You may not love everything about your job, but as long as you feel you are choosing to stay, rather than being forced to, you will feel your power.

Most business owners know never to put all their eggs in one basket; they understand that true choice comes from having options. Every employee should take that lesson to heart. How do you increase your sense of freedom when you work for someone else?

Give yourself options, to prevent being overly dependent on your boss, or job, for any one thing—be it money, recognition/fulfillment, intellectual challenge, or goals. Having options automatically puts you back in the driver’s seat.

• Create a financial cushion. Save six months’ worth of living expenses, no matter how much sacrifice it takes. Having a little cushion (even if you never use it) eliminates the unhealthy panic that if you do one thing wrong at work, you’re fired and out on the street. A cushion gives you a sense of freedom and safety, which makes you relax and be ale to tolerate more imperfections on the job. You feel less stuck. Save like the dickens; create some alternate revenue streams from investments, or a part-time gig, or freelance projects, until you save at least enough to feel secure.

• Use current job challenges to enrich your resume. Each project you work on and every challenging experience you endure helps you develop a skill set. Sure, you may be working with no budget, but if you can be creative and manage without it, innovation becomes a marketable skill. If your company expects you to meet impossible deadlines, and you mastermind shortcuts and processes at the peak of efficiency, you will be coveted by future employers. Have a tough boss? Developing a thick skin will open up more job options in the future. Change your attitude. Convert Challenges into marketable skills. Always think about how a challenging situation will look good on your resume.

• Study and Develop knowledge. Take classes, join professional associations, and attend conferences. Constantly sharpen yourself. If your job is underutilizing you, and you have spare time on your hands, study. Get a mentor. Learning keeps you energized and engaged, and boosts your overall value. If your company offers continuing education, take full advantage of it. If your employer won’t provide these career development services, invest in your own enterprise and do it yourself.