My daughter left tonight for 8 days on the road with a band, Sputniq . She is wearing many hats – driver, roadie, sales, photographer, dispute resolutions and motivational speaker. Oh and did I mention she took a case of Red Bull, a case of Moon Pies and a first-aid kit? So I guess she’s also the purveyor of sugar, caffeine and medical supplies.
I love the idea of doing what you love and I’ve taught my kids well in that regard. And it’s something I teach in my GPS 4 Your Career program.
Most of my clients come to me in some state of crisis. They insist they’ve done everything right (and to some degree they have.) They want action. So when I explain that we will be spending some time on attitude I usually get silence on the other end of the phone and I swear I can see them roll their eyes! They like what I teach but they recoil at the idea of something “touchy feely.”
However if you talk to any of my prior clients they will tell you that I’m not known for being “touchy feely.” What I am know n for is my ability to assess the situation, provide a strategic plan that gets results, and motivate my clients to the finish line. So how does attitude fit into that?
Well it fits this way. When something traumatic happens in our lives there is medical proof that it leaves an imprint. Think of it this way – If there is snow on the ground and you drive through it, your tire will leave an imprint. Your car is traumatic to that fluffy white snow. And losing your job is one of the most traumatic experiences you will ever have. For most people it can create a mild form of Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD.)
We start with the change cycle. The short version (we go into this in more detail in my class) is that whenever we are faced with a trauma we have a physical reaction and an emotional reaction. There are several phases we pass through ranging from shock to fear to anger to acceptance. Some people move quickly, some move slowly. Some move in a linear fashion, some hop back and forth. Some of us get stuck in one place.
The two most common sticking points that will have a HUGE impact on your job search are fear and anger. Having hired thousands of people in my career, I can tell you that when someone walks in with unresolved issues I recognize it on a subconscious level. When I’m reviewing candidates later, I will remember the ones who showed signs of fear or anger and usually we will pass. Sometimes we will do a follow-up interview to make sure, but in a competitive environment like today we would probably pass.
So part of what we do in my program is help you get back to being in love with who you are, the job you’ve chosen, and the potential of working for that person you are interviewing with. Think of it as a dose of Red Bull, Moon Pies and some antibiotic cream. By the time I’m done with you, you will LOVE what you are doing. And maybe have a little Sputniq on your Ipod.
GPS 4 Your Career – helping you navigate today’s career market.
