According to www.inthenews.co.uk (Friday, 11 May 2007), more than half of workers in the UK say they would be happy to trade in their high salaries for a job that gives them fulfilment and a sense of self-worth.

A new survey says that 47 per cent of Britons are aiming to have a second career by the time they reach 45. Two-thirds of respondents told Norwich Union, which conducted the research, they are "unfulfilled, miserable or drifting" in their current roles.

The most popular career change jobs named in the 'zenployment' survey include animal welfare worker, counsellor, yoga teacher (interested? Try: kevala yoga teacher course), gardener, artist, climate campaigner and personal trainer.

"This research is further evidence that we're entering a new era, with a society that is less selfish and increasingly focused on personal fulfilment," commented William Nelson of trend analyst Future Foundation.

"In fact, rising affluence and high employment levels mean most of us now feel pretty secure in providing for our basic needs, especially once we are established in careers and the housing market."

And Norwich Union's Simon Quick added: "Once we dreamed of retirement to a country cottage or villa abroad, but this research reveals British workers now aim to do something that offers them fulfilment in the second stage of their lives."

Read the whole story at: http://www.inthenews.co.uk/money/news/finance/half-britain-wants-happiness-over-money-$1084195.htm

Last edited: 11-05-2007 01:50:55 PM

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These are quite amazing statistics actually, and surely evidence that a shift in consciousness is starting to happen on quite a large scale.

How many people would likely have put 'Yoga teacher' down on a similar type of survey 10 or 20 years ago? Probably far less than 1% I reckon.

Last edited: 11-05-2007 07:42:15 PM

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Hmmm very interesting however I think what people 'say' they will do/they want in a survey and what they actually act on are very different things.

I would guess there are a number of those people (and I am willing to count myself in that number) that would 'say' - 'I would swap what I have to be what I want to be' (strangely perhaps I work in commercial finance and teach yoga part time) because they do really want that however, they are afraid to (I am) let go of the safety of a regular income and some certainty in their future.

In my defence, I am working towards making that break but I know that I need the comfort of financial security to at least a basic level (don't need/want a fancy car etc but do need to know I have a roof over my head, food in my belly etc) before I can make that break. The survey is perhaps however a good measure that peoples dreams are no longer a porche, house in Monte Carlo, New York and Rome etc. but something more spiritual perhaps?

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I must admit having a tad scepticism here.

The proof is in the pudding. 'Tis easy to make such declarations on paper. Actions speak louder than words.

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Here's the full release - I'm hopeful...

UK: Britain's bosses to face a rush of resignations as fortysomething workers chase fulfilment
11 May, 2007
• Over half planning second careers that let them make a difference by 45
Britain's bosses face a rush of resignations from fortysomething workers putting satisfaction before success - almost half of Brits want a second more compassionate career by 45, according to a new study.

Two thirds (66%) told researchers for Norwich Union they are "unfulfilled", "miserable" or "drifting" in their jobs, and over half (52%) claim they'd happily earn less money in a role that made them feel better about themselves.

Now, in a new UK career trend being labelled "Zenployment", almost half (47%) say they aim to be in a second career that offers fulfilment and the chance to make a difference by the age of 45.

Animal welfare worker, counsellor, and yoga teacher, feature on the list of compassionate careers being planned.

But one in four (28%) are calling on their current employers to provide them now with the opportunity to do unrelated charity, or pro bono work in their field.

William Nelson, of trend analysts the Future Foundation, said: "This research is further evidence that we're entering a new era, with a society that is less selfish and increasingly focussed on personal fulfilment.

"In fact, rising affluence and high employment levels mean most of us now feel pretty secure in providing for our basic needs, especially once we are established in careers and the housing market.

"The ethical and spiritual dimensions of work therefore are more of a priority, and people want to believe their careers contribute towards a better future - not just for themselves but for society as a whole"

The Norwich Union Life study also found:
• The road to Zen is, on average, a nine-year plan, with 36 the typical age at which those planning second careers begin preparing.
• More than one in four (27%) put making a difference to others top of their second career agendas - twice the number who want to make money (12%).
• Withdrawal from work is being rejected in favour of Zenployment, with half saying they will not follow the traditional retirement path of their parents (50%), and do not aim to put their feet up in a country cottage or villa abroad (52%).
• Two thirds (66%) aged 45-54, and seven in 10 (72%) over 55s, are seeing an increasing number of their friends move into second careers.
Financial commitments (66%), lack of training/qualifications (34%) and also fear of failure (25%) restricts workers from moving into compassionate careers now.

Simon Quick, who led the study at Norwich Union, said: "Once we dreamed of retirement to a country cottage or villa abroad, but this research reveals British workers now aim to do something that offers them fulfilment in the second stage of their lives.

"That clearly has a major impact on our financial planning, and those hoping to downsize to perhaps less lucrative, but more compassionate careers, need to consider now how they can finance that life change."

The Zenployment study also reveals that:
• The North East, the North West and Scotland have the highest proportion of dissatisfied workers (77%, 70% and 70% respectively, compared to a national average of 64%).
• The North East is home to the highest number of "drifters" - six in 10 workers (60%) claim they are drifting compared to a national average of 36%).
• Workers in Wales are the most likely to describe themselves as miserable in their jobs (12% versus a national average of just 7%).
• Londoners would be most prepared to earn less money in exchange for fulfilment (42% compared to a national average of 36%).
And the study found the nation's top 10 second careers include:
• Animal welfare officer
• Counsellor
• Charity worker / volunteer
• Gardener
• Alternative therapist
• Artist
• Teacher
• Local political or community representative
• Climate campaigner
• Sports instructor or personal trainer.
-ends-

Media contacts:

For Lexis PR:
David Lucas
Telephone: 0207 908 6422
E-mail: dlucas@lexispr.com

Leila Bateman
Telephone: 0207 908 6550
E-mail: lbateman@lexispr.com

For Norwich Union:
Sarah Horner
Telephone: 01904 452828/07800 691 569

Notes to editors:
Norwich Union commissioned Tickbox.net to interview 1,218 fulltime workers in April 2007. Regional statistics are available on request.

About Norwich Union
Norwich Union is the largest insurance services provider in the UK. It is a leading provider of life, pensions and investment products and one of the largest financial adviser (FA) providers. FAs provide over 70% of the company's long-term savings business in the UK.

Norwich Union has strategic alliances with building societies and other leading UK brand names including CIS and The Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Norwich Union's news releases and a selection of images are available from Aviva's internet press centre at www.aviva.com/media

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I can actually see this happening on a large scale. I'm an example, for one. For 5 years I enjoyed a successful career as a barrister working in London and abroad. But I wasn't fully satisfied and so I changed careers last year and started my consultancy using the therapies I have retrained in.

I can think of eight others in my immediate circle of friends and contacts who have grown disenchanted with their corporate working life and are now in different careers. They're enjoying it.

Yes, I need to be able to pay my bills just like everyone else, and life is more challenging than before when I had a regular income coming in every month. Now I have the ups and downs to encounter of a 1 year old business. That experience has however given me new opportunities to grow and develop. I think that making this change was possible as I'd done plenty of work on my own outlook and shifted my thinking on what are my comfort zones.

And the people I come into contact with seem more accepting of this type of change than say 10 years ago. So it has the potential to grow.

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Being one who has ended up trading the £42,000 for a £15,000 pension through ill-health I can relate to what the article is saying.

My ill-health retirement was a result of repeated anxiety/depressive bouts of stress related illness. I worked in education from '79 till '05, primarily in the field of behaviour management but having access to all elements of 4-16+ schooling.

Whilst working with kids has many rewards beyond finacial, I can see how teaching would figure for many as a more fulfilling position but for me much of it reinforced my self doubts. In the end I drove to work one day almost in tears, got to the last roundabout and went all the way round it and came home......that was the start of the end of that.

Since then I have tried to look for an alternative. I did some environmental work which, on paper, was brilliant. Sadly this didn't materialise in reality. Currently I am doing some voluntary work in the local Oxfam music and book shop, training to become an advocate and doing a counselling course. I found this site by "accident" looking for information on Indian Head Massage (trying to rid myself of the continual stress headaches I still get).

Currently my music for my funeral will be, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", I think though that zenemployment will be the answer.

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