Two things struck me this week that were a wake up call as to what it is to have “the edge.”
Thursday I had the privilege of attending the senior night celebration for the local high school boy’s volleyball team. My son is a sophomore on the team so I had the pleasure of simply making a salad for the festivities and watching from the bleachers as each senior was introduced to the crowd escorted by his parents. There were balloons. There were photographs. There were male fans with painted chests. And there were a few tears. Although each of these five seniors will be attending top colleges in the fall, the most resounding cheers went for the boy attending the United States Military Academy – West Point with a goal of being a 2nd lieutenant in the 82nd Airborne Division. This boy proudly sported a military crew cut – it was as if he was already an officer in training.
The night before this game I had the distinct honor of making a presentation on career advice to members of the Pennsylvania Professional Employment Network. Some were there seeking information on changing careers. Some were there to meet new contacts. And some were unemployed and looking to learn new strategies in their pursuits. All of the members were skilled, vibrant, interesting people who were open to new opportunities. So I got to thinking about what makes the difference between the people who get in the door to those opportunities and those who don’t.
It wasn’t until this weekend when I was leafing through the senior night program that I realized what the difference is. Each senior had the opportunity to list in his own words comments on several issues about the coach, the team and whom he would like to thank. Under ‘Words of Wisdom to Underclassmen’ the boys wrote things such as, “practice hard and listen to the coaches,” “don’t take yourself and the game too seriously,” and “don’t get discouraged when things go bad – don’t get too confident when things go good.”
All of these are pearls that anyone in any profession could adopt to improve their career. But the young man tracking to West Point would be facing more than career transition challenges over the course of his vocation. He’d likely be making decisions at 50,000 feet that could save his comrades or cost them their lives. He’d likely be maneuvering a $40 million aircraft through firefights and then have to land it within 25 yards of a target. Judging from his ability to be accepted onto the military’s most prestigious program and from his comments to his fellow teammates it appeared to me that he has a thought process that goes beyond just getting in the door. “Don’t want to win,” he wrote. “Go into every match knowing you are going to win.” Kind of sounds like a good mantra if you are being chased by enemy fire as the point person to protect your fellow Americans.
So my suggestion to you is this: You will be hired for your dream profession when you believe you are the best person on this planet to solve a company’s problems. You will be appointed to a higher level when you have no doubt that you are the only choice who will most effectively ease the company’s pain. And you will acquire more clients when you know down to the crux of your soul, that without you their company is at a definite disadvantage.
Do you know these things about yourself? When you do, so will others. You will eliminate any risk of hiring you. Never again ask yourself or anyone else if you are a good candidate for a position. Know you are. Write down why. Be confident not arrogant. And others will see you as the person they can’t live without.
Henry Ford said, “If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.” What are you right about? Where can you start TODAY that will keep you from the useless emotions of worry and guilt? Start now!
Below are my past week’s Twitter Posts that you may find helpful. Follow my career tips on Twitter.com at StartingOverNow.
* What do you do? – How to Write your Elevator Speech: http://ping.fm/YX5os
* Begin With Your Success Sketch and Hang it Where You Will see It Everyday:
http://ping.fm/4seJA
* O*Net Academy – Nationally funded premiere free resource for webcast
career training: http://ping.fm/KjTa8
* Be the Standout Candidate in the New Economy: http://ping.fm/UuCHl
* Want to be a teacher? Better read this first. http://ping.fm/k5TVX
* Use the Right Words in Your Job Search: http://ping.fm/ZVVL4
* This will undoubtedly make you smile: http://ping.fm/2rzQr
* You can’t talk your way out of what you’ve behaved yourself into. Stephen
Covey
* Jobs for grads: http://ping.fm/xYyfB
* Stimulus Jobs for College Grads: http://ping.fm/woDwZ
* 10 Interview Questions for You to Ask: http://ping.fm/7mz8G
* This is really special: Playing for Change – “Stand By Me” http://ping.fm/JOVzf
* Starting Over Presentation – PA Prof. Empl. Network, April 29 at 6:00 pm,
Kings in Crafton-I-79 & Rt 60/Steubenville Pk. Free www.papen.us.
* Goals – What They Did for Me: http://ping.fm/tDrvx
* Tell a Story on the Interview and Capture the Happy Ending: http://ping.
fm/yHRWC
Get Mary Lee’s new FREE e-book “Make Your Wheel of Fortune Spin on Balance’ by going to www.StartingOverNow.com
Follow Mary Lee’s career tips on Twitter.com at StartingOverNow.
For the FREE Worksheets: “It’s Not Who You Know It’s Who knows You” and “Goals – What They Did for Me” go to: www.startingovernow.com/WorksheetsandArticles.html
Mary Lee Gannon went from being a stay-at-home mother with four children to divorce, poverty and then on to become a newspaper reporter, trade association executive director, public relations consultant, and foundation president and CEO. View Mary Lee;s free career tips, worksheets and Blog on her website at www.startingovernow.com. Contact Mary Lee at info@startingovernow.com.
