Saturday’s Saying

Happy weekend, everyone!

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How are you spending your Saturday? Tell me about it in the comments section below! I’m enjoying a peaceful and quiet “Friday” morning at the office, and when my work day ends, my fiancé and I will be hitting the gym for back/shoulders/core before heading back home to spend some lazy time together on the couch with our dog. It’s been a really good week!

However, I digress. Today’s saying comes to us from Sheryl Sandberg:

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Today, I want to discuss opportunity, risk taking, and stepping outside of our comfort zones. Sheryl Sandberg is the COO (Chief Operating Officer) for Facebook; however, her background lies in social marketing. She ended up taking the job after having sat with her mentor, Eric Schmidt. Sandberg was understandably timid about diving into the Facebook start-up, which was offering her a position that was several levels lower than the other offers she had pending at the time, and caught a lot of flack from her peers about going to work for a then-23 year old; however, the story goes that Schmidt looked her in the eye and said, “Don’t be an idiot. […] Get on a rocket ship. When companies are growing quickly and they are having a lot of impact, careers take care of themselves. And when companies aren’t growing quickly or their missions don’t matter as much, that’s when stagnation and politics come in. If you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat. Just get on.” It’s a good thing that Ms. Sandberg chose to follow that advice, as she is now fully responsible for overseeing the operations of Facebook (including sales, marketing, business development, human resources, public policy, and communications), is regarded as one of Fortune Magazine’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Business, and has an estimated annual income of $300,000.00 base salary plus $30,491,613.00 in Facebook shares.

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Now, the vast majority of us won’t end up working for the next big Internet start-up (however, that’s not to say it is impossible), but it’s pretty well a certainty that we will all encounter scary professional crossroads, choices that make us question everything we know for sure and ponder everything we don’t know anything about at all. I encountered this a few years ago, when I was presented with the opportunity to interview for the position of office manager at a used car dealership. To be perfectly honest with you, I almost didn’t go to that interview. I’d stayed awake all night the evening prior hemming and hawing over the “what if’s” and the “why not’s,” and that isn’t even mentioning the fact that I don’t drive! Well, it ended up being one of the best interviews of my life – I ended up getting hired on the spot for a salary much greater than what had been initially offered to me. I impressed them enough that they took a chance on me – and they impressed me enough that I did the very same. A year later, I was not only responsible for the administrative office tasks, but back-end finance, inventory, high-end automotive storage and consignment, U-Haul rentals, and bookkeeping. I’m glad that I got on that rocket ship, as it propelled me further professionally (and personally) than I ever thought possible. Was it terrifying? Yes. Was it challenging? Very. Was it rewarding? Absolutely, and I still reap those benefits today. 

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So, if it is that taking (calculated) risks will usually reap some (if not loads of) professional reward, what is it that’s holding us back from jumping on those proverbial rocket ships without trepidation when they present themselves? Well, I think it boils down to three key fears:
1. The fear of being unemployed forever,
2. The fear that gets between a person and the job of their dreams, and
3. The fear of losing motivation when a fulfilling career has presented itself (we’ll call this the fear of failure for the rest of the article).
Don’t worry though – I have some tips and tricks to help you jump each one of these hurdles with a little less intimidation.

Photo Credit: lifekanika.blogspot.com

Starting with the fear of being unemployed forever, here are some simple ways to help you overcome the woes that come with not having a job and better the chances of that proverbial seat being offered to you:

• Stick to a normal schedule – go to bed at a reasonable hour and wake up at a decent one. By setting your alarm clock for 9:00am, one mirrors the mainstream business world and optimizes their chances to stay connected. In addition, schedule the rest of your day (at least from Monday through Friday) – for example, from 9 to 10 am, answer emails; from 10 to noon, hunt for job opportunities online; from noon to one, meet with a  mentor or professional contact. You get the idea – keeping yourself busy and productive rather than allowing the stress of the situation will, in the long run, pay off.
• Be headstrong. Think of your new job as a marketing executive, and yourself as the product. Though you can’t force a company to hire you, you can control and better your job qualifications – remember, you are in control of how much time you spend learning new and useful skills that will make you a more useful, productive person in any future business opportunities.
• Maintain a well-written and formatted resume, as well as a few pre-formatted cover letters which you can send to any interesting opportunities without hesitation or delay. Take the time to compile a list of 5-10 contacts whom you feel comfortable using as references (make sure to contact them in advance to ask them if they are comfortable representing you, and make sure to keep the list up-to-date with current emails, phone numbers, and et cetera). Any and every thing you can add to or improve in your professional “tool-kit” is worth the time and effort to have, keep, and maintain!
• Consider volunteering! Not only are you doing a beautiful thing by getting out there and helping others, you are helping yourself – volunteer work reflects wonderfully upon a person, especially as a component of a well-rounded resume. In fact, the volunteer work I did in high school (I used to work at the Foothills Hospital in Calgary as a Nurse’s aide and at a swimming pool as a teacher’s assistant from the time I was thirteen until I was eighteen. In five years of my life, I accrued over 2,000 hours of volunteer service, more work experience than I could even recognize at the time, and gained some of the most powerful wisdom from some of the most wonderful people I have ever met) still comes up in interviews I have these days, almost a decade later. I recommend looking into programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters, your local hospital, and local animal shelters – they are always looking for good people to lend a helping hand.
• Finally, remember that you aren’t alone. There are plenty of support systems and resources in place to help you through the tough times – if you live in Canada, this is an excellent place to start. Looking for a job is a full-time job unto itself, so it is as (if not more) important as ever to remember to take some “you time,” and relax after a long day of hunting for your next job. There’s plenty of free things you can do to unwind – my personal favourite is hunkering down with a good book and a cup of tea with my puppy on my lap for snuggling.

…and remember, laughter is good not only for the soul, but the body. Laughing for ten minutes every day is proven to lower the levels of stress chemisty in the brain by up to 43%! (Photo Credit: felicitysfelicity.blogspot.com)

Next, let’s discuss some ways to nix the fears that can get between us and the job of your dreams:

• First thing’s first – take a good, honest look at the people you surround yourself with. Are they the kind of people who are encouraging, inspiring, motivated and supportive? If not, it might be time to re-think your social circle. This isn’t (necessarily) to say that you should ditch your entire group of friends and replace them with relative strangers; however, it may be to your benefit to seek out mentors, colleagues, and connections that are upbeat and positive with some wisdom to spare. It’s true that filling your life with affirmative people makes you more apt to be upbeat and positive, as well.
• Secondly, define your dream job. Be specific! What does it entail? Would you prefer to work independently or in a team-based setting? Are you open to travel? Are you looking for something more analytical or creative? You get the jist of it – take some time to really flesh out the qualities you’re seeking in an “ideal” job. Be fiercely honest with yourself, and define any and all aspects and qualities pertinent to the job of your dreams.
• Thirdly, find a mentor working in a position that mirrors your “dream job,” and interview them. Most people are flattered and more than happy to sit and discuss their career with someone who shows genuine interest and passion for it as well. Ask them questions that will provide you with valuable information. Some of my favourites include:
  • How did you end up in this position? What were the circumstances that led you to where you are today?
  • What do you love about your job?
  • What do you dislike about your job?
  • What does an average working day look like for you?
  • What do you find the most challenging about your position?
  • What would you change about your job/company if you could? Why?
  • Do you have any regrets?
    • I should also mention that these mentors can be wonderful networking tools. Remember, every single person you meet can potentially be a key factor in making the impossible possible.
    • Utilize your mentor – ask them if they know about any volunteer or internship opportunities within the industry. Make a good enough impression, and they might even offer to take you under their wing! You never know until you ask, and the worst thing that can happen if you ask is to hear the word “no”.
• Finally, APPLY! Even if a company isn’t actively hiring, inquire where and how they might be able to employ your skill set.

Photo Credit: firstgraderedhead.blogspot.com

Finally, let’s discuss some strategies related to overcoming the fear of failure once you’ve got the job of your dreams:

• First and foremost, take a step back and look at the big picture. What is it that’s making you fearful or anxious about undertaking this job? Are these apprehensions based on fear or rooted in reality? Learn to separate fact from imagination, and focus on what lies within the scope of your control, not what’s beyond it.
• Prepare for your Monday the Friday prior. Spend fifteen or so minutes at the end of each work week straightening up your desk, making to-do lists for the week ahead (I use an agenda, but it’s all about finding what works for you. Lots of my colleagues utilize the calendar function on their computers and upload the information to their cell-phones, allowing them mobile access to their schedule at any time, from anywhere), and tying up loose ends. Knowing what you have on your plate in advance helps to reduce stress and allows you greater control over how you expend time and energy – effectively making you more productive and more profitable as an employee (trust me – employers DO notice these things!).
• Learn to balance your sleep patterns. If your work week calls for you to rise at 6:00 am, and you choose to sleep in on Sunday, you may not be tired at your scheduled bedtime. Try to reserve Saturdays as your sleep-in day so that Sunday you are ready to fall back into your schedule seamlessly.
  • On a related note, learn to stop agonizing over the clock. Set your alarm clock and then turn it away from you to keep you from laying awake all night long. Trust that it will wake you up on time, and enjoy your sleep!
  • Also, if you’re a snooze button addict like me, it might be to your benefit to place your alarm clock across the room, forcing you to physically remove yourself from your bed and begin your day.
  • Finally, I recommend packing your briefcase/purse/lunch bag the night before, so that upon waking, all you have to worry about is coffee, clothes, and commuting.
• Capitalize on your weekends and take the time to truly relax. Don’t over-schedule yourself or burn yourself out!
  • In particular, try your best to schedule your Sundays strategically to maximize tranquillity based on your personality. If you normally feel depressed on Sundays, try to plan a fun outing with some friends or a nice dinner out with someone you love. If you’re typically on edge come the end of your weekend, try to plan some ‘decompression’ time in the company of a good book, movie, or Yoga class. Listen to your body and to your mind – they know you best!
• Finally, take some time to reflect on the positive things in your life. A few weeks ago, I wrote about the things I’m the most grateful for in my life. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the negatives in our lives, and even five minutes spent meditating/praying/writing/whatever works for you on the unshakable positives can shift our attitudes from cynical to grateful. I try to take five minutes every day to reflect (usually in bed, right before I drift off to sleep) in my head about the overwhelmingly awesome things in my life. Over time, you’ll find that the good does, in fact, heavily outweigh the bad!

In closing, I’ll leave you with one of my favourite Thoreau quotes:

Photo Credit: thegraphicrecorder.com

To read the transcript of the speech in which Sheryl Sandberg’s quote comes from, click here. I highly recommend it!

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

-Mel