Three Signs You Are On A Hedonic Career Treadmill

If the corporate rat race is leaving you feeling battered and bruised, the time is right to stop running on the hedonic career treadmill and follow a new path.

The psychological phenomenon known as the “hedonic treadmill” is the mind’s tendency to return to its baseline level of happiness once the initial thrill or heartbreak of an event fades. Although external achievements briefly make people happier, the euphoria quickly diminishes.

The term hedonic treadmill was coined by Philip Brickman and Donald Campbell, two psychologists who conducted a study comparing the happiness levels of lottery winners and accident victims. After the high of winning the lottery and the low of the accident wore off, the psychologists found the participants’ happiness levels returned to their original baseline.

Although it’s hard to believe, receiving a windfall did not make lottery winners any happier than they were before they read the numbers on the television screen. Despite having a serious lasting injury—paraplegia—accident victims were not any sadder than they were before the tragic event.

When it comes to work, the hedonic career treadmill traps many industrious Americans and prevents them from achieving financial freedom and self-sufficiency. The theory explains why our salaries are never as high as we want. It’s the reason we constantly strive to reach the next rung on the corporate ladder and consistently have our eyes open for new opportunities. If this sounds familiar, I’m not surprised.

Here are three signs you are on a hedonic career treadmill.

1. Are you constantly on the lookout for the elusive corporate role with the pay you deserve and the security you crave?

2. Did you finally get a promotion and are still unsatisfied at the office?

3. Are you chasing rainbows? Do you think you will hit the big time when you can afford to splurge on a new SUV, install a backyard swimming pool or take the family on an extended trip to Europe?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, take a moment to towel your brow and grab a swig from your water bottle before the treadmill kicks into high gear. Take solace in the fact that you aren’t alone. Higher pay is one of the most important factors people consider when they are looking for a new job. At least 64% want higher pay at their next job, according to a survey of 13,085 Americans conducted by Gallup. A whopping 93% of Americans are still on the hunt for their dream job.

Coaching Shows You How To Unplug The Treadmill

Is running on the hedonic career treadmill leaving you breathless and unsatisfied? Do you question whether you can achieve your dreams at your corporate job? If you are feeling battered and bruised on the job and exhausted from trying to keep up with the Joneses, there is hope.

Rather than sitting around waiting for the perfect job to fall in your lap or shelling out some cash for a snazzy new boat that will only make you happy for a brief time, invest in yourself. Career coaching is a great tool to allow you to hit pause on the treadmill and discover a more fulfilling path. Coaches work with people to help them discover their income and lifestyle goals. They open their eyes to the possibility of a different future.

Entrepreneurship Could Raise The Happiness Baseline

Even though the cycle of the hedonic career treadmill is difficult to break, it is possible. The upheaval of the past few years has many people searching for stability. Turning to corporate America to find the stability you crave may be a pipe dream. Most Americans are not going to receive a gold watch at their 35-year retirement party from their corporate job. Those days are long gone. Young Baby Boomers hold an average of 12.4 jobs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Millennials and members of Generation Z, who have a reputation for job-hopping, spend an average of less than three years at a job.

Career coaching helps people discover their corporate jobs may not live up to the hype. To build a better you, take charge of your future as a business owner. Stop seeking professional accolades and pursue long-lasting fulfillment through entrepreneurship. Finding a way to be self-sufficient is the best strategy to discover stability and job security. Franchising (full disclosure: my specialty) provides a low-risk, high-reward opportunity for business owners who want to run a business but desire the security of a proven business model and support.

Research reveals a steady stream of positive emotions will help you unplug the treadmill. Taking steps to achieve your goals through business ownership can get your endorphins pumping and help you raise the bar on your happiness.