In the past, I considered my untemplating life to be perpetually on hold. I was waiting for that perfect moment to change everything and really “go for it!” This site and others have given me the certainty that many people feel that way. If we were portrayed in a picture, we would be a long line of people waiting for a bus, debating whether or not we’ll get on it when it arrives.
(Or a hybrid bus. I’m trying to be green this year.)
Lately, I have been trying out a new way of looking at things. Call it my attempt at slowly breaking down the barriers between my day-to-day, and the rest of life outside of my routine.
Nope, this is not one of those posts about the many goals I have for 2010 – although, I love the concept of writing about goals. This is also not a post about going out and seeking the perfect job – although, that type of strategy is something I always welcome. It’s a post about using where you are to get where you’re going – to change your template while making sure to save your document at the same time. (Ba dum ching.)
My favorite quote ever is by Theodore Roosevelt: Do what you can, where you are, with what you have. It’s not just a magnet on my fridge, it’s my real philosophy.
In the nonprofit sector, you are either an intern/entry level/does random stuff person, OR you are a senior staff member. Middle Management has become ambiguous, if not downright dangerous territory.
You don’t always have clear instruction. You may be asked to do things that you did as an intern. Your boss may not let your innovative thinking shine through in the way you know it needs to in order to CHANGE THE WORLD.
These things are a recipe for frustration and job dissatisfaction.
Low Pay + Ambiguous Job Description + Overworked = Burn Out.
To start 2010 off on the right foot, I am Untemplating that equation. Permanently.
Here are some tips I’ve found to help you through the MOTR place:
Take Initiative. One way of ensuring that you wont always be looked at as “just another employee” is to start engaging with your organization. Try to figure out the best way to make your contribution, and get working on it.
Make Friends with your Coworkers. Seriously. Not everyone will agree with this piece of advice – and I think that’s totally fine. It depends on who you are and what you want out of work. But, if you want to make yourself more multifaceted, engaged, and interested in your MOTR job, your coworkers are a great asset. You can learn about what their day-to-day looks like, bounce ideas off of someone with related experience, and make sure that you follow through on side projects too.
Don’t Be Afraid to Pitch In. One of the things I have learned in my career is that each position is vital in a nonprofit. You aren’t (usually)dealing with a company that has a large amount of assets. Everyone has to pull their weight, and sometimes with little reward. Take the time to help the Office Manager sort the mail if she’s feeling overwhelmed. Help program people complete a side project. Use a few spare minutes to help your fundraising team stuff a mailing.
Being in the MOTR is not easy –nor is it remotely glamorous. One thing I have learned in my short time of leading an Untemplater lifestyle is that it’s all about the mindset. Move forward and think outside the job description. Use that time to get the most that you can out of your experience. Maybe it’s not breaking the mold just yet, but it’s guaranteed to be a great start.
great post. I’m living a similar story to you but rather non-profit, in education. I just started looking at my job as you have described. I want to do my job better than i ever have. And doing so requires jumping into new projects and initiatives that i havent dont before. But i like it. I like learning the new things and being part of something else. Before my hardest decision was what i was having for lunch. Now i would rather skip lunch and work on something. Again great post and i look forward to more of your insight. I feel you connect with us “regular” people really well.
That’s really great to hear, David. Especially in education, the need for dedication and taking things to the next level is obviously really important. Thanks so much for your comment!
One thing i realized about waiting for the bus is that you never get that “tada” moment when everything becomes clear to you, and you can change your life for the better. You have to take initiative, which is why I love this post.
The Roosevelt quote has always been a long time favorite of mine. And the tips, personally tested by me, are all true! Fantastic post.
Thanks so much for your comment, Arsene. I think that theres definitely not yet been a tada moment for me, but that I’m trying to make things happen slowly. I’m hoping it is a step in the right direction!
Nice writing! I’ve been in both the non-profit world and private world and your advice holds true for either (except for the low pay part). I’ve always done things by the mantra “Do it first, apologize later.” which has done well for me. In other words, don’t be afraid to do things outside of your job description, and if someone doesn’t like it, apologize.
Keep fighting the good fight and helping the world!
Thanks for the reply, Kyle! I think that its really a good motto to live by – especially what you say about job descriptions. There is definitely room to move around and be flexible nowadays. People are looking for diversified skill sets. I’m going to definitely adopt that mantra!
Great post, Beth! I love your outlook, and your tips are relevant to people in every industry. We can wake up every day, go about our same routine, do our job and go home. Or, we can follow your tips and make our job our own. We shouldn’t be limited by our job title or our job description, or even by our skills. Learning something new is a fantastic opportunity. Looking forward to seeing more posts from you here!
Thanks for the comment, Sam! I think its important for people to realize that it’s for every industry, not just nonprofit. Def. key to remember!
Thanks for reminding me that sometimes you have to put in a little extra to get what you want out of your job. I’ve found that the best thing I can do at my job is be friendly with my coworkers. It definitely makes the day go by faster and is always more enjoyable.
It’s nice to know that there are others that feel a little stuck in the middle as well 🙂
I don’t really have any stories to relate since I started walking a path that other’s say you are supposed to walk to make your dreams come true. I have just recently started sorting through the mess and finding inspiration to make my outcome what I want. Not what is supposed to ideally happen. Great work, this post plus many more I have read has contributed to my inspiration of successfully leading a life I will be happy with.
Thanks for the comment Ryan! I definitely gain inspiration from a lot of the posts about people leading very different lives from me. It helps me to get a sense of what the possibilities are, and what kind of choices I will be able to make.
“Low Pay + Ambiguous Job Description + Overworked = Burn Out.” Beth, you definitely hit the nail on the head! It’s definitely a formula that I (and albeit many others) can relate to. And yes, getting along with your co-workers can make a difference! Camaraderie in the office can be a lifesaver. Great post! Looking forward to reading more of your thoughts!
Thank you! I think that one of the biggest benefits to coworkers is just the ability to talk things out without explaining. They know the cast of characters and the plot… it’s a lifesaver for sure! 🙂
Great and eloquent advice for the day-to-day to help with the big picture. I have also found that the more I invest my company, the more interesting and fulfilling my job becomes.
Great quote, couldn’t agree more- doing what we can, where we are and with what we have will help us get to where we can to be and accomplish things we thought we couldn’t.
Thanks Beth – look forward to reading more from you!
Yeah, I think it is a daily struggle to sort of SEE the opportunities in the day-to-day, but I guess it is those types of challenges that make us valuable to the organization/company that we work for 🙂
Your tips are go straight to the core of the institutional problem in a lot of organization and or private or non-profit . People are afraid or not motivated to take initiative. Maybe because there is no reward and people just work for the pay check. There is not care for the cause or the mission of the organization. Making friends at work can be some time hard even thought every or almost all the co-workers are looking for a friend at work. We need to make friends with the people that we work with. Because we spend most of our live with them. 40 hours a week how many in the course of a life. The last one might be the most important tip, don’t be afraid of pitch or talk. In some organizations there is a cultures of a vertical management lower people are afraid to talk with the upper management. Upper management sometime are so up in the latter that they are not in touch with the reality of the office life.
So congrats Beth for the tips and for trying to implement them in your professional life.
I definitely think a strong connection between management and staff is important – especially in a grassroots nonprofit. It is key to know what your staff are doing, thinking, feeling, and if you can do things even better than how you’re doing them. Very key.