This was my latest post for CNBC.com Executive Careers. Given how tough the market is, we all can use tips to keep our motivation high:
"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." - Annie Dillard, Pulitzer Prize winner.
On January 1, we are pumped, inspired, and motivated to have a super new year. As the days pass, our resolve wanes. The job search becomes tiring. Those networking goals become tedious. That research into a new business idea can wait. If you miss a day or days or weeks, just start over. Use the onset of spring to reset your clock back to new beginnings.
Our goals are made up of small steps over a big period of time. Our days add up to our lives. It may not seem like you’re doing much each day, but it adds up. Similarly skipping a day might not seem like a big deal, but that adds up too. Motivation doesn’t just come like a bolt of lightning. Motivation is fed by action -- persistent activity, discipline, small steps each day.
Don’t beat yourself up over lack of results in a small period of time. Get back on track, and when you look back over a longer time period (say, a month rather than a week), you’ll have a more realistic view of your progress. Maybe you averaged one networking meeting every two weeks. That’s great! Now shoot for one every week over the next month and then two per week after that. Look at how many resumes you have sent, how many companies you have targeted, and how many leads you have generated. Can you increase that number by 10% for the next month?
Don’t give in to the temptation to quit just because you didn’t stay perfectly on track. The path to success is never linear. Expect some bumps, plateaus and ruts along the way. Just keep moving and eventually you will pass them by. Just don’t give up.
Caroline Ceniza-Levine, co-founder of SixFigureStart, was former head of campus recruiting for Time Inc, and has also recruited for Accenture, Booz Allen & Hamilton, Citigroup, Disney ABC, Oliver Wyman and TV Guide. Contact SixFigureStart at 212-501-2234 or info@sixfigurestart.com and ask how you can attend a complimentary group coaching class.
NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS
SixFigureStart Coaching Gym
Here are just some of the questions we answered for callers in previous Coaching Gym calls:
How do I respond when a job posting asks for salary right away?
I am not comfortable with networking. How do I get started?
I am miserable in my new job after less than six months. How can I leave without damaging future prospects?
How do I best use LinkedIn to leverage my job search?
I am still working so conducting my job search part-time? How do I best manage my time?I am losing jobs after getting to the final rounds. What could be wrong?
Do you have questions like these? Don’t miss the next call.
The SixFigureStart Coaching Gym is a 6-month group coaching program that gives you expert information, ongoing motivation, and accountability for your search. Weekly coaching calls are Sunday evenings at 7:30p EST. All calls are recorded so you can listen at your convenience and you will never miss a call.
$300 gets you a 6-month membership to the SixFigureStart Coaching Gym.
Special offer for 2009: all memberships purchased before June 30 2009 expire December 31, 2009 so purchase now and get two extra months free
Contact caroline@sixfigurestart.com or 212-372-0277 for more information and to register.
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