“As you transition from the past and future world of the mind to the awakened world of now, you will begin to experience yourself in an entirely new way…And you will begin to experience the abundance that is ever present in each moment.”
—Leonard Jacobson, Teacher, Philosopher
VIM Executive Coaching celebrates executive leadership qualities such as mindfulness, authenticity and compassion. In this time of the digital, where “answers” to most every question are summarized by the mere tap of an AI directed finger, we are seeing ever more frequent instances of job dissatisfaction, a lack of purpose and, dare we say, greater despondency and gloom.
As you are aware, there are thousands of so-called leadership experts and relentless speakers. Each one of these guys, seem to out-yell one another, telling those in various organizations the way, indeed, the only way, to be an effective leader, a frontrunner in their organizations, a powerful person with unlimited potential. If this magic formula was truly the case, then we would not be seeing so much dissatisfaction, purposelessness and sadness.
According to The Conference Board (June 11, 2025), the latest surveys on job satisfaction have revealed:
“(A) striking 15-point gap in job satisfaction between the oldest and youngest generations…only 57.4% of US workers under age 25 report being satisfied with their jobs. That’s in comparison to 72.4% of those aged 55 and older.”
So much for AI and software solving all of the problems of Millennials and Gen-Z. Let’s not forget that before exploring the Conference Board’s survey results in any greater depth, we must note an obvious at the other end of the employed demographic: Of those 55 and older, about 3 in every 10 workers over 55 are dissatisfied as well.
As anyone who has ever worked in any organization will attest, dissatisfaction often feeds against itself. In other words, dissatisfied employees often convince others who are on the fence they should be dissatisfied as well
On The Topic of Dissatisfaction
Despite the many television and movie images workers grow up with showing highly compensated, well-heeled, happy and outgoing executive leaders enjoying “life to the fullest,” there are numerous surveys disputing that image.
For example, a recent Moneyzine survey (April 20, 2026) determined:
“…self-employed workers earn considerably less across every state than employed workers - but, on the flip side, employed workers are more stressed, have a worse work/life balance, and lower job satisfaction. “
Want to scratch your head even more?
The job website “My Perfect Resume” recently found:
“(That) there were no major disparities in overall job satisfaction between individuals earning less than $25,000 and those earning $75,000 or more per year.”
Salary and benefits are not necessarily tied to happiness and job satisfaction. Forever and a day, as the expression goes, executive leaders and those who aspire to lead, have been told the harder they work, the more they make, the happier they will be. It is just not true.
Many younger executives, we firmly believe, are dissatisfied by the so-called work ethic, because they have experienced what such single-minded purpose has done to their parents, older friends, siblings and associates.
Every so often
As the initial quote we used about awakening expressed, people in the work place need to appreciate “the abundance that is ever present in each moment.”
Unfortunately, far too many executive leaders never get to experience such peace, abundance or happiness. They worry about the past, they fear for the future, they chase benefits and compensation (and it’s never enough), they are often forced into judgment and comparison of self to others.
Our business coaching turns the equation around. We believe the happiest executives are the most mindful and authentic, not the best compensated. The executive leader who is in the moment, is the happiest, the most powerful and effective.
When the mark of job satisfaction is reduced to a salary “number,” the present moment is never good enough. If a job situation is unhealthy no amount of compensation can bring fulfillment. However, when the mindful objective achieves a sense of awareness and interconnectedness with others, job satisfaction becomes more attainable and logical.