How Does Your Self-Esteem Influence your career?

What did you want to be when you grew up?  Did you want to be a doctor, lawyer, businessperson, mother, or father?  Did you want to be a lifetime student?  Did you want to be a teacher?  Did you want to be a person with intact Self-Esteem?

People with intact Self-Esteem accept responsibility for everything they think, say, do, and feel.  People who have intact Self-Esteem like themselves regardless of the rejection, indifference, or criticism they receive from others.  People with intact Self-Esteem ask questions to show their interest in others.  People with intact Self-Esteem listen to others and give them their undivided attention.  People with intact Self-Esteem have great energy.  People with intact Self-Esteem are team players.  They help others succeed.  People with intact Self-Esteem accept others totally and unconditionally.  People with intact Self-Esteem are committed to a cause bigger than life.  People with intact Self-Esteem share their wisdom and skills with others.  People with intact Self-Esteem are at peace with themselves.  People with intact Self-Esteem can see the humorous side of life.  People with intact Self-Esteem help others feel important.

Do you meet many people who have intact Self-Esteem?  One way you can tell about a person’s Self-Esteem is the way they focus on people.  They create an atmosphere that is safe, secure, and comfortable. 

What about the management where you work?  Do they have intact Self-Esteem?  You can tell by how easy it is to talk with them.  Do they create an atmosphere of acceptance?  Can you speak freely about your pay, working conditions, learning opportunities, skills, benefits, etc.?  Are you encouraged to be congruent (your words, feelings, and behavior are in agreement) without fearing the loss of your job or career advancement?  Just because a person is financially successful or holds a respected position does not necessarily mean that they have intact Self-Esteem.  Their behavior will always let you know if a person’s Self-Esteem is intact.

Is your present pathway moving you toward your ultimate ideal career?  Would you say your work/career makes a difference?  Are you fulfilled with what you are doing?  How do you feel about having your child follow in your footsteps? Have you ever taken the time to write your own work/career plan?  Are you on purpose ?  Are you on purpose with your work/career or are you following someone else’s vision?

Take some time to review and write down your career history.   Begin with any job you had where you earned money.  This includes paper routes, baby-sitting, cutting grass, cleaning house, taking out the trash, etc.  Write what you liked best and least about each job.    What were your greatest qualities as a worker?  How did you acquire these skills?  Were there any skills you wanted to refine or develop?  Who were your favorite bosses?  What was it about their behavior that caused you to like working with them?

Based on where you are today, what are your five top skills?  What areas do you want to refine?  If you were someone else, would you want to be your employee or employer?  Are there any characteristics you would like to acquire to be an excellent employee, employer or entrepreneur?

Prepare a plan to obtain better career results and then, watch what happens!