The Morning Blend: “Happy No Fear!” Part 2
Brad Raney | Jan 10, 2011 | Comments 0
Last week, we began a four-part series on shifting your job search from one of fear to one of inclusion, understanding and acceptance. We talked about four critical states of mind that you must conquer before truly embracing the positive potential in your current job search situation.
We began this series with Realization, and in future editions of the Blend we’ll look at Preparation and Expectation. Today’s topic is Analyzation - the process by which a complex subject or substance is broken down into smaller parts to gain a better understanding of it.
During the examination of Realization, we discovered that you must begin with understanding where you are now and why, and believe and accept the fact that you are exactly where you are supposed to be on your career path – that no experiences are bad unless you fail to use the lessons learned going forward.
Analyzation is the next step in this process. Now that you can emotionally handle the job loss or change, and put into motion a mindset that takes every chance to grow and change as a meaningful part of your life, you must determine where you want this knowledge to take you. For 2011 to be your best career year ever, you must now set the coordinates for the other end of your “Vocational GPS” – the destination.
Let me illustrate this journey with a story. In spring of last year, I was part of a team that did a half-day job seeker workshop at ITT Technical Institute. There were 50 or so attendees at the event, and at the conclusion a lady walked up to me told me that she really enjoyed my presentation.
We began to talk about her life and why she was now looking for work. She told me that she had gotten a job with the government right out of college and she basically had been with the same employer since 1989. She had not put a resume on the street or in the “snail mail” in over 20 years. Her position was cut by the Obama administration in early ’09 and she had been looking for a new job for almost 3 months.
Her name is Myra, and when I asked her what she wanted to do now, she said, “Well, I’ve been in government for over 20 years.” And I said, “Myra, that’s not the question. What do you want to do now?” She looked puzzled, rearranged the words in the previous answer and basically told me again about long she’d worked in various government departments.
Myra’s response to my question is all too typical. She defined who she was by the job titles she had held…by the work activities she had been doing. This is a common mistake and one that clouds your vision. More importantly, it makes it almost impossible to discover your “spiritual gifts” and what God made you to do and become!
My conversation with Myra continued, and after about 10 minutes of poking and prodding questions, she finally said, “Well, Brad, I’ve always wanted to be a chef!” I looked stunned and said “A chef? Do you cook?” She went on to tell me that she writes a recipe book for her church that is used a fund raiser, which once a month she hosts brunch for her neighbors to try her latest recipes, and she makes desserts for a local restaurant occasionally.
I said “Sister, you’re already a chef; you’re just not getting paid for it yet! There are dozens of culinary schools around, much right here in town, which offers day or night classes. One called Culinard and it’s a 9 month program – you could be a chef full time in less than a year!”
She smiled broadly – but then the smile dashed away from her face and she said, “Yeah, but that’s just a dream. I need find a real job now.” I paused for a second and then in a hushed tone said, “Myra, if that’s what you think, then you’re right – it IS only a dream. But, if this is your true calling, your vocation, then you have to go after it!”
Our conversation ended, she promised me she’d think about it and then she left. One of the other presenters came over and asked what the animated discussion was about and I told him. Then I added, “I don’t think I reached her, though. I think she’s going to keep looking for a government gig.”
Surprisingly, I began exchanging emails with Myra, and in late summer she sent one that got my attention. She told me that she had found a temp job with flexible hours and that she had enrolled in Culinard – she planned to graduate in spring or early summer ’11 with a culinary degree. Then she said something profound and impactful – “And Brad, if you hadn’t asked me all those questions, I would still be looking for a job in government!”
The time is now for you to ask yourself some very tough questions. Can you take off the coat of all the job titles, and training, and years spent in the same industry, and try on a new suit of possibilities? Can you separate who you really are from what you have always done? Can you define yourself by your passions, hopes, dreams, and experiences and not by the list of duties you have performed in the past?
To set the coordinates for the other end of your “Vocational GPS”, you must be able to visualize where you want to go. You must be able to clearly see what you are doing when you are at your happiest and most productive. People who live their vocation never have “Monday blues” or “can’t wait for the weekend”! The destination at the other end of your GPS is full of joy, and accomplishment, and a feeling of self worth you have never known.
However, you must have the courage to ask yourself tough questions to get the coordinates for your journey. If I can help you analyze and finally visualize your perfect job, don’t hesitate to ask. Make 2011 your “Happy No Fear!” year – I’m here to assist you.
Sincerely,
Brad Raney
Brad Raney is a motivational speaker, life coach, author and sales trainer. He has over 25 years of experience in sales and sales management within the broadcast industry. Brad developed the VOWELS program in 2009 and the success it brought his sales team has spurred keynote speeches, workshops, seminars, a website, and his first book “Improve Your VOWELS, Improve Your Career!” which was released in July 2010.
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