Relationships are Everything!

I am rereading what I consider to be THE book on networking, Never Eat Alone and Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time, by Keith Ferrazzi. If you don't have a copy of this book, I suggest you skip a meal to get a copy---it's THAT good.

In Chapter 3 of Ferrazzi's book, he discusses personal mission, starting by quoting Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and the truth conveyed is very appropriate for so many job seekers:
"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.
"I don't much care where---" said Alice.
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.

So many people are in their jobs because they fell into them, never having really considered what they like to do or show ability to do well in. (I suppose that isn't far from how a lot of people get married today---they "fall" into love and get married....with less than 50% lasting 5 years.) You probably at least subconsciously thought about what you wanted in a spouse, and hopefully you spent some time in "looking" for that person rather than marrying the first one you met..... why do we all fall into jobs without thinking much about if it's really what we want to be doing? Yeah, I know, bills have to be paid. So, when you're in your next "paying the bills" job, why not spend some time then considering what like to do or show ability to do well in? Lazy? Then get used to hating your job---the place you will spend the majority of productive, waking hours.

Have you REALLY spent time doing diagnostics, reviewing your life, and talking to those in a profession you think you'd like to work in---BEFORE starting a job search? Your future happiness (and the happiness of those around you) depend on it.

I spent the first 24-48 hours after being "restructured out" (read "laid off") bemoaning my situation. I suppose that's normal. But by day 3, I really did come to realize that God is in control (not me), and that all the whining in the world wouldn't right any wrongs, change my status, etc. From that point forward, I've been more or less happy, even if a little more stressed than usual.

What I have been doing in these past, almost 2 weeks, has been preparing my marketing materials and especially thinking through my options---what I can do, what I want to do, and, of course, where God wants me to be. I have a network of people who know me well enough (and apparently care) to help me think through the question of "What's next?" Without taking this critical step again (I've done this before now), I could step off into a job in which I'd be miserable, and I'd make everyone around me, including my new employer, miserable, as it would a) not be fulfilling to me and b) would have me outside of God's will. Either way, no fun.