Regular tune-ups are important to check and adjust all your current systems and processes to make sure your vehicle (or your job search) is in top-notch condition.
Since we’re at the mid-year mark, I think it’s a good time to check in.
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Layer 1 – Networking with People You Know
I’ll go first.
In January, I set the word ‘Outside’ as my word for the year.
Even though I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to pick a verb, I’ve always done things a bit differently – or 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 the norm – so I was alright with it.
This word felt right because I wanted to:
- continue pushing myself 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 of my comfort zone
- focus on thinking 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 the box in helping job seekers and growing my business
- welcome 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 perspectives in my interactions with others
- get 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 more
And I gotta say – I think I’m doing alright.
👉 I’m definitely getting outside more.
Whether it was regular walks in the desert earlier this year, the outdoor kitchen I worked for 6 weeks this summer, or the near-daily bike rides now in Montana, I’m getting outside way more.
👉 I’m also further outside my comfort zone and thinking more outside the box for job seekers than ever before.
I’ve been going LIVE with #CareerTipTuesdays nearly every week all year long, which is super outside my comfort zone but going really well!
👉 And I’ve been so fortunate to welcome so many fantastic outside perspectives this year.
Though I started #BehindHiring solo, Nii Ato Bentsi-Enchill (AvenirCareers.com) soon joined me, and I’m thrilled that we’re now co-hosts. Our guests have been amazing, and I’ve learned so much from each and every one of them.
But I want you to know that I’ve also missed the mark on some things. Aside from that kitchen job not working out, I also failed to:
- 🤷♀️ launch a new group coaching program (it never gained traction)
- 🤷♀️ get a new mini course out by summer (haven’t even written it yet)
- 🤷♀️ apply for a resume writing award this year (missed the deadline)
I’m sharing all of this to let you know where I am in achieving some of my goals this year. The good and the bad.
So how ‘bout you?
How’s your progress? What are you proud of? What lessons have you learned?
I’ve learned that self-reflection is a hugely important factor in growth, development, and ultimately happiness in our lives. And in our careers.
Self-reflection allows us to identify the things that really feel soul-crushing and make informed decisions about what to do to change them. Self-reflection gives us the opportunity to truly be grateful for the good things in our lives and perspective to help us work through the not-so-good.
Self-reflection is the tool that helps us change our futures for the better.
Speaking of the future, I talk a lot about the concept of ‘Future Me’, and how I try to take time in the present to do things that will benefit the Me of the Future – whether that’s tomorrow or years from now.
In your job search, be nice to Future You.
Set goals for yourself that will help you get to where you want to be in the future. If you take steps now, even small ones, I promise it will lead you to more job search success over time.
Here are a few steps I recommend:
1. Set Your Why
Having a clear Why behind your goals is one of the best ways to motivate yourself to achieve them.
And I’m not talking about money, either. Yes, money can be a great motivator, but it’s not enough to keep us going when the going gets tough.
When I say, ‘Set Your Why’, I mean tie your goal to something deeply personal to you. Something you can feel when you think about it. Something that truly moves you to action.
For example, my Why behind creating 🌟new products🌟 and services for you this year is because I believe strongly that all job seekers, no matter what stage or career level or budget, deserve access to solid, clear, actionable resources to help them be more successful in their job search.
So, find your Why behind your goals. Tie each goal to a personal, deeply felt Why, and come back to that when you find yourself wanting to give up. I promise it will help you push forward.
2. Start small (and celebrate the little wins)
Humans are simple creatures, really. We’re super predictable in that we function better when we have regular rewards for our hard work.
With that in mind, start with small changes that lead up to bigger ones. It may sound silly, but the mental satisfaction that comes from checking off an item from your To-Do list (even if it’s just ‘make coffee’ or ‘check my email’) can give you an energy boost that leads you to the next item and the next and the next.
Silly or not – science says it works.
3. Identify Actionable Steps (and plan for obstacles)
It’s not enough just to set a goal. Once it’s set, you have to break it down into all the steps it takes to achieve it. Want to rake in half a mil this year? Great, that’s nearly $42,000 per month – identify what daily and weekly action steps you need to make that happen.
That may be an exaggeration for most people, but you get my point. It’s not just about the big goal, it’s about all the smaller action steps it’s gonna take to get there.
And know from the start that sh*t will go wrong somewhere along the line. Set yourself up for success by creating contingency plans, Plan Bs (and Cs and Ds). And do your best to make your new, good habits convenient and your old, bad habits inconvenient.
4. Track Your Progress
People who track their progress make more progress.
Continuously keep your finger on the pulse of your progress toward goals. Regularly analyze what works and what doesn’t, and keep trying new and different things. Develop a system and schedule for tracking that works best for you, and keep it up!
I know this may seem like a lot, and if you’re reading all of this and feeling overwhelmed – that’s okay!
I’m always here to help you overcome your challenges. 🙂
I’m rooting for you!
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