by Motivational Speaker Jean Gatz

While preparing to record a video training series on leadership for a corporate client, I commented that the green screen in the background wasn’t very attractive. (I think the word I actually used was “tacky.”) The camera operator proudly announced, “Oh, it won’t look like that in the videos. We can create whatever background you like. With Green Screen technology, the sky’s the limit!” Then with the click of a mouse, he changed the background to a view of the beach, the desert, a mountaintop and a rain forest. While we opted for a  traditional background, it was still exciting to consider our options.

The goal of the video training was to help corporate leaders do a better job. That got me thinking about the many ways to define the term job. Your job may revolve around your occupation, trade or profession. Or it might involve a duty or responsibility for which you don’t receive a paycheck. But the rewards are there in other ways – like being a stay-at-home mom or dad, or serving as a volunteer in your community.

However you define your job, wouldn’t it be exciting to create your own Green Screen of how you want that job to look… feel… BE? Well, actually, you can. In fact, you’re continually modifying your Green Screen every time you make a choice about your life, your relationships and your career – and act upon it. You may not be in charge of everything that happens to you, but you are 100% in charge of how you choose to respond.

If you’re not satisfied with your life’s current Green Screen, it will take more than the click of a mouse to change things. The choice is always yours. Let’s take a look at some areas you might want to consider.

Your professional life: Do you still enjoy your job or have you lost your enthusiasm? Are you proud of what you do and who you work for/with – or embarrassed to give people your business card? Are you stuck in a rut because you haven’t invested the time and effort to learn new skills to advance your career?

A friend of mine constantly complains that he’s continually passed over for promotions because he doesn’t have a particular certification needed to move to the next level. When I ask why he hasn’t started the process, he always has an excuse. He’s too tired… overworked… underpaid… bored… old… busy… to learn anything new. Sound familiar? If so, what do you need to do next?

Maybe you love what you do but you’re feeling worn out and burned out. While it’s great to enjoy your work and take pride in your accomplishments, it’s not healthy to link your entire identity to your job. It should not define 100% of who you are.

If you’re ready for change, you have choices. And this means you’re ready to be more than someone’s boss, employee, colleague, coworker, spouse, partner, parent, child, family member or friend. While these can certainly be rewarding roles, you can be of greater value to yourself and others if your life is in balance. How do these other areas of your life look right now?

Your personal life: Are you in healthy relationships at work and at home – where you feel respected, appreciated and recognized as a person of worth?

Your physical health: Are you eating right, exercising and getting appropriate checkups? Do you “know your (cholesterol and blood pressure) numbers”?

Your social life: Do I hear laughter? “SOCIAL life? What’s that?” Although you’re tired at the end of a long day, it’s important to your health and well-being to re-charge your batteries and make time in the week for fun, relaxation, connecting with people you care about and activities you enjoy.

Your finances: It’s impossible to feel content in other areas of your life if you’re plagued by financial stress and worry. What choices can you make to lighten the load and get yourself on more solid financial ground?

Your JOY quotient: What are you doing for your spirit, your soul, the core of your being, and the very essence of what makes you who you are?

If you’re not satisfied with where you are at the moment, modifying your life’s Green Screen will take some work. You’ll need courage to explore the possibilities, make good choices and take action. Once you decide what you want to change, you can begin to create the life you want. In the words of that studio technician … “The sky’s the limit!”

What changes are you contemplating? Write and let me know how it’s working out for you!

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