The work maze

Sometimes you need to evaluate your work life. I am reading "The Four Hour Work Week" and the author posits that the opposite of happiness is not sadness, it is boredom. Brilliant. Because boredom is the one most unbearable condition in the world. Fear of Boredom is why I take five books and ten magazines on an airplane with me. I've never read five books and ten magazines, but I feel safer from the brutal possibility of boredom.

I worry about work when it becomes boring. When it is diminishing instead of growing. When my accomplishments are ignored or credited to others. And based on several of the articles I have been reading on the internet, I am correct to worry.

The title of this article is not accurate, but some of the information in it affirms what I already know and believe:


Employee Beware: Five Signs of a Lousy Job

Ever known someone who worked at the same job for years, but complained about it daily? Have you accepted an unfulfilling job because you think work is work and it doesn't need to be enjoyable? The fact is many people are stuck in lousy jobs and have either grown complacent, don't know that there are better options out there, or just aren't sure what the warning signs are.
Here are some signs it's time to look for greener pastures:

1. You dread going to work.
How you feel about going in to your job each day can tell you a lot about whether it is the job for you, says Andrea Kay, career consultant and author of "Life's a B*tch and Then You Change Careers." Do you wake up in the morning and dread leaving your house for the office? While you are not expected to jump up and down with excitement every Monday morning, feeling constant job-related anxiety is a significant sign that you are in the wrong place.

2. You get no enjoyment from your day-to-day responsibilities.
No job is fun and games every day, but you should find some enjoyment in your daily responsibilities. Kay says that examining your job's typical duties is important to gauging whether or not it is a good fit.

The things you do daily should fit with your strengths, which are the things you like to do and do well, Kay says. For example, if you are happiest when you are out communicating with people, you probably will not be happy working with numbers and spreadsheets all day.

3. You are uncomfortable with the company culture and environment.
Some people write off the importance of culture in the workplace, but it can have a dramatic effect on your overall happiness and success. Kay says you need to ask yourself if you feel comfortable with the values of the organization. Are they in alignment with your own?

Additionally, the work environment can be another big factor in determining if a job is one that meets your needs. For example, if you love to spend all your time outdoors, you might not be happy sitting behind a desk day in and day out.

4. Your relationship with your boss is turbulent.
Problems with the boss are the most common reason that professionals give for leaving jobs, and the employee/employer relationship is critical to overall job satisfaction. "Define what would be an ideal relationship with your boss so you can take the initiative to help create it or know what to look for," Kay says. For example, do you like someone who works closely with you or would you rather work for someone who is hands-off? Only after you determine what your ideal is can you assess whether or not your relationship is living up to it.

5. You see no opportunities for career advancement or enhancement.
If your company does not place an importance on job training and professional development, this should raise some concerns. Similarly, if you have been stuck in the same position for years, have the desire to move up, but are not given the opportunity to do so, you might want to re-evaluate your situation.

While Kay says these five factors can be indicators of a lousy job, she also strongly cautions against using them as an excuse to leave without first taking some initiative to change your current situation. For example, if you feel like you have not been provided with opportunities to advance, proactively seek out these opportunities by talking with your boss or consulting human resources. If you feel like you do not fit in with the culture, assess whether or not you have made an effort.

"You need to ask yourself 'have I done everything that I can to explore advancing or enhancing my career here?'" Kay says. "Do what's in your power to make a difference."

If you are still feeling unsatisfied, the job is probably just not for you. And while it might be time to look for something new, your lousy job is not a total loss -- use what you've learned to help you find the right fit next time.

Copyright 2007 CareerBuilder.com. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without prior written authority.

Story Filed Monday, September 24, 2007 - 3:50 PM

Chinese leaders say the country faces a critical water shortage

Water. Water is the resource we cannot do without.

It's a lot of information to put together from all over the world. Pollution. Salinity of irrigated farmlands. Urban/suburban sprawl.



ABC News

Pollution Turns Chinese River System Red

Pollution Turns Central China River System Red and Foamy, As Many As 200,000 Without Water

By ANITA CHANG

The Associated Press

BEIJING

Pollution turned part of a major river system in central China red and foamy, forcing authorities to cut water supplies to as many as 200,000 people, the provincial government and a state news agency said Wednesday.

Some communities along tributaries of the Han River a branch of the Yangtze in Hubei province were using emergency water supplies, while at least 60,000 people were relying on bottled water and limited underground sources, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Residents in some towns were getting water from fire trucks, the Hubei provincial government said on its Web site.

Five schools were closed in Xingou township, while others could not provide food to students, the Xinhua report said without elaborating.

The pollution was discovered Sunday when water plant workers from Jianli County found that the Dongjing River, a tributary of the Han, had turned red and foamy, the Hubei Web site said.

Water plants along the river suspended intake and cut tap water to as many as 120,000 people, according to reports on the site. Xinhua said 200,000 people were without water.

Tests showed the polluted waters contained elevated levels of ammonia, nitrogen, and permanganate, a chemical used in metal cleaning, tanning and bleaching, Xinhua said. The pollution apparently flowed down from the Han River, the Hubei government said without elaborating on its source.

Water from nearby Lake Chang was being diverted to dilute the pollution.

Most of China's canals, rivers and lakes are severely tainted by industrial, agricultural and household pollution. Chinese leaders say the country faces a critical water shortage, partly due to chronic pollution and chemical accidents.

In one of China's worst cases of river pollution, potentially cancer-causing chemicals, including benzene, spilled into the Songhua River in November 2005. The northeastern city of Harbin was forced to sever water supplies to 3.8 million people for five days. The accident also strained relations with Russia, into which the poisoned waters flowed.

A paper mill dumped waste water directly into the Han in September 2006, forcing authorities to cut water supplies for a week in some areas, the Xinhua and government reports said. They did not say how many people were affected.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Copyright © 2008 ABC News Internet Ventures

The Itch

New York Times article about itching will make you itch, very good article but it really does make you start itching.