"You don't know this, but there will be a day when you realize this was the best thing that could happen to you." -Harvey McKay (From his book: We Got Fired! ...And It's The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Us)
There's something I've noticed about people who have lost their jobs recently. They seem happier. Relieved, almost. Not everyone, of course but in many cases, the fear of losing their job was lot worse than afterwards. I also know a lot of employed people who are miserable on two counts: They hate their current jobs and they're afraid of losing them. They're both scared and stuck.
But once you lose your job, at least you can move on. Daniel Gilbert, professor of psychology at Harvard University, explained this phenomenon in a recent New York Times article, "What You Don't Know Makes You Nervous." He said: "once we get bad news we weep for a while, and then get busy making the best of it. We change our behavior, we change our attitudes. ... An uncertain future leaves us stranded in an unhappy present with nothing to do but wait."
So when things change, what should you do about it?
Call it fate, chance or luck if you want, but as a Christian, I believe that it's the time to consider and seek God's true will, purpose and plan for your career and life. Remember that however well we try and plan our lives, we're never fully in control. But how we face it- good and bad – with Fear or in Faith --is in our control. So maybe it's time for a "Soulcheck", and not a paycheck. A time to look inward as well as upward, and change the outward.
Attitude towards adversity really does make all the difference.
Zig Ziglar touches on this here:
You are not special, but you are unique. Those who know how to leverage their uniqueness and gifts are the ones who create satisfying and successful careers. There is no point in looking for a good job if you aren’t 100% sure what is really ‘good’ is for you! Which means, you need to identify and embrace what you want to leverage about yourself so you can find success on your own terms.
So, how should you assess your unique combination of values, skills and interests?
Start by taking the time to write out on paper all the things that you excel at. Ask friends, family and even co-workers (they don’t have to know you are looking for a job, you can just say you are doing some self assessment and professional development work on yourself) to give their input as to what they see as your best assets.
Then it’s time to organize your thoughts as to who you are and what you can offer to potential employers. Think about it - how can you possibly convince employers to hire you if you can’t articulate your values, strengths and interests in a compelling manner?
Monday, June 29, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Scarcity Mindset is the #1 confidence killer....
It's true: You can change your results by changing your mindset.
It's a battle, but your mind can work for you or rather than against you. If you can harness the "Scarcity" emotions and fear that is running rampant right now, you can use them to propel you into action, and as a result, you’ll get hired a lot faster than someone who is paralyzed by negative emotions.
The primary cure for negative thinking is to stop thinking about just you and start acting to benefit others. Also, remember to “be in the moment” Stop thinking about something you need to do, or something that’s already happened, or something that might happen… gently bring yourself back to the present moment. Focus on what’s going on right now. This takes practice, but is essential for success.
Imagine all the extra energy and creativity we could muster if we weren't bogged down by thoughts of doom and gloom. Now more than ever, use your mental capacity to be inspired and motivated! If you want others to believe in you, you have to believe in yourself!
But remember that positive thinking will only take you to the brink of action. To get results, action is required. Specifically, positive action
If you need some direction, make sure to read the little book (it takes less than an hour) Who Moved my Cheese? 'Managing Change in your work and in Your Life' by Spencer Johnson. It will really make you think about your role the current economy in which we now find ourselves in.
In this video Tim Sanders, a former Yahoo executive, known for his bestselling books "Love is the Killer App" and "The Likeability Factor," explains four things to focus on right now...
It's a battle, but your mind can work for you or rather than against you. If you can harness the "Scarcity" emotions and fear that is running rampant right now, you can use them to propel you into action, and as a result, you’ll get hired a lot faster than someone who is paralyzed by negative emotions.
The primary cure for negative thinking is to stop thinking about just you and start acting to benefit others. Also, remember to “be in the moment” Stop thinking about something you need to do, or something that’s already happened, or something that might happen… gently bring yourself back to the present moment. Focus on what’s going on right now. This takes practice, but is essential for success.
Imagine all the extra energy and creativity we could muster if we weren't bogged down by thoughts of doom and gloom. Now more than ever, use your mental capacity to be inspired and motivated! If you want others to believe in you, you have to believe in yourself!
But remember that positive thinking will only take you to the brink of action. To get results, action is required. Specifically, positive action
If you need some direction, make sure to read the little book (it takes less than an hour) Who Moved my Cheese? 'Managing Change in your work and in Your Life' by Spencer Johnson. It will really make you think about your role the current economy in which we now find ourselves in.
In this video Tim Sanders, a former Yahoo executive, known for his bestselling books "Love is the Killer App" and "The Likeability Factor," explains four things to focus on right now...
Friday, June 5, 2009
Current Trends....
Some interesting employment, career and work related trends of note:
Faced with the grim reality that their jobs might be eliminated despite good performance, employees are be more open to lateral moves and developmental assignments. And companies, desperate to fill key roles, will give them those opportunities to save money by filling these positions internally.
With the economy the way it is, people now have the duel issues of wanting to find meaningful work, but nervous because they feel they should be grateful to even have a job. On the bright side, you can still pursue anything you want; versus our grandparents who had their lives already all set out for them.
A recent survey revealed that only 40% of the employees working in the Midwest love or even like their job. 88% are not truly satisfied with the work they are doing; 75%said they wanted to spend more time with their families and 75% felt they worked too hard.
So what are we to make of all this? Obviously, no longer are we living in a world where the organization one works for has any loyalty to its employees. It's time to make yourself irreplaceable to your boss, your team, and your company. Do this by providing extreme value both internally, within your organization, but also externally, to your field, industry and profession.
Whether you want to switch companies, roles, fields, or do a complete career makeover, the need is to start is NOW. Self-reflection, evaluation and research are all parts of a new career discovery process. And, you need to DO more. Try volunteering or non-traditional projects, and these new experiences will give you more wisdom into what your next steps should be. This journey will result in expanding your network, talents and your enjoyment while testing unchartered career options.
Faced with the grim reality that their jobs might be eliminated despite good performance, employees are be more open to lateral moves and developmental assignments. And companies, desperate to fill key roles, will give them those opportunities to save money by filling these positions internally.
With the economy the way it is, people now have the duel issues of wanting to find meaningful work, but nervous because they feel they should be grateful to even have a job. On the bright side, you can still pursue anything you want; versus our grandparents who had their lives already all set out for them.
A recent survey revealed that only 40% of the employees working in the Midwest love or even like their job. 88% are not truly satisfied with the work they are doing; 75%said they wanted to spend more time with their families and 75% felt they worked too hard.
So what are we to make of all this? Obviously, no longer are we living in a world where the organization one works for has any loyalty to its employees. It's time to make yourself irreplaceable to your boss, your team, and your company. Do this by providing extreme value both internally, within your organization, but also externally, to your field, industry and profession.
Whether you want to switch companies, roles, fields, or do a complete career makeover, the need is to start is NOW. Self-reflection, evaluation and research are all parts of a new career discovery process. And, you need to DO more. Try volunteering or non-traditional projects, and these new experiences will give you more wisdom into what your next steps should be. This journey will result in expanding your network, talents and your enjoyment while testing unchartered career options.
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