[Think As Inc.] February 8, 2009 Newsletter/ CAREER LESSONS FROM SEINFELD

Something to Think About: CAREER LESSONS FROM SEINFELD

Inspirational Quote: BENJAMIN DISRAELI

News and Upcoming Events: I WANT YOUR QUESTIONS!

Your life is a business. You have a:

MISSION: the reasons you live your life;

BRAND: the message you project to the world;

PRODUCT LINE: the skills and qualities that are your unique assets;

BOTTOM LINE: your financial picture;

CLIENT BASE: professional, personal, and don’t forget, yourself.

Your life is YOUR business, and you are its CEO.

CAREER LESSONS FROM SEINFELD

Beware of quashing your dreams prematurely. In one Seinfeld episode, George tells Jerry he wants to get serious about getting a job. Jerry quashes this notion, questioning George’s ability to even identify what he wants to do. George suggests teaching. Jerry counters that he needs a degree. George suggests sports reporting. Jerry counters that he needs journalism or sports experience. George suggests professional athlete. At this point, Jerry just looks and the audience just laughs.

It’s a funny bit because we’ve all had those friends like George with the pie in the sky dreams. Unfortunately we’ve also done what Jerry does to George to ourselves. I know many people, myself included, who get a notion or idea about something, only to counter themselves with but-you-can’t.

I don’t have the degree. I don’t have the experience. I don’t have the skills. I don’t have the time. I don’t have the money. We all have a long list of what we don’t have. If we think about it that way we might never get started.

But if we think about what we do have, it might be enough to start. Could George get the degree? Could he get some experience? Could he do something in sports, if not play professionally?

(George eventually does end up in sports, at the Yankees no less, showcasing another coaching lesson about the power of opposite thinking. More on this in my recent CNBC piece: http://www.cnbc.com/id/28794573/site/14081545)

So stop the naysaying, and practice some opposite thinking. When you find yourself with an idea that intrigues you, but scares you a bit, don’t just dismiss it. Play with it. Have the courage, even the audacity to presume that it’s doable and doable by you. You have what it takes. You have the time. You have the money. What will you do?

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE

Success is the child of audacity. – Benjamin Disraeli

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

I want your questions!

Between CNBC, GlassHammer, Vault.com, SixFigureStart, Think As Inc and freelance requests, I write over a dozen pieces each month. While there is certainly no shortage of career or life coaching issues to write about given this market, I want to write about what’s on your mind.

So, email me at caroline@sixfigurestart.com with your questions, concerns, ideas, and thoughts. Thanks!

SixFigureStart Career Check-up: Is 2009 the year you finally go for it?

If 2009 is the year that you are going to change careers, change employers, or get that dream job, find out if you are on the right track:

Take the 60-question SixFigureStart Career Assessment and see exactly what you are doing well and what you need to do better;
Learn the six job search steps that really matter in the hiring process;
Hear strategies and tips that you can use specifically in this challenging market.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

4:00p – 6:00p

In Good Company Workplaces

16 West 23^rd Street, 4^th Floor

$95

Space is limited. Advance registration required

Email caroline@sixfigurestart.com or call 212-372-0277 with questions or to register.

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