Why You're Stealing From Your Family

"If you aren’t being compensated in accordance with your value, or your service, or the experience you bring, you are stealing from your family."

What?? That statement jolted me quite a bit.

I first heard that while sitting in a continuing education seminar, where the speaker delivered that biting assertion. I didn’t quite understand that when I first heard it, but the more I thought about it - I realized she was correct.

Here's why...

As a career coach, I hear all kinds of stories about people’s background, barriers to career change, obstacles to achieving professional success, the challenges of landing their next job and more. Time and time again, I see how dissatisfaction in a job can steal your time and energy from your family.

Here are a few ways you may be letting your work steal from your family.

Signs You May Be Stealing From Your Family

You are stressed at home.

As a former HR professional now career coach, I had numerous conversations with employees about leaving "baggage" of home at the door and not bringing "drama" into work. However, how often does the reverse seem to happen - you bring ‘work drama’ or current job dissatisfaction into your home?

When we allow the stress of our work life to pour into our home life, it affects our family relationships, takes away time with loved ones, and steals happiness from you and your family. That's why you need to find a job you feel valued in. Otherwise, your work life will continue to steal from your home life.

You’ve Overstayed.

20+ years ago, generations would come to a company and stay for nearly that long. That's become increasingly rare as organizations change. Staying at a company for that long can be rewarding, but it can also be draining.

We change so much so that the skill set you had 20 years ago is much different than the one you have today. You may find yourself needing to constantly reinvent yourself to keep up with organizational change. That kind of scrambling can be stressful and places a weight on you and your family.

You've Settled.

Whether we realize it or want it, each of us is a role model to others - our spouses, partners, kids or significant others. The idea that settling for mediocrity or comfort doesn’t affect your family is simply untrue.

I realize some of you may find this disagreeable to read, but think about your role models in your life. Who do you mirror? Who are your mentors? I can guarantee you, all of your role models have one thing in common: goals.

When we get too comfortable, we forget to set goals. Goals are defined uniquely by each of us, but by golly- you should have some. Goals aren't just something for the new year either; each day, each week, each month is a new opportunity to change, do something new, or different. To not aspire to something new or different is a disservice to those that need you and your talents - including your family.

Big picture:

If the idea of looking for something new scares you, ask yourself this - do you believe that you can do better? I guarantee you that you deserve a job that excites you, that values you and your talents.

Is it time for something new?

Don't let fear hold you back - and stop letting your job steal you from your family.

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