While rolling down my sleeve from next set of immunizations, a different nurse poked her head into room. "I overheard your conversation at desk." she said to Dan. "We've never had that situation, so I thought it best to call drug manufacturer for advice. Turns out you need to retake entire dosage." We were grateful she took extra step.

It's not possible to know all answers to all questions you'll get tossed in workplace. But, be willing to say when you don't. That's better than giving out misinformation or guessing at an answer without making it clear it's a guess. People who are winning at working add four words - "but I'll find out." And they do find out and get back to person. That extra step differentiates their performance in workplace.

-You start to lose interest in your job. Next thing you know you start to dread Monday’s and long for Fridays. Your energy, confidence, creativity and excitement feel like they are being drained from you.

Then you start to think maybe there is a better job out there for you. You begin to envision what that job might be, but then you get scared or feel like it will be too much work to move on from where you are.

Now you think things could be worse and money is good, so you’ll stay. You seem to have more energy and you start finding things you can be interested in. Your confidence, creativity and excitement start to build again.

A couple of months later you wonder why your energy and interest have dropped, Monday’s are terrible, and your confidence, creativity and excitement are no more.

And so begins cycle again. You remain in this cycle because as we reviewed in previous articles:

-You believe myths -You give away your power -You put your attention on what you don’t want

And final reason…

-You try to go it alone

Why is it so important that you get help getting unslumped and moving towards work that will REALLY satisfy you? Because you have probably been in your slump cycle for years and haven’t been able to get out of it on your own!

I was in one for 15 years. My clients on average have been in theirs for at least 5 years. Being in a slump wears on your confidence and belief that there is work out there that will really satisfy you and that you can find it.