Change is never easy, but it is inevitable. Even if you’ve had the same job description for 15 years, the role is unlikely to be what you first signed up for – nor will the people, the company or the culture be the same. Everyone is motivated to move at some point in his or her career,
The question is: what is your motivator? Over the years, I have heard several answers to this, including money, title, work-life balance, challenging work, a collegiate work environment, and a better platform for career growth.
Whatever the reason might be, I have learnt that there is in fact only one main motivator: happiness. It is what I like to call the “feel-good factor”. At the end of the day, people only move to be happy. The reasons mentioned above may define their individual happiness at the start of their job hunt, but during the process, and at the end, these reasons very often change.
That is because most people start the job search with their heads or their emotional hearts without any awareness of their feel-good factor. They focus on one element, such as money, but then realise they do not like the company’s culture. Or they love the culture, but do not feel the pay will suffice. These are all common issues that can arise during the job-hunting process, and very often get in the way.
To find a job that will make you happy, you need to first be open to what the opportunity may present. Then think with your head, feel with your heart, but go with your gut – it will always tell you whether the feel-good factor exists.
In the words of Steve Jobs: “If you have not found it yet, keep looking. Do not settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”
