The Hunt for More Work

One of my favorite authors used to describe himself with, “He tends to prescript his life, but gets confused why no one can get their lines right.” So I’m stepping onto stage without a script. . I’m feeling like it’s time to move on from my current job, but simply the idea of it frightens the hell out of me.

Change is scary–work change doubly so. Stepping into the unknown is always something that frightens us. Sure, the situation at work might be difficult, but at least, it’s a known difficulty. New bosses, new jobs, new relationships… even with the idea that things might be better–or at least different–I still feel reluctant to leave the same ol, same ol for something new.

Back when I was a traveling consultant (what I did before being full time), I usually didn’t worry about the change… because change was part of the job. You worked for three to six months in one location, and when the job was over, it was over. The only worry came from not having a contract waiting for me when I finished. Playing the waiting game for a month or two really sucked, but I got used to the cycle of interviews, recruiters, and the like.

Oh, how a couple years can change all that. I had a phone interview today and I was rather worried… even knowing this was only the first step and that it’s usually just a formality, but the fact that it was the first one I got back in my job search made this far more important in my mind.

What does change mean? Often times, my nature seeks out change for change’s sake. The same ol’, same ol’ is rarely a comfort. Long ago, my wife and I read a book called “The Goddesses in Every Woman,” by Jean Shinoda Bolen and the companion book, “Gods in Every Man.” It’s based on the Jungian archetype model, using Greek gods as the archetype examples that you can compare personalities with. We found it very useful, and of course, no one is just one archetype. For me, I tend to be dominant Hermes and lesser Ares. So in other words, I don’t just expect change, I thrive in it. Ares is the… not so nice part of me, my temper, frustration, and yet, there is strength in the God of War. It’s just that in Greek myth, Ares was the god of battle lust, Athena was the goddess of strategy–there’s a reason those two are seperated.

So it seems that every six months, I look out there, just to see if there’s a better job, but usually it cycles with stressful moments at work. However, I may have to accept that this is my pattern–there is no perfect job–and that I constantly need to find new ways to make my current work exciting… but there’s no harm looking. 😉

What do you think? How have your job searches been in the past? Have you had the joy of being wooed by headhunters or have always been the pursuer? Let me know in the comments below!