Be creative when you don’t feel appreciated. Understand that your desire to be recognized and rewarded for all you contribute at work is legitimate. Whenever you feel underutilized, either look beyond your job description to try something new, or find new ways to work within it. Ask God to give you a fresh perspective on your work. Don’t wait for formal permission to do what’s in your heart; go ahead and get started on an endeavor you feel passionate about, without neglecting your regular work. Think of innovative ways you can add to your job to make it more fulfilling for you. Volunteer to tackle challenging tasks that will broaden your skills, network with other people, join professional associations, or take classes to keep growing professionally.

Whenever you feel underpaid, remember that you’re not a victim of your circumstances and that you do have choices: look for another job, negotiate a pay raise, work toward a promotion, or add another job. Stay positive -- considering the value of the work experience you’re currently gaining, even though your paycheck isn’t as large as you’d like. Whenever you’re in a leadership position at work, be sure to generously show your appreciation to the people you’re in charge of leading.

Deal wisely with your longings. Realize that waiting – as difficult as it can be – is often a crucial time to reflect on your progress so far and consider what lies ahead. View seasons of waiting for something you desire as valuable gifts that will help you develop hope, patience, and faith you couldn’t develop without a struggle. Shift your focus off your currently unfulfilled desires to the many reasons you currently have to be grateful. Remember that there is a bigger plan at work in the midst of tough circumstances. Trust God to ultimately bring good out of any situation. Live to the fullest right now – not when your wait is over. Don’t miss all the gifts God has for you while you wait. Know that if you look for them, you will start to recognize them all around you.

Build your personal brand. Don’t be shy about promoting yourself to others in your workplace, to potentially open up more opportunities for you to contribute. Develop a personal brand to communicate clearly to other people – the sum total of what people think and feel about you. Carefully consider whether or not people perceive accurately and what you might change about the way you communicate to help them better understand you. Ask God to give you clear pictures of how He would like you to fulfill your purpose at work, and create a plan with specific steps to make those pictures a reality. Produce your best work, regularly evaluate yourself to see whether or not you’re on track, and patiently keep giving your best as you wait for more opportunities to open up to you.

Organize a personal board of directors. Consider who might help you turn your ideas into realities, identify resources, improve your performance, and broaden your influence. Think about people who inspire you and would be willing to invest some time into helping you succeed. When approaching them for help, be succinct and specific about the type of help you’re requesting. Let them know how much you admire them and why you would like their help. Offer them something in return, such as being willing to share your expertise in another area with them. Be sure to thank them for their help.