Key Messages
How To Find Meaning In Your Workplace And Avoid Burnout
Do you lead an unfulfilling or dissatisfying work life? Don’t feel completely defeated!
You have the power to make a change in your own life, and create a new path that is full of things that make you happy.
Through “Betting on You,” one can learn how to advocate for themselves at their current job and build a better, more meaningful lifestyle.
This section of the book will help you realize that it might be time to leave a toxic workplace, or simply adjust your approach at work to open up more opportunities in life!
It will also teach you how to value yourself beyond just your job, and why quitting on impulse is never an idea worth revisiting.
Additionally, “Betting on You” provides key insight into Laurie Ruettimann’s7 medical tourism experience in Tijuana – similar journeys can empower anyone to become their own best advocate, elevate their career prospects and give them the opportunity for newfound freedom.
How Taking A Leap Of Faith Changed Laurie Ruettimann’S Life And Career
Laurie Ruetimann learned the hard way that nobody can save you but yourself.
She was stuck in a toxic environment at Pfizer, working in HR and traveling around the country to fire people.
She felt miserable and had no sense of control over her life.
But then one day, Laurie stumbled upon an article about Courtney Love’s journey to Tijuana for weight-loss surgery, which gave her the inspiration she needed to take charge of her own life.
Rather than just accepting her current situation, Laurie decided to take an empowering step and plan a similar trip to Mexico for herself.
When she returned, instead of staying in the same toxic job, she took control by creating her own blog and within six months left Pfizer to become a full-time writer and consultant.
She discovered that taking ownership of your own life is the key to success and happiness – nobody can do it for you.
The Power Of Being A Slacker – Having Boundaries Outside Of Work To Live And Love Life Joyfully
It’s easy to get trapped in a work-centric identity.
When we meet someone, it’s our instinct to define ourselves by the job we do or career path we have chosen.
But that’s an incomplete picture of who you are!
You are much more than your job.
Friends, family members, partners, hobbies …
these all contribute to who you are and should play an important role in how you introduce yourself.
So why waste your time taking on extra tasks that beyond what is needed? In today’s hustle culture it can seem like the only way to succeed is to be available 24/7 — but that comes with a cost: no time for friends, family, sleep and all the things that bring us joy.
It is important to start setting boundaries on your work hours and become what many are now calling a “professional slacker.”
Take the story of Deanna as an example.
She was exhausted from working around-the-clock yet the thought of changing jobs seemed unimaginative and uninspiring.
Instead she called a meeting with her team and defined what constituted a true emergency from something that could wait and voila!
Communications after hours decreased by 90 percent and everyone in the team started feeling better about their workloads.
Plan For Success With A Premortem: Anticipating What Could Go Wrong Before It’S Too Late
The space shuttle Challenger’s destruction serves as a sobering reminder that failure can be just around the corner if we don’t anticipate and plan for it.
That’s why doing a premortem before starting any new project is so vital: it helps us identify potential pitfalls so that we can take preemptive action to head them off.
Research has shown that taking the time to think through everything that could potentially go wrong with your project before you begin can increase your chances of success by as much as 30%.
Doing this preparatory work ensures you have solutions in place before any unexpected problems crop up, and makes dealing with them much easier.
Take, for instance, someone dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur but not sure they’re ready to make the jump yet.
A premortem might reveal a distinct lack of savings or difficulty bringing in new clients.
Knowing these obstacles ahead of time allows you to strategize and form solutions—for instance, staying at their current job a bit longer or hiring a networking assistant—before putting their plans into motion.
We Can Learn Something From Fat Cats: Taking Control Of Our Finances And Asking For More
The author of Betting on You emphasizes the importance of channeling your inner CEO and asking to be paid what you’re worth.
Corporations have structured a system where execs receive over-the-top salaries while the lowest wage workers remain stagnant or even decrease in pay.
If we want to maximize our worth and pay, it’s time to take charge by demonstrating rationality in our claims for compensation.
The author stresses that while making requests may be intimidating, it pays off significantly when we’re comfortable enough to ask for more.
She took a chance leaving her stable job and becoming a consultant – only to find that NGOs were often unwilling to provide her with financial recompense.
But through her fiscal literacy and advocacy for herself, she developed financial stability by budgeting and paying off debt, allowing her subsequently to work on projects that really fuelled her passion.
Furthermore, she found success in negotiating; if she was denied the price requested for a speaking gig then she would request alternate forms of compensation like introductions, high quality footage or publicity – ultimately leading to greater success than what cash could offer alone.
This echoed her appreciation of higher executive positions as they approach their remuneration confidently yet reasonably.
Find Purpose In Lifeless Occupations Through Learning And Mentorship
If you’re feeling bored and aimless, the first thing you should do is to find something to learn.
It’s easy to get stuck in a rut when we don’t have much to do or don’t feel like we are growing or achieving anything.
This was how the author felt when she had a cushy gig in Chicago with almost nothing to do except wander around museums all day.
Her colleague suggested that she use her free time to get an advanced certification in HR and this was exactly what she needed – it gave her a sense of purpose and the challenge that had been missing from her life for so long.
That’s why if you’re feeling dissatisfied or stuck, then learning something new should be your first priority.
Think back on your recent performance review or feedback from job interviews – what skills would make your CV stand out? Then use online platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn courses and more to start learning those skills as soon as possible.
In addition, don’t underestimate the power of mentorship!
Find people in your company who share values you admire and look up to them.
Or even follow inspirational figures in your industry whom you can learn from by watching their success stories.
Learning new things will give you an immense satisfaction, but also equip you with useful skills that can lead to better opportunities down the line.
So when stuck in a rut, take charge and make sure to learn something new!
How To Be A Smart Job Seeker: Prioritize Self-Care And Build Real Relationships
Being a smart job seeker doesn’t just mean having the right skills or experience, it also means taking care of your own well-being as you search for work.
Job hunts can be grueling, and it’s easy to get despondent when confronted with rejections and uncertainty.
So, prioritize your mental and physical health, take steps to regulate your emotions and make sure that you don’t let those feelings get in the way of getting interviews.
When you do get an invitation for an interview, dress professionally and really bring your A game.
Make sure to turn off your phone and give the interviewer 100% attention.
Ask questions about the company’s culture and build relationships so that people can see how passionate you are about it.
Mindful job seeking involves both actively seeking out opportunities and preparing in advance – but most importantly, it means looking after yourself first so that you can confidently go into each situation knowing you have given it your best shot!
How To Quit Your Job Gracefully And Negotiate Your Own Severance Package
When it comes to ending your job, no matter how frustrated you are, quitting in a rage is never the way to go.
Just ask the author’s client who was promised an office but then one day his company took it away without any reason and made him work in a noisy cubicle instead.
He must have been furious, yet despite his anger, he still did the right thing – he clenched his teeth and put in his notice in a professional manner.
This is exactly what you should do – no matter how upset or fed up with your boss you may be – control your emotions so you don’t leave on bad terms.
Otherwise, not only will you burn bridges but you might potentially negative impact other employment offers as well.
Remember – writing a very rude letter of resignation because of frustration has backfired for someone with disastrous consequences.
For this reason, it’s important to always plan ahead when leaving a job – make sure you have something lined up before resigning.
That could be having a financial backup for self-employment or even better – an offer from another employer securely in pocket.
Being intentionally employed can be challenging at times but trying to live off no income for months on end would be even more difficult!
Don’T Wait For Hr To Help You In Your Career: Become Your Own Cheerleader
Rather than waiting for the perfect HR department to help you in your career, it’s time to become your own cheerleader and take control of your own destiny.
As the saying goes, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
This begins with taking initiative on your new job: rather than settling for a generic onboarding process, utilize it as an opportunity to build relationships with your new team.
Take advantage of online platforms such as LinkedIn to get a head start and make real connections prior to starting work.
Furthermore, consider asking yourself questions that a great HR department would ask if interested in knowing about employee well-being and growth.
Reflect on what is most important to you — does this job align with those values? How does this position contribute to overall happiness or sense of purpose? Ask these questions of yourself and you can develop your own “why” that will fuel each day at work.
Finally, recognize that who you are and what you want matters — even if some HR departments don’t consider this.
Put yourself first and bet on yourself — it’s never too late!
Wrap Up
The final summary of Betting on You is simple: don’t let your job define you and take control of your life.
Instead, make space for things that bring joy and find ways to manage your finances.
Take calculated risks and become a pragmatic dreamer – this is the key to happiness and fulfillment!
Additionally, if you are looking to gain a raise or promotion, do some research and find out when companies typically open those requests; getting the timing right can be the difference between success and failure.
Your boss may not always give you what you want, but with the right knowledge and attitude, you can always build yourself up in order to reach professional -and personal-success!
