I had lunch this week with an old friend and after we exchanged pleasantries and caught up on each other’s families we spent most of the time discussing each other’s jobs. This individual had recently changed positions and is more enthusiastic about his new job and new company than I have ever heard him before. He was someone who always had a positive attitude about his previous position and employer, but there was a different type of spark inside him and it was good to see.
I don’t know how this particular person was performing at his last job, but but based on the discussion I imagine he spent at least the last year stagnant and wondering if he should take the leap of faith to go change careers. If you find yourself in a similar position there are countless articles online you can read that promote changing jobs. I am not in the camp of promoters who believes in order to get ahead you must jump ship. I am much more of a fan of making the changes you want to see in your company and if that doesn’t work, then it’s time to evaluate whether it’s time to move. Here is a quiz you can take to see if it's time for you to start looking for a new job.
In a separate conversation this week I had another friend talk about how he had just returned from a much-needed vacation. He felt completely recharged and was talking about how much better he was attacking his work load since he returned. I find that i typically return from vacations in a similar mode and I aslo find that while on vacation I tend to think about work a lot, but not in a stressful way. I often find myself seeing things more clearly and get excited to take on new challenges.
Here is an article from the perspective of taking a vacation and the advantages it can give you.
Here is an article from the perspective of a manager or business owner on why you want your employees to take a vacation.
And, here is an article when you need to be recharged on a more daily basis and don't have the luxury of being able to take a vacation.