The Divorced Barbie Doll
23:44 Mar 24 2009
Times Read: 581
One day a father gets out of work and on his way home he suddenly remembers that it's his daughter's birthday.
He stops by a Toy Shop and asks the sales person, 'How much for one of those Barbies in the display window?'
The salesperson answers, 'Which one do you mean, Sir?
We have: Work Out Barbie for $19.95, Shopping Barbie for $19.95, Beach Barbie for $19.95, Disco Barbie for $19.95, Ballerina Barbie for $19.95, Astronaut Barbie for $19.95, Skater Barbie for $19.95, and Divorced Barbie for $265.95.'
The amazed father asks: 'It's what?! Why is the Divorced Barbie $265.95 and the others only $19.95?'
The annoyed salesperson rolls her eyes, sighs, and answers: 'Sir..., Divorced Barbie comes with: Ken's Car, Ken's House, Ken's Boat, Ken's Furniture, Ken's Computer, one of Ken's Friends, and a key chain made with Ken's balls.'
Are You Stuck in Job Prison?
23:06 Mar 12 2009
Times Read: 586
10 ways to live with a job you can't escape
The flip side
Though many people feel as though they are "stuck" in their jobs, others don't buy it. Dorothy Tannahill Moran, a life coach, says she has "never signed up for the notion that you have no options out of a bad job, even in a bad environment."
Others argue that with so many out of work, people should be happy they have a job at all. And, if they are unhappy, they should stop complaining and do something about it. Despite the economy and the tightening job market, 60 percent of workers are planning to change jobs, according to CareerBuilder.com's job forecast.
"If [workers] choose to stay [in a job they hate], they should know that this is their choice," says Kathy Wensel, author of "Freedom Is ... A Book/Journal with a Twist." "Be happy where [you] are because you have benefits and a paycheck."
Making the most of it
Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, either way you are right." Translation: The more you think you have no choices, the more you will have no choices.
Whether you're bored, dissatisfied or scared to leave your job because of the economy, there are things you can do to make work tolerable until something new comes up:
Here are 10 tips from career experts on how to escape job prison:
1. Be realistic
Many experts advise not to quit your job without another one on hand because you are lucky to have one, even if you hate it. But Darcy Eikenberg, president and CEO of Coach Darcy LLC, says you shouldn't buy into the myth that no jobs are out there. "Stuck is just a perception, not a reality," she says. "You're never really stuck until there are no more options, and you'll never know what the options are until you start exploring them."
2. Change your attitude
Look at your job as the launching pad to your next position instead of as a hindrance. "You'll only be able to give it your best if you can convince yourself of the value it offers your life," says Debra Yergen, author of "Creating Job Security Resource Guide." It pays the rent, gives you benefits, allows you to meet new people and enables you to enhance your skills.
3. Discover the hidden opportunities
"There is something you prefer to do and you do it really well. Define it, do it successfully and make sure it is something you do better than anyone else; it is your value-added insurance," says Gladys Kartin, career strategist.
4. Find the good in it
When work isn't going well, it's easy to dwell on the parts of the job you don't like. "At some point in time, a person probably liked his job and those are the things he should focus on. Whether it was a task, a co-worker, a meeting or a training session, try to nurture those parts of the job and find ways to incorporate them more into your daily routine," suggests human resource specialist Sharlyn Lauby.
5. Figure out what you don't like
If you're stuck in a job hate, the most important thing to do is identify why you hate the job. Once you do that, you'll see what's missing that could help you better tolerate the situation. You don't want to repeat this cycle in your next position, says Caela Farren, author of "Who's Running Your Career?"
6. Focus on the aspects you like -- even if it's just a paycheck
"There is opportunity in every adversity and if you don't see that, you will most likely re-create another dead-end job," says Dr. Nancy Irwin, speaker and author. Write down a list of the things you do enjoy about it and find ways to do more of those things. There has to be something about the job that you like, or used to like, otherwise you wouldn't have accepted the job in the first place.
7. Invest in yourself
Go to night school to pursue your passion. Hire a life coach; take a class; pursue your hobbies. "No economy will ever be able to drain the value of investments you make in strengthening your talents and abilities," Eikenberg says.
8. Network
"You're probably not the only person who hates his or her job, and you're probably not the first person to have bailed," says Martha Finney, author of "Rebound: A Proven Plan for Starting Over After Job Loss." "All those people who you once worked with and who are now out there in a variety of companies in your community or industry, you have multiple networks now to thoroughly explore."
9. Seek out cross-training opportunities
Many workers want to change jobs because they aren't challenged anymore; finding new prospects fixes that. "Learning new skills or technologies, meeting new people and facing new challenges [are great ways] to keep your mind off the fact that you aren't in love with your job," says Lauren Milligan of ResuMayDay.com.
10. Volunteer
Find out about opportunities at your company where you can donate your time. "Is there a task force that is looking for assistance? Is there a committee to improve something? Request to be on it. By engaging in something that excites you, your mood will change and you might even get a different job within that company," says Kate Nasser, a people-skills coach.
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