Yes, it may
sound like a bit of a cliché, but the mirror is your best starting point. First
things first, using a military analogy, I can provide you with all the cool
gadgets and gear, the best toys available but, if you don’t know basic
soldiering, all that cool stuff is for show and not much GO. In other words, if you don’t know the basics, the other stuff
isn’t of much use, and you can’t get more basic than working on the one aspect you
can absolutely influence – you.
On the surface
these things sound lightweight and flimsy. However, I find that three traits
are the foundation of all your efforts. Sadly, during the last few years there
are many who’ve been beaten down, whether they know it or not, and need to
regain their footing in order to resume their forward momentum. So where to
start; here’s what I’m talking about:
Belief in yourself and
self-assurance is critical. Can you, as an extension confidently express to a
potential employer that what you have to offer is of benefit to a company or
organization? If you don’t possess this belief in yourself, it’s hard to
convince someone else of it.
Persistence is one aspect
that makes the difference between reaching your goals and almost getting there.
When you get knocked down you must be able to shake it off and get back up –
for as many times and as long as it takes. Does this describe you? I mean
really, do you feel this way?
These first two
will determine how able you are to engage in the third. Be honest with
yourself, because in order to gain a favorable outcome you can’t simply rely on
good timing and dumb luck. When it’s necessary, can you step beyond your comfort zone and do what is uncomfortable, what
is new or different? As with any endeavor to do or create something new, to
make changes, innovation and adaptation are absolutely necessary, especially
when an environment is in a state of flux. Here’s another secret; things are
always changing anyway, are you keeping up with the changes? Whether or not we
are able to admit it, most people stubbornly cling to what they know and what
has worked in the past, almost certainly under different circumstances. Change
and fear of the unknown scares many people but it wasn’t always like this. When
we were young we didn’t have any problems embracing new things, but we grow
more reluctant as we mature. After all, we did learn to read and write; a few
skinned knees didn’t prevent us from learning how to ride a bike, did it?
So if you think this
blog entry is insultingly basic and rudimentary, guess again. During my
headhunting career I’ve associated and spoken with, attracted, recruited,
represented and placed the top 20 percentile of professionals in various
business sectors and different professional levels. If there is one set of
traits they all have in common, it is the three I’ve just described, and it’s
from those that everything else springs.
Our self image
is a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts, we are who we think we are in large part;
we reach the expectations we set for ourselves. So if you think you’re just a
number you’ll be treated like one. As many who have become set in their ways –
if your way isn’t working, resolve to make some changes or stay right where you
are. Remaining in neutral means stagnation, deterioration and rot. It’s not
necessary to be a risk taker and since when did trying something new constitute
a “risk”? So what, there’s risk of what -- being told no, or getting a disapproving look from someone? If your tried and
true efforts haven’t gotten you positive results, then you’re already being
told no anyway. For your own sake,
and for the sake of others who might depend on you, commit to taking some small
steps from the place which you’ve convinced yourself is safe, and in time as you get more comfortable, reach a little
further for a different result. Or, stay right where you are, it’s your choice.
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