By GREGORY SMITH
Business Columnist

Eannie meanie miney mo. Is it time to stay or time to go? A decision on whether to change jobs is one that all people in the work force face at some point. You begin to wonder whether you should move on—a change for the better, you hope.

The desire may extend beyond a new job in the same field—you may want to enter a totally different field of work. Before making such an important decision, however, take time to explore your reasons. Are you considering a job change to escape from the same problems that caused you to change jobs before? If so, they'll probably crop up again in the new position. Consider working on personal perceptions and attitudes instead of moving from job to job. Here are a few questions to ask yourself.

Question 1-Are you upset over a particular situation? Emotional reactions to situations encourage us to take drastic steps—not always the best thing to do.

Question 2-Are you restless and bored in your job? Before leaving, investigate ways to increase the job challenge. Let your boss know you are interested in taking on more responsibility as an avenue to a better position.

Question 3-Are you dissatisfied with compensation? Be sure that higher pay in a new job doesn't come at the cost of important benefits or quality of life issues.

Considering not just a job change but a career change? Identify what it is you dislike. Perhaps you chose the right career, but accepted the wrong job in that field. If you are considering making a change, consider visiting our website at

http://www.chartcourse.com/ttiassessments.html for our assessments that can help you identify your strengths and tendencies, and provide insight about professions where you might do well.

Before making a job change, take time to think it through—listen to your deeper instincts. It may feel like a relief to quit that job—and it may be the best thing for you to do. But before you make your decision, be honest about your motivation and consider all the aspects, both positive and negative. The subject of changing jobs leads us to another change.

Unless, like Rip van Winkle, you have been asleep for the past 20 years, you now are entering the new millennium. Arguments aside about whether it begins in the year 2000 or the year 2001, most people experience at least a twinge of excitement about the turn of the century.

Many mention a feeling of anticipation—time for a new beginning—not uncommon at the beginning of any new year, but especially prevalent for this new year of 2000. In the midst of all the anticipation, excitement and, yes, even some fear and dread, perhaps we should ask ourselves, “What is truly important to me as I enter the year 2000?” Life presents numerous choices and we make both small and large decisions.

Major decisions include those about our religious beliefs, our jobs, our families and our health. Sometimes, however, our lives become so busy we allow things to occur not so much by choice as by default. We drift or struggle along without consciously thinking about where we have been, where we are, or where we are going or would like to go. We may feel like we're on a treadmill, running hard but getting nowhere.

We are not even sure what would make us happy—or of our purpose in life—and we're too “busy” to decide. The approach of this special new year provides a real incentive to take time to think about and discover our true purpose in life—to evaluate not so much what we want as what we need.

Job satisfaction, good personal relationships, a closer relationship with God—all part of a satisfying life. We may think we want more money, more prestige, more adulation, but if we get these things, will they truly satisfy our innermost needs—particularly if we pay too high a price for them? We won't be around for the next millennium, so why not use this one to our best advantage.

Free by e-mail/fax: If you would like a free article on how to keep your business and life on-course please fax us your name on your letterhead or E-mail us with the words, “Keeping On-Course”

to770-760-0581/greg@chartcourse.com.

Gregory P. Smith shows businesses how to build productive and profitable work environments that attract, keep and motivate their workforce. He speaks at conferences and is the President of a management consulting firm called Chart Your Course International located in Conyers, Georgia. Phone him at (770)860-9464 or send an email at greg@chartcourse.com. More information and articles are available at www.ChartCourse.com.

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