Heard the one about the Irishman? [Feb 5 e-Column]

Hi – Funny story – some friends of ours spent some time living in Ireland, in a small town somewhere. So, we wanted to know – y’know, “are the Irish really as Irishman-like as all the Englishman, Scotsman, Irishman jokes make out”?

Not exactly, they said. But they do look at things in a funny way sometimes. Like – if you’re walking in the street and you stop someone to ask directions to a place, they’ll say something like, “sure, but I wouldn’t start from here.”

Funny, but think about it: frequently when we want to get somewhere (usually fast) we find ourselves in a less than desirable starting point. It’ll be simpler and easier to get there from somewhere else.

Maybe you’re looking for a new, better job. But if you’re hanging on to ‘where you are’ – clinging to old ways of doing things, fear of being a bit bolder, fear of chasing new exciting horizons, beliefs that you “can’t” or “don’t have what it takes” – then it’s true – don’t “start from here”.

Many of us get caught up in the ‘rut’ of life – doing things the same old way. But just last week had an e-mail from a client and Career&Success community member. And she’s done something new. Despite having been ‘safe’ in a largish company as their IT Manager for a long time she feels like fresh challenges. But she can’t afford to just resign, and as long as she’s in a job, it’s like she doesn’t have time to really focus on getting that new job.

So here’s what she’s done: resigned, and negotiated a contract where she does her old job but not as a permanent employee. This way she’ll have the flexibility to explore new horizons and still have an income. It’s similar to what I did when I started my business. I negotiated a 3 day work week. It was good – it pushed me in the right direction.

Interesting huh? But you may ask:

“Isn’t it risky?” What isn’t? Think you’re really so safe in your safe job? You’re not. But taking a risk, deciding to take control, taking definite steps, taking action, learning, facing the challenge, thinking more as an entrepreneur – now those are skills that when you develop them, will help you be as ‘safe’ as is possible in this market.

On my new website – old website, with new content, look and structure – there are 8 main pages (if you’re reading this on my blog – check the left column), each featuring a key element of a successful job search. And #1 is, “Start Here (or Else!)”. We can choose to do things the same old way, with the same old mindset – and suffer the usual, mediocre or downright pathetic results (the “or Else!” bit). Or we can choose to be smarter.

This page contains some valuable principles that really should be the foundation of your job search (will be adding to it regularly). It’ll be good for you to absorb them and think of how you can put them to work. Hope it helps. Check it out now and later.

On a Personal Note:

Mother in law back on her feet after hip replacement op. Not home yet though. Old age sucks. Had my Dad at the doctor on Saturday and again Saturday night to deal with some crisis (which shall remain confidential – believe me you don’t want to know.) But at the other end of the spectrum – there are our kids – 6 and almost 4 – fresh, energetic, indestructible! Seeing them run around makes me want to be alive and to be able to enjoy running around with them. (And am getting inspiration to get back in that kind of shape from the resources posted up at Career&Success.)

That’s it. All the best.
Gerard le Roux
CV Writer and Job Search Coach
www.jobsearching.co.za