, happiness in your career is attainable by shifting your focus from the distant future to the present. By actively engaging in your professional growth and reflecting on your achievements, you can cultivate a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. Your Career Achievements Journal can serve as a powerful tool to remind you of your progress and impact, ensuring you not only recognize your value but also communicate it effectively to your boss and future employers. Embrace the journey, celebrate your victories, and let your career be a source of happiness today.

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🌄 FREE CAREER DEVELOPMENT BOOKLET!

You can grab my FREE, awesome booklet on how to develop your career and build the right skills for your profession and take an assessment to see how you stack up and much more. This booklet will be a great supplement for today’s YouTube video as well as how you manage your overall career growth!

🆓 OTHER FREE STUFF!

HOW TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF: Free download here.
RESUME TEMPLATE: One that actually gets job interviews! Download here.
ACE YOUR JOB INTERVIEW EBOOK: Download here and master the best answers to the 14 most effective job interview questions

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👉WHO IS THIS DUDE?

Andrew LaCivita, a globally-renowned career and leadership coach, is the founder of the milewalk Academy®. During the course of his distinguished career, he has impacted over 350 companies, more than 100,000 individuals, and spanned nearly 200 countries, helping them unlock their full potential. He is an award-winning author who gained international recognition with his groundbreaking books, Interview Intervention: Communication That Gets You Hired, The Hiring Prophecies: Psychology behind Recruiting Successful Employees, and The Zebra Code: A Step-By-Step Guide to Mastering Career Skills That Make You a Standout Professional. These seminal works, along with his celebrated vlog, Tips for Work and Life®, consistently earn top spots on reputable, worldwide lists which rank the best career advice books and blogs. Andrew remains actively engaged across various social media platforms and shares his expertise through his weekly Live Office Hours on YouTube every Thursday.