Something’s happening to Australia’s workforce. And no, it’s not that Gen Z are lazy and lack resilience (thanks for the vote of confidence, Ita); it’s that unprecedented global events are catalysing unprecedented attitudes to work, with the question: what’s it all for?

Australian workers are exhausted, unwell and at risk of quitting. And it’s no surprise! The last three years have been a doozy. On the flip side, during the pandemic, 87,000 new businesses were launched across the country. That’s a whole lotta founders looking to navigate new business in uncertain territory. Yes, interests rates are up and the economy’s slowing, but a new generation of workers is looking for something beyond productivity and a busy badge of honour.

I can certainly relate to this desire for more. I started my business Make Do Co. to give female founders the holistic skills to run their businesses and their lives in a way that puts people alongside profit, and champions space and joy over burnout and overwhelm.

But I didn’t always work this way. In my 20s, navigating a new career in communications and a working environment that viewed people as collateral rather than colleagues, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there had to be a better way. Stepping out on my own was my way of reclaiming my right to work with integrity, creativity, meaning and respect – and I can’t help but think that same trend might be taking shape with this new generation of founders.

THE BIGGEST MYTHS YOU’RE UP AGAINST
For those wondering if work of purpose, heart and joy is truly possible, I want to tell you: it is! But to get there, you’ll have to take a critical eye to some of your subconscious assumptions to find a better way forward. Here are the career tips I wish I knew in my 20s, and how I waded that through the messy middle of hustle culture with all its myths and tricks. Let’s debunk a few common ones now:

MYTH 1: I’LL NEVER FIND A JOB I LOVE Early on in your career, the idea of following your passions can feel hopeless. You're just lucky to have a job that pays, right? But the truth is the more you lean in to what feels right, the more successful you will be.

While it can feel like you are just another cog in the wheel, the key is to craft out your own little place in the universe – by focusing on the work that doesn't feel like work for you. Refine the skills and talents that come to you joyfully. It will shine through in your work and ultimately, that’s what people will fall over themselves to hire you for!

MYTH 2: THE MORE I HUSTLE, THE MORE I’LL ACHIEVE When you enter the workforce, it can be tempting to opt-in to the default mode of hustle culture – which is all about a frenetic energy to get further ahead – but paradoxically you are far better to slow down and create your own pace.

True success is a long game. It’s very hard to reach or even enjoy achievement if you are burnt out and overwhelmed. Put your whole self before hustle and set yourself up for success.

MYTH 3: I NEED TO WORK HARDER AND LONGER TO MAKE MORE MONEY Relentless output is not smart. Be strategic about your work or business. Focus on what value you offer, over how much you ‘do’. When my coaching clients come to me with a new project or new service that they want to offer to increase their earnings, I get them to look critically at what they are truly offering. It’s easy to focus on your output as the best measure and charge accordingly. But your clients or employees don’t actually care about how hard or long you’ve worked – they care about the value you create for them.

Get clear on where you offer the most value. Double down on that value and ask your clients or employers to pay you what you deserve. Then? Create 10 times the value of what they have been promised through your stellar results. No one questions premium rates when it’s worth it. Promise.

See more from Johanna by checking out her website, Make Do Co.

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