When you crunch the numbers, we probably spend more time at work than anywhere else. Of course it would be nice to think that we spend more time with friends and family or sleeping, but it just doesn't seem that way. We spend so much time counting down until the weekend and dreading Monday mornings. Don't we all deserve to have a bit more fun in our 9-5?
There are so many opportunities out there today that old school attitudes just don't apply any more. We used to have to deal with “keeping the lights on”, archaic gender roles and even just being stuck in an industry we hate because of a degree we had to choose before we were even allowed to legally drink! It's definitely time to shake things up.
Job Satisfaction
As if working the required at your job isn't enough, Australians are known to go above and beyond the bare minimum. Legally, a full-time position rounds out to 38 hours per week, but according to Roy Morgan Research, about 27% of Australians are clocking in over 40 hours a week, with one in five of that group working over 60 hours.
Since the GFC, we can see rates of job satisfaction rising back up to pre-market crash rates of 54% contentment in roles, found through research by Career One. In fact, 310, 000 Australians are happier in their jobs than 12 months ago, meaning that people are either more willing to move or make changes in their current role to ensure an increase in their enjoyment.
While over half of Australians being happy in their jobs is great, we think that 100% of our citizens deserve to look forward to work in the morning, instead of feeling their heart sink on the morning commute. Sticking with our promise to shake things up, we reckon that this means not necessarily having a morning commute, or conforming to traditional formats. Not everyone fits into the same mould, so that means we need to create new moulds rather than squeeze people into places where they just don't fit.
Wake Up and Shake Up!
These days, there are so many options to rethink your career! Jumping around and trying different careers is what separates our society from the past, and it's definitely something to be proud of.
One option that many people are taking very seriously is that of retraining. Open universities, night schools, TAFE and online courses are making it possible for everyday Australians to study subjects that they just have an interest in, or working to get qualified for a different field. Gone are the days of trekking to a campus and sitting in a lecture theatre for half a day - it's so easy to study in your own time so you can keep the finances coming in.
One of the major gripes that people have with traditional jobs in big corporations is the culture of hierarchy and bureaucracy, because everyone's boss has a boss and things just end up going around in circles. Another option is to break out on your own!
There's never been a better time to follow your entrepreneurial dreams with crowdfunding becoming a viable avenue to raise capital for your very own start-up. Consumers are becoming more open to investing in products that they want to see in the market - why not take advantage of that if you've got a great idea for an app or world-changing invention?
The Middle Path
If the thought of going rogue is a little bit too much for you, of course there's a great option that allows you to be your own boss, but within a structure that's been proven to work. Opening your own franchise in an industry that genuinely interests you is one of the best ways to make some changes to your work day.
Franchising requires passionate people who are keen to work hard and see some serious results. The trick is to get involved with a team that reflects your own personal values and ways of thinking. You know what they say! “If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.”
If you have any questions or would like to chat more, please do not hesitate to shoot me a message and I'll be happy to shout you a coffee or give you a call.
