Tag: jobseeking

What to aim for

FabrizioLeave a comment

The biggest problem with self-help books, business reviews, parenting blogs, marketing podcasts is that they give you a kick when your mind is at peace and make you feel awful the exact same moment things get hectic and you fail to follow their advice.

Hearing about what somebody else has done in similar circumstances is not going to shield us from pain, frustration, anger, and thousands of other feelings when the situation comes to us.

Life is tough, no matter what.

Finding your way, the way you can call your own and be proud of, is what you should aim for.

The good enough time

FabrizioLeave a comment

We know we should add the salary ranges to our job ads, but we are reviewing the salary level for internal employees and we do not want to send the wrong message. As soon as we are done with that …

I know I should take on new challenges and find something new, but I have this very important project to take care of. As soon as I am done with that …

I know I should spend more quality time with my family, but I am having a very busy period at work. As soon as that is over …

We know we should get to posting more often on our blog, but we have no good writer in our team. As soon as we can hire one …

The fact is, there’s never a perfect time to do the things we are supposed to do.

There’s a good enough time though.

It is now.

Sense of progress

FabrizioLeave a comment

When you sit down to do your work, start by deciding what is the #1 thing you want to get done today.

Is that a presentation?

A 3,000-word blog post?

The new LinkedIn campaign?

The quarterly report for the next board meeting?

Some estimates for next year?

A meaningful piece of a bigger project?

Whatever it is, start the day by picking the #1 thing, the one that will make that day a success. Take regular breaks as you go about it, but don’t stop your concentration by jumping to other stuff before you have that completed.

That’s what will give a real, tangible, and consistent sense of progress.

You assume

FabrizioLeave a comment

When you start thinking that someone is out to get you, that the decisions they are making are personal and against you, you are making a lot of self-centred assumptions in a split second.

You assume that they know of you.

You assume that they know what is good and bad for you.

You assume that they think of you when making their own decisions.

You assume that they understand the depths of your value and skills.

You assume that they prioritise your circumstances over theirs.

You assume that they care enough to actually bother.

You assume that they are the villain to your own personal script.

Of course, some of these assumptions might be on target. But even just making them, even though you do not know you are making them, consumes a lot of your energy and resources.

Assume instead that they are doing their best for themselves and for the interests they represent.

It almost never is personal. And even when it is, you are far better off assuming it is not.

A second chance

FabrizioLeave a comment

Rejection calls for reflection.

Was it the right opportunity, the right time, the right audience? What could be improved in the way my ideas, my plan, my experience is introduced? What will I do next to make sure next time I can progress towards the goal?

What rejection does not need is forcefulness – I will do it my way – and surrender – I will give up.

Rejection is a second chance.