A recent study conducted by The Conference Board, a market information company, deterermined that young Americans hate their jobs more than ever before. Less than 39% of workers under 25 report being satisfied with their current position. When the same study was conducted 20 years ago, 61% of all participants were satisfied with their employment situation.

Perhaps the reason so many young professionals are unhappy with their careers is because they are more concerned with being happy outside of the office walls. The 2001 study, "The Next Generation: Today's Professionals, Tomorrow's Leaders," directed by Paulette Gerkovich of Catalyst, a leading research and advisory organization, found that 79% of respondents said that it was extrememly important to enjoy life. Only 22% rated having a variety of responsiblities at work as extrememly important, and just 16% of respondents stated that it is extrememly important to become an influential leader.

And can you really blame us? Studies show the older we get, the more we regret the fun we misssed out on. In the words of former Massachusetts Senator Paul Tsongas, "Nobody on his deathbed ever said, 'I wish I had spent more time at the office.'"

In a recent study, scientists showed participants a particular brand of soda and then asked them to list alternative brands. When working alone, participants consistently were able to list more soda brands than when working in a group – a blow to "group think" advocates.

In fact, some experts say group brainstorming sessions can actually stifle creativity rather than foster it. Like the old adage, "The squeaky wheel gets the oil," often the idea that gets repeated the most and the loudest is the most likely to be acted out even if it IS dumb.

Many creative thinkers need time and clarity to foster ideas. The more "brainstorms" that get thrown into the pot, the murkier their minds become and the more likely they are to just accept the general consensus rather than fight through the commotion in order to come up with a stellar idea on the spot.

While group meetings may be necessary for day to day operation of a company, it may be time for managers to rethink the idea of groupthink. A healthy alternative – each group member should first brainstorm on their own and then come together to discuss options as a group.

Here are two examples of people making a living at not making a living.

OddTodd.com

This guy cracks me up. He lost his job in a downsizing and documented his life from that point forward. He has built a successful website and has written a few books. This guy built a franchise reporting on what he did as a laid off employee.

Watch his first two cartoons/Flash animations before diving into his site. (There is some adult humor) This will put the rest of his site into perspective.

http://www.oddtodd.com/index2.html

http://www.oddtodd.com/hw.html

While he appears to be a big slacker, he is a very talented guy. If you need a great laugh ” everyone needs one dealing with the stress of finding a new job ” his site will make you smile.

Visit www.oddtodd.com

Fired! (The Movie)

Annabelle Gurwitch, an actress, was fired from a play produced by Woody Allen. To cope, she turned to friends in show business and soon found out she was not alone. Once the subject had been broached, everyone she knew from her rabbi and gynecologists to her colleagues had advice and their own accounts of getting the boot. This set her off on a journey to answer the question: was being fired going to be the best or worst thing that had happened in her working life?

Her experience led to a book that hit the New York Post's Hot List and was featured in Oprah's Anticipation list. She continued her research from famous actors to GM auto workers and turned her findings into a movie.

Fired! reminds us that great successes can be born from failure and being fired can be a part of the growth process, that humor helps, and that if you're employed in America today your firing may be both the best and the worst thing that can happen in your working life.

The movie opened Feb 2, 2007 in New York. http://www.firedthemovie.com/see.html

Visit www.firedthemovie.com/