Your job can help you pay the bills but offer nothing more. In the short term, your job may be tolerable. But an unfulfilling job can have long-lasting effects on your overall health and wellbeing. It can even make you feel lost at times, to the point where you question yourself, who you are, and what you want to accomplish.
If you feel lost in life, take a step back. At this time, focus on self-care and do what's necessary to feel your best once again. It may also be a good time to consider new career opportunities.
The longer you wait to leave a job you don't like, the more lost you may start to feel. However, by focusing on yourself, you can figure out what's most important to you. From here, you can find your calling and take appropriate steps to build the life you want. And you can discover a career path that suits you well today, tomorrow, and long into the future.
Ultimately, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to finding the right career path. Yet there are several things you can do to narrow your career focus.
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Prioritize Job Satisfaction
Put job satisfaction front and center. To do so, find a job that is both challenging and rewarding. This requires you to evaluate what you have liked and disliked about past jobs. It also involves looking at what you want to accomplish in your career.
Oftentimes, it helps to make a list of your job interests and aspirations. Next, you can identify your ideal job. You can then make a plan to search for jobs and find one that aligns with your expectations.
As you meet with prospective employers, ask them about their work culture. This allows you to learn about the company's commitment to its personnel and how it engages with its staff. It can provide you with a glimpse into whether the business values equality, diversity, and inclusion as well.
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Consider Remote Work Opportunities
In addition to finding a fulfilling job, keep an eye out for remote work opportunities. A remote job gives you the flexibility to work from home. In doing so, a remote job lets you avoid commuting to work. It can even help you reduce your carbon footprint.
If you are interested in working remotely, find out how prospective employers view it. Businesses offer remote work opportunities in a variety of industries. Some companies are planning to make remote work permanent. Others intend to shift to a hybrid model or require employees to work on-site after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic ends.
Also, find out how a company supports its remote staff. For instance, many companies provide laptops and other equipment to ensure remote employees can thrive. Furthermore, they often leverage remote communication and collaboration tools to help remote staff stay connected.
Learn how a business promotes self-care to remote employees, too. The top businesses prioritize a healthy work-life balance for remote staff. These businesses provide educational tools and resources to teach remote employees about the importance of physical and mental wellness. They encourage remote workers to seek out medical aid as needed.
woman in green jacket raising her hands
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Leave Your Job on a Positive Note
Resist the urge to quit your current job right away. Remember, a job is important, but it is secondary to your overall health. You can always pursue a new job, but it is paramount to avoid burning bridges along the way. Thus, if you feel burned out and exhausted in your job, take appropriate steps to resign and reenter the job market.
For those who are ready to quit their job, meet with your manager. Tell your manager how you feel about your job. You and your manager can then work together to find solutions.
If you reach a point where you no longer want to work in your current role, submit a resignation letter. Include information about your intent to resign, your last day at your company, and your transition plan. Don't forget to thank your employer for the opportunity, either.
Typically, it helps to give your employer at least a few weeks of notice about your resignation. In the weeks to follow, you can help your employer prepare for your departure. You can also close out your relationship with your employer on a positive note.
After you leave your job, you may start to feel a sense of relief. And you can take solace in the fact that you did everything in your power to set yourself and your now-former employer up to succeed.
Move Forward in Your Career
When it comes to your career, there is no need to settle for anything less than exceptional. Your career is a part of who you are. So it is crucial to find a career path that motivates and inspires you.
If your job makes you feel lost in life, pursue a new career path. You can then decide what you want to accomplish in your career and the steps you'll need to complete to achieve your career aspirations.
For Chad, a retail customer service manager, and Mike, an elementary teacher, was a new challenge. The idea of owning and running a bed and breakfast was a common dream for the two of them. When the property they now own came on the market, they embraced the opportunity and embarked on an incredible journey.
“Running a B&B has been a completely new experience for us, but that doesn’t mean we jumped in blind,” they told OUTvoices. They both have many years of experience in business management, customer service, and travel. “We have been able to bring a fresh perspective based on what we liked and disliked from our own travels. Old Vine is like a greatest hit from the places we have visited.”
The Old Vine is centrally located in Hermann and is within walking distance to many wineries and distilleries, restaurants, boutiques, and the Amtrak station. They also have an outdoor pavilion which can be used by guests and has seating for 18.
Mike Walton said, “The tourism business in Hermann has been growing in leaps and bounds. We want to offer our guests an indulgent experience in a town filled with friendly folks and wine.”
The Old Vine is available on both airbnb and vrbo. Check out the property at www.oldvinebnb.com or call them at 636-231-5625. They can also be reached at oldvinebnb@gmail.com.
The retail stores and apartments will be completely redesigned with upgraded modern architecture designed by the acclaimed Nelsen Partners, a well-known USA firm who does work across the USA and internationally. Jeff Brand, a partner at Nelsen Partners and the lead architect, is a Scottsdale resident who lives walking distance to the proposed redevelopment and has personally invested countless hours to see this project benefit the citizens of Scottsdale.
A few years ago, the initial rezone pre-application by Silver was 388 units and no retail. After community meetings and input the plan was revised to 300 units and 21,000SF of retail. The project received City Staff support. With very costly continuances, delays, outreach and changes, Greenbelt88 at The Design Review Board was approved with 288 units at four floors and 48 feet. Through additional community input and outreach, it was determined that the unit count should be reduced and some of the cantilever and massing should be modified further and the retail should be increased to 25,000SF.
The Scottsdale Planning Commission approved Greenbelt88 with 278 units and 25,000SF of retail along with other architectural changes to the project. Although the immediate surrounding commercial businesses and many in the neighborhood especially within one mile support the project as presented, there have been others constantly trying for change. Ownership has made numerous and very costly design and project changes. Most recently, the project team reduced the units from 278, which was approved by the planning commission down to 253 units. The plan is now being modified down to 238 units, which include eight units of workforce for the benefit of the community. Furthermore, the overall height on the building would be further reduced as additional compromises and concessions. All these changes have been extremely costly to Todd Silver and in part being done to benefit the Scottsdale community. Greenbelt88 will meet all the building requirements of Scottsdale’s Green Building Program; environmentally-sensitive building techniques and has exceeded all the recommendations and requirements of the city.
Prior to moving to the Scottsdale City Council public hearing, there were some community activists concerned with height, density and traffic. The owner’s team has modified and mitigated these perceived issues. The traffic has been mitigated with traffic engineers and the city. Studies show that the mixed-use development will result in less traffic than the current plaza. According to a study by CivTech Inc., licensed traffic engineers, Greenbelt88 would generate fewer daily trips throughout the day than a solely commercial property.
There was a false narrative floating around that the Greenbelt88 project would be a high-rise. It is not a high rise, nor is it a mid-rise. The project is a low-rise development reaching 36 and approximately 48 feet at different points. The development is now being modified down to 45 feet and removing more units from the fourth floor. Thus, most of the outside perimeter of the building facing the golf course will appear to be three floors and approximately 36 feet. Other projects within several miles are substantially higher and denser. The buildings will be staggered in height with a maximum height of three or four floors to allow for sunlight and great views of the greenbelt, golf course, Scottsdale and the Camelback Mountain. The new development will not block any views and the view of the golf course will be enjoyed, and it may become a destination spot and local icon.
Greenbelt88 has complied with the recently improved parking codes and will have abundant parking in a concealed parking garage that will not be visible from the street. Plus, there will be convenient surface parking near the retail and restaurants. Additionally, the development will exceed the requirement on parking and will also accommodate extra guest parking. According to data from CoStar/ESRI, Scottsdale has a retail per capita ratio of 90.1SF. This study indicates that Scottsdale has the most over-served retail plazas in the Valley.
According to a study by the Wall Street Journal, the United States is millions of housing units behind current demand. In Arizona, this translates to a pre-pandemic need of 230,000 new units with the majority of the need in Maricopa County, where Scottsdale lies. Scottsdale has 250,000 residents with 10% growth and needs more than 20,000 apartments to meet the growing population. According to this WSJ study, a 250-unit multifamily development’s construction generates $1,219,800 in municipal income, with an estimated additional $415,410 in ongoing annual revenues. The Greenbelt88 apartments will create more competition allowing the rental rates in the area to be competitive.
Redevelopment of Greenbelt88 will ensure ability to contribute for the city to pay for preserves, parks, police and fire departments, amenities and may help keep property taxes low and property values stable. By adding apartments to the Greenbelt88 development, Greenbelt88 is contributing to the ease in which renters can rent modern homes at competitive rental rates. Additionally, adequate housing generates more employment opportunities in the community.
The project team envisions this quality mixed-use development as one that the community will enjoy and one that will be an asset to the city. Greenbelt88 includes retail, restaurants, modern apartments, a bike friendly path, shaded areas with benches, paseo, ample parking and an overall focus of quality living, recreation, and shopping.
There are numerous benefits to the community with the redesign of Greenbelt88. A new public paseo would include a landscaped biking and walking path that will run along the greenbelt to connect Hayden Road at the southeast corner of the property to Osborn Road on the northwest corner, very convenient to Old Town, Scottsdale Stadium, Honor Health Hospital, Civic Center Park and the library. The new pathway will increase public access alongside the west side of the greenbelt and will provide pedestrians, strollers and cyclists access to safer and more user-friendly traveling than the existing street-adjacent walkways.
Other benefits include no short-term rentals, new traffic turn signals at the expense of the owner, new deceleration lanes, huge amount of city fees, ongoing property tax fees, a non-gated apartment complex with free-flowing open space to the community, two public art displays, walking paths that will be lit, benches, nice landscaping, added guest parking, additional outdoor living and open space over and beyond city requirement. The first two floors of the overall structure will be built with upgraded material and the retail space will be built with high ceilings to add to the ambiance of the quality development.
Greenbelt88 will be a place of rejuvenation and enjoyment. The aesthetics and luxurious well-planned landscaping will afford visitors and residents the opportunity to bask in the glowing sun or to enjoy the shade. Residents and visitors will have an opportunity to relax on the lit-up shaded paseo with the gorgeous view of Camelback Mountain. The sunsets are outstanding. The property backs up to a beautiful golf course that will have a new restaurant facing the golf course, a walkway, lighting, and benches.
The owner on their initial ask to the city of the rezone asked for a lot less than other developments around the city and the owner has put in a lot more as far as community changes, modifications to the project, benefits to the city, dedication and more. The ask has been less and the giveback has been far more. Immediate and surrounding businesses and residents have expressed their complete support for the project. Despite some anti-developers and activists living miles away voicing their opinions, it is our understanding that they do not voice the opinions of all as there have been many others who have let the owner know that they support the project.
To keep the economy bustling and the community thriving for decades to come, Greenbelt88 is one way to ensure that Scottsdale remains the city we know and love for decades to come with quality redevelopment. Additional information could be found on our website at Greenbelt88.com or on our Instagram page instagram.com/greenbelt88?utm_medium=copy_link. In general, new housing creates more competition and better pricing. Supply and demand! And living on the Greenbelt would absolutely be a healthy choice! You are invited to complete the short survey at https://rb.gy/ll2utj.
About the Author
Frayde Yudkowsky, LSW, LMSW, CCTP is a one-time resident of Scottsdale who loves the vibe, landscaping and aesthetics that the city has to offer. It is her dream to call Scottsdale home once again.
AN INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE DON’T JUDGE BY LOOKS
Did you know that many employers judge their future employees based on their looks? Even though looks can tell you a lot about the person, it's yet another generalization that should be avoided. However, a certain evaluation is necessary before you decide to hire employees, but it mustn't be based on looks, sexual orientation, fashion style, disability or any other.
So, how can you judge your employees? You can use their skills, knowledge and previous experience to determine who is most likely to become a worthy employee. You don’t have to agree with their lifestyle as long as they are doing their tasks productively and timely.
DIVERSITY IS YOUR MIDDLE NAME
Productive conflict is good for your company. It offers growth opportunities. On top of that, diversity provides you with plus points on the market. If you're not afraid of hiring different people, hard work will definitely pay off. But this doesn't mean that every one different will fit in.
YOU OFFER SUPPORT
One of the crucial things about inclusiveness is support. Since diversity includes sensitive groups and individuals who have been to a lot, you need to offer them adequate support in the workplace. This may include handicap entrances and loos, signs for the visually impaired, extensive healthcare and many more.
This is essential due to the COVID-19 as well. A lot of people have lost their jobs. However, LGBTQ+ youth was influenced the most as they were among the first ones to get fired. Therefore, offering your support in tough moments really contributes to creating an inclusive environment.
AN INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE MAKES EVERYONE FEEL WELCOME
Have you ever stepped into a space where you don't feel welcome? It can even be one of your past workplaces. However, if you care about having an inclusive workplace, you need to make sure everyone feels pleasant and valued. To achieve that, try to communicate with your colleagues and give them timely feedback.
To create a more inclusive workplace, think about using the Blink website that contributes to better engagement and connectivity among your employees. Such a platform provides you with a great place to safely chat with employees, share files and even secrets. So, don't forget to give each new employee a warm welcome and heartfelt introduction on the Blink website.
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YOU’VE CREATED A COMMUNITY
You've probably heard those cliché sentences where employers claim they've created a family in the workplace. Even though that may sound sweet at first, it can be a true nightmare to some. For abused and neglected individuals, the last thing they want is another family. On top of that, you don't have to respect everyone in your family, which may create an unpleasant atmosphere.
Instead of that, try to create a community. A community is a place where people support each other, help one another out and work as a team. It's natural to have conflict from time to time, but if you resolve conflict like a community, you're more likely to create an inclusive and pleasant atmosphere.
CONCLUSION
Even though many employers like to say for themselves that they've created an inclusive workplace, until they display all of the above, they don’t truly care about inclusiveness and their workers. So, be ahead of the game and create a workplace where everyone will feel welcomed, no matter the orientation, preferences, race or background.