We’re getting to the time of year when people start thinking they really need to get a new job.

As the calendar inches towards the New Year, it’s normal to start reflecting on your life, work, dreams, and goals. Perhaps you feel like you’re in your very own version of Groundhog Day: get up, go to work, slog your guts out, come home, and do it all again tomorrow.

Maybe you’re freaking exhausted from another year of scary situations and never-ending challenges in your own little corner of the world (not to mention the impact of global events!)

A new job feels do-able. It feels like something you can control. It seems like it will be the change you need to kickstart the better life and work you’re dreaming of.

Not so fast!

Thinking that a new job will solve all your problems is an approach that we call ‘magical thinking’. Because here’s the thing – a new job won’t make much of a difference if you aren’t changing too.

Mindfulness researcher and teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn wrote a book with a fabulous title: ‘Wherever You Go, There You Are‘ [affiliate link]. I often think of that title when I’m tempted to do something to “escape” from whatever situation I think is to blame for why I’m not feeling great or enjoying myself as much as I think I should.

Unless I put in the work on myself, I’m going to repeat the same wins and the same mistakes, because I’m still the same person, just in a different context.

Instead of a new job, a new approach to you

One of the coolest parts of being a coach is supporting people who are committed to personal development and growth, and seeing them flourish and thrive as they learn a new way to work with their unique strengths fingerprint.

They get super-clear on what they’re great at and love doing (what I call Genius strengths), as well things they aren’t so great at or don’t enjoy.

And then they get super-creative about how they’ll apply that knowledge. 

They realise they don’t have to be great at everything, so they outsource, delegate, or just plain avoid tasks that call on their weaknesses. (Did you shudder in horror at the suggestion that someone avoids something they’re not great at? So do some of my clients, but trust me, it’s a legit tactic, and you can usually do it without letting important stuff fall through the cracks).

They get familiar with the things they’re good at and find reasonably enjoyable to do, and figure out how to weave those things into their daily life and work. These proficiencies provide a stable foundation so they can do good work consistently (even on Friday afternoons!), and act like a launching pad for rocketing off into the flow state with their Genius strengths.

And you can do all of this yourself, without changing your job.