In the last 6 months the way I relate to my job has completely transformed. Referring to my job I now say “I LOVE IT!!” instead of first noting everything that’s wrong and then mentioning what’s to like.

A few weeks ago I posted to Facebook “I love my job now that I know the secret to job satisfaction”. The post elicited a fair number of comments and ‘likes’, some of which jokingly asked if the secret is alcohol. The secret isn’t really a secret at all, it’s just a perspective.

So what’s changed? Same company, same job, same people, same benefits. What’s changed is me and my outlook.

Here are my top 15 tips to loving your corporate job (in no particular order). Some of these apply to any job but corporate employment comes with unique challenges. If you have others please share in the comments.

1. Appreciate what you have

   You are fortunate to have a job. Everyone needs one, not everyone has one. If you don’t have one now, imagine the feeling when you finally do. Keep that feeling with you throughout your tenure.

2. Love what you do, do what you love

   It’s one thing to hate your job it’s another to hate your career. It’s never too late to make a fresh start, you only need time and courage. Consider how long it will take to start a new career then put your goal in motion.

3. Give up your complaints

   Consider how few of the complaints you have are likely to vanish with a new employer. Don’t like the system, executive leadership, or workload? How about “whoever was the idiot who decided it was a good idea to…”? The same issues will persist wherever you work. Good points will be replaced with bad and bad replaced with good – either way, the result will be a balance of stuff you do and don’t love.

4. Job security is a net not a trap

   Like it or not you’ll have to get up most days of the year for much of your adult life to find some way to make money. Don’t see your job as a necessary evil. If you stay in an unhappy job for no other reason than the security it provides consider other jobs you’ve had in your life. None of them were an actual trap. Eventually you moved on. The question is, will you move on when you realize it’s time or only when someone else sets you free?

5. Resist the urge to build negative friendships

   Finding people to agree “work sucks” doesn’t make it suck less. If you can’t find someone with a positive outlook be that person yourself. Ever notice how someone with good energy lifts the spirits of everyone around them? Be that person.

6. Communicate with your manager

   Build a relationship of mutual trust and open dialogue. Is something working well for you? Let your manager know. Is something not working as you expected? Let your manager know. Is your manager the problem? Ask your senior manager for advice. Resist the urge to blame your manager or anyone else. Expectations aren’t always met, finding who’s to blame is less important than finding who can help resolve the problem.

7. Connect with your teammates

   You spend more time with your coworkers than your family or friends. If you’re the type to go to work and want to be left alone all day consider how unfulfilling this is, not only to yourself but to others. Take the time to get to know your teammates, if only for a few minutes each day speak with one another about life or shared interests.

8. Look for opportunities to shine

   You may not realize this but one of your best asset is the ease with which you complete a given task. We are not all experts but we all have expertise. Look for opportunities to share your expertise with others. Some of the most respected people in your industry give away more knowledge than they keep.

9. Admit when you’re sick

   Your health is always more important than your job. If you’re getting sick STAY HOME. Don’t go to the office knowing full well by the end of the day you’ll be too sick to come in the next. No matter the project, the meeting, or the responsibility your company will survive the 2 or 3 days you need to rest.

10. Be kind to yourself

    You work hard, we all do, but no one should be expected to work themselves to the point of insanity. If you’ve been putting in more than 100% for an extended period of time or if you just haven’t had a break in far too long it’s time to love yourself and take a day off. Giving your mind and body a rest will make you happier and more productive. Your company is much better served having you in the office, happy and well rested than grumpy and tired.

11. Get the compensation you deserve

    More money will only make you wildly happy for so long (just long enough to figure out what to do with it) but a sense of fairness should always keep you satisfied. If you consider 10 years ago you thought “if only I made more money I would be happier” logic would dictate that 10 years later you’d be 10 times happier (assuming your pay has gone up over the years). Getting paid your worth is what you should be satisfied with. If you feel undervalued, discuss it with your company or manager and be prepared to justify your valuation.

12. Respect the top

    You might think the business is run by chickenheads but consider your ignorance of the bigger picture. Running a flawless enterprise is impossible. The higher you go up the corporate ladder the harder it becomes to sustain the level of quality you’d like because you simply can’t control everything.

13. Give your best effort

    If everyone in your company gave their best effort you’d be the most successful brand in history. What’s to stop that from happening? Motivate yourself, motivate others, have respect for your work and your company’s success.

14. Celebrate success

    Inevitably, people around you will rise and experience great success. Celebrate their success, be genuinely happy, congratulate them and develop strong relationships. The network you build today will carry your career tomorrow.

15. Smile

    Whenever you can, share a smile with people you don’t know. Creating a smile on a stranger’s face will warm your heart. Your smile brings joy to their life, joy is the greatest gift you can give.