Seven Steps to a More Fulfilling Job

　　A) Many people today find themselves in unfulfilling work situations. In

　　fact, one in four workers is dissatisfied with their current job, according to

　　the recent “Plans for 2004” survey. Their career path may be financially

　　rewarding, but it doesn’t meet their emotional, social or creative needs.

　　They’re stuck, unhappy, and have no idea what to do about it, except move to

　　another job.

　　B) Mary Lyn Miller, veteran career consultant and founder of the Life and

　　Career Clinic, says that when most people are unhappy about their work, their

　　first thought is to get a different job. Instead, Miller suggests looking at the

　　possibility of a different life. Through her book, 8 Myths of Making a Living,

　　as well as workshops, seminars and personal coaching and consulting, she has

　　helped thousands of dissatisfied workers reassess life and work.

　　C) Like the way of Zen, which includes understanding of oneself as one

　　really is, Miller encourages job seekers and those dissatisfied work or life to

　　examine their beliefs about work and recognize that “in many cases your beliefs

　　are what brought you to where you are today.” You may have been raised to think

　　that women were best at nurturing and caring and, therefore, should be teachers

　　and nurses. So that’s what you did. Or, perhaps you were brought up to believe

　　that you should do what your father did, so you have taken over the family

　　business, or become a dentist “just like dad”. If this sounds familiar, it’s

　　probably time to look at the new possibilities for your future.

　　D) Miller developed a 7-step process to help potential job seekers assess

　　their current situation and beliefs, identify their real passion, and start on a

　　journey that allows them to pursue their passion through work.

　　E) Step 1: Willingness to do something different. Breaking the cycle of

　　doing what you have always done is one of the most difficult tasks for job

　　seekers. Many find it difficult to steer(行驶) away from a career path or make a

　　change, even if it doesn’t feel right. Miller urges job seekers to open their

　　minds to other possibilities beyond what they are currently doing.

　　F) Step 2: Commitment to being who you are, not who or what someone wants

　　you to be. Look at the gifts and talents you have and make a commitment to

　　pursue those things that you love most. If you love the social aspects of your

　　job, but are stuck inside an office or “chained to your desk” most of the time,

　　vow to follow your instinct and investigate alternative careers and work that

　　allow you more time to interact with others. Dawn worked as a manager for a

　　large retail clothing store for several years. Though she had advanced within

　　the company, she felt frustrated and longed to be involved with nature and the

　　outdoors. She decided to go to school nights and weekends to pursue her true

　　passion by earning her master’s degree in forestry(林业学). She now works in the

　　biotech forestry division of a major paper company.

　　G) Step 3: Self-definition. Miller suggests that once job seekers know who

　　they are, they need to know how to sell themselves. “In the job market, you are

　　a product. And just like a product, you must know the features and benefits that

　　you have to offer a potential client, or employer.” Examine the skills and

　　knowledge that you have and identify how they can apply to your desired

　　occupation. Your qualities will exhibit to employers why they should hire you

　　over other candidates.

　　H) Step 4: Attain a level of self-honoring. Self-honoring or self-love may

　　seem like an odd step for job hunters, but being able to accept yourself,

　　without judgment, helps eliminate insecurities and will make you more

　　self-assured. By accepting who you are—all your emotions, hopes and dreams, your

　　personality, and your unique way of being—you’ll project more confidence when

　　networking(沟通) and talking with potential employers. The power of self-honoring

　　can help to break all the falsehoods you were programmed to believe—those that

　　made you feel that you were not good enough, or strong enough, or intelligent

　　enough to do what you truly desire.

　　I) Step 5: Vision. Miller suggests that job seekers develop a vision that

　　embraces the answer to “What do I really want to do?” One should create a solid

　　statement in a dozen or so sentences that describe in detail how they see their

　　life related to work. For instance, the secretary who longs to be an actress

　　describes a life that allows her to express her love of Shakespeare on stage. A

　　real estate agent, attracted to his current job because he loves fixing up old

　　homes, describes buying properties that need a little tender loving care to make

　　them more saleable.

　　J) Step 6: Appropriate risk. Some philosophers believe that the way to

　　enlightenment(启迪) comes through facing obstacles and difficulties. Once people

　　discover their passion, many are too scared to do anything about it. Instead,

　　they do nothing. With this step, job seekers should assess what they are willing

　　to give up, or risk, in pursuit of their dream. For one working mom, that meant

　　taking night classes to learn new computer-aided design skills, while still

　　earning a salary and keeping her day job. For someone else, it may mean quitting

　　his or her job, taking out a loan and going back to school full time. You’ll

　　move one step closer to your ideal work life if you identify how much risk you

　　are willing to take and the sacrifices you are willing to make.

　　K) Step 7: Action. Some teachers of philosophy describe action in this way,

　　“If one wants to get to the top of a mountain, just sitting at the foot thinking

　　about it will not bring one there. It is by making the effort of climbing up the

　　mountain, step by step, that eventually the summit is reached.” All too often,

　　it is the lack of action that ultimately holds people back from attaining their

　　ideals. Creating a plan and taking it one step at a time can lead to new and

　　different job opportunities. Job-hunting tasks gain added meaning as you sense

　　their importance in your quest for a more meaningful work life. The plan can

　　include researching industries and occupations, talking to people who are in

　　your desired area of work, taking classes, or accepting volunteer work in your

　　targeted field.

　　46. Mary Lyn Miller suggests that job hunters imagine how they could answer

　　the question “What do I really want to do?”

　　47. Many people find it difficult to make up their minds to change their

　　career path, even if it doesn’t feel good now.

　　48. Mary Lyn Miller is an experienced consultant whose job is to advise

　　people on their life and career.

　　49. People should know their gifts and talents and commit themselves to the

　　pursuit of those things that they love most.

　　50. During an interview with potential employers, self-honoring may help a

　　job seeker to show more confidence.

　　51. The job seeker should examine skills and knowledge that he has, and

　　know how they can be used in the ideal job.

　　52. What ultimately prevents people from attaining their own ideals is the

　　lack of action.

　　53. Miller suggests that after knowing themselves, job seekers need to know

　　how to sell themselves.

　　54. Though they have discovered their passion, many people are so

　　frightened of obstacles and difficulties that they can’t pursue their

　　dreams.

　　55. People may have been taught to believe that they should follow in their

　　fathers’ footsteps, so they have taken over the family business.

[2013年6月英语四级长阅读理解]2013年6月英语四级长阅读真题

http://m.0477edu.com/thread-43713-1-1.html