8/2/2019 365 Holiday Days Per Year
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VCV magazine 242 | 9
ENERGY & BALANCE
Are you one of those people who lives from
holiday to holiday? Or do you count down the
holiday days that are left until you can go back
to work?
Increasing numbers of people who have founda job that really
suits them dont feel as if they
are at work. I have noticed that, especially for
one-man-bands, working and private lives are
hugely intermingled. There are also those with
a boss who have truly found a good balance.
They dont mind working a bit on a Sunday
afternoon. But theyll also go to the hairdressers
on a weekday afternoon or spend some time
with their kids. Of course theres lots of
networking (read: lunches or drinks!) and
all those business relations are or become
friends. You could say, therefore, that either
youre always working orhave the feeling
youre never working! Strangely enough yourarely hear about the
number of hours they
work from people who have managed to divide
their time as they see fit. Its a choice theyve
made and are comfortable with.
Aprils Psychology Magazinementions
12 factors that determine whether someones
happy with their job. A number of factors apply
mainly to working for a boss, but you can also
apply most of them if youre a one-man-band.
Instead of boss, you could read client, for
example. You can test yourself by assigning
each factor a grade. The higher the grade,
the happier you are with that point:
1. Do you have sufficient influence on thecontent of your
working day?
2. Do you use your strengths in your job?
3. Is your work averagely difficult so that
you have enough of a challenge but are not
constantly stressed?
4. Is there enough variation, but not so much
it stresses you?
5. Do you know what is expected of you?
6. Do you have enough social contact at work?
7. Do you have a good salary/income?
8. Do you have a safe and pleasant working
environment?
9. Is your work appreciated by yourself
and others?
10. Do you have a pleasant relationship
with your boss?
11. Do you have good future prospects?12. Are staff and others
treated fairly?
One-man-band or wage slave I notice that
flexibility and the ability to define your own
time are much-mentioned factors for happiness.
This is also reflected in recent research by
Nyenrode and the Persgroep Banen, in which
a good balance between work and the private
sphere and the option of dividing your own time
are mentioned as the most important drivers
when choosing a job. Next are the drivers
challenge and development and freedom
and autonomy. Of course everyone has to
have his or her own playing scope. For somefreedom is a
happiness factor, for others it
makes them feel adrift.
Huub van Zwieten from Talentfirst.nl wrote
the book 365 days of holiday per year, in which
he explains this phenomenon. If youre doing
work you really enjoy it no longer feels like work.
You have to discover your own strengths and
happiness factors. Of course, the self-appointed
dream job guru turns his theory into practice
by only organizing fun events, writing books and
inspiring people. I recently had a meeting with
him on his boat as we traversed the Amsterdam
canals. No less productive, and certainly more
fun than a boring meeting room!
I am personally on a sailing trip through the
Caribbean at the moment. The ultimate holiday,
or merely a change in working environment?While sailing I am
writing three new books,
translating my book Whats your excuse?
into English and promoting it in the US, setting
up a coaching club for one-man-bands, giving
long-distance seminars to people who want to
chase their dreams and, of course, gathering
new inspiration. I just have to convince the
tax authorities that I am really working, here
in my bikini on the boat Perhaps I can even
declare my travel expenses? Will have to ask
my accountant.
Unfortunately its tricky creating a good
working environment on a boat. Inspiration
enough (believe me!), but translating it intoaction is not easy.
Especially when I need the
internet. We first have to enter a port, have
Wi-Fi reception, or mess around in an internet
caf with the ubiquitous slow connection. It all
makes me painfully aware that I am at work,
while this is normally so seamless. And this
is the issue. Should I switch of my inspiration
button? Or make more of an effort to spend
more time on the www? In both cases I feel
a little guilty. Dont get me wrong: the sailing
is superb and island hopping is a unique
experience! But strangely enough I very
occasionally find myself counting the days
until I can get back to work normally
365 holiday daysper year
If youre doing work
you really enjoy it no
longer feels like work.
You have to discover
your own strengths andhappiness factors.
ESTHER JACOBS (19890074) GIVES
MOTIVATIONAL SPEE CHES AND WORKSHOPS
ABOUT THINKING DIFFERENTLY. HER MOTTO
IS: DO MORE WITH LESS. SHE HAS
TRAVELLEDTHROUGH OVER 100 COUNTRIES
AND SPEAKS 7 LANGUAGES. HER FIRST BOOK
WHATS YOUR EXCUSE? IS ABOUT THE
EXCUSES PEOPLE MAKE FOR NOT CHASING
THEIR DREAM. ESTHER WORKS JUST A FEW
MONTHS A YEAR AND DIVIDES HER TIME
BETWEEN CURACAO AND AMSTERDAM.
[email protected]
WWW.ESTHERJACOBS.INFO
WWW.WATISJOUWEXCUUS.INFO
