Feel like your work mojo is more like decaf these days?

Are you spending more time surfing websites looking for the latest “Brangelina” news than working toward a promotion?

Sounds like you hate your job. Think there is nothing you can do about it? Think again.

This short exercise can help you identify what’s causing you to dislike your job, and think about what you’d really rather be doing.

How to figure out why you hate your job, and what to do about it

(1) Focus. Where’s yours?

When you think about your job, what do you focus on?

Things you focus on consume the most time, energy and space in your life and become your reality.

It’s a big part of why Lance Armstrong won 7 consecutive Tour de France titles, but focus can be negative too.

Identify the thoughts, feelings and ideas you have about your job. Make a list of them. Differentiate between facts (you’ve been at the same job for 6 years) and feelings (you dislike your boss).

Not Ready to Quit?

Meet with your boss, express your discontentment and solicit their support in bringing about a change

Search internal job postings

Ask other department leaders if they have room in their team

(2) Understand

Determine why you are focusing on the things you are.

What factors at work, at home and in your personal life might influence this focus? Separate your ideas into two categories, those factors you can change immediately and those that will require time and additional resources to change. Then prioritize each of the two lists.

(3) Visualize

Paint the picture of your ideal job, Dream – big! There are no limits.

Include everything and be as specific and detailed as possible, right down to dress code, number of co-workers, office location and how you get to work.

Work the ‘focus’ factors from step (2) into your picture.

Specifically, identify the essential criteria of your ideal job, and those that are “nice to have” or negotiable.

(4) Question

Now ask yourself, “Am I doing what I really want to do?”

Take a critical look at what your data is telling you – what you are focusing on – and why.

Can you impact or change your current job reality, and in what timeframe? What’s the gap between your current and ideal job? What are you prepared to change about yourself to improve your situation? Dig deep.

Write it all down. Question everything, judge nothing.

(5) Act

Here’s where the rubber hits the road.

Decide if you should stay where you are (with some changes), work elsewhere, or try self-employment.

If you stay where you are, be clear on what your new goals and expectations are, what changes are required and in what timeframe in order for you to be doing what you love.

If you are going out on your own, write a business plan.

If you decide to work with another organization, determine which ones fit the profile you want to work with, and the best way to approach them.

Think about the resources you will require to carry out your plan. Then get busy!

Today is the best time to start, tomorrow you’ll be a day closer to figuring out what you are really looking for.