This is the monthly #Career Collective Bloggers post. Scroll down to the bottom of the post to see the list of other bloggers and click on the links to read their valuable thoughts on the following question.
This month’s question is: What advice do you have to help job seekers transition and make the most of the new year?
![Dog chasing tail [1]](http://workingwithchronicillness.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Dog-chasing-tail-1.jpg "Dog chasing tail [1]")
Being unemployed and looking for a job can be demoralizing. Living with illness can be demoralizing. No doubt there are other difficult life events but these would rank at the top of anyone’s “life’s bad events” list.
Naturally you’d want to avoid experiencing both of these at the same time. But, unfortunately, that’s not a choice. If you’re facing this, do you feel hopeless, think you have no options and you can’t see what you can do differently?
How are you doing with that thinking? Probably not great.
Let’s face it, you can’t change that you live with a chronic illness. But a positive attitude of hope and seeing opportunity in unlikely places at the least helps you get through the day in a better mood. (I know that because I live it.)
Do you find that you’re getting more listless and unmotivated? A positive attitude helps you move and interact with others. It draws in others and encourages them to want to be around you. All of which helps your well being and, need I say, your work status.
Are you thinking, easier said than done. I can’t change the way I feel.
True enough. Constant rejection and negative feedback – either in a current job or in a job hunt – plus living with disabilities makes it hard to hold onto positive.
What can you do if negativity keeps nipping at your heels, when you least expect or want it? What do you do if you realize this is a problem but you can’t help yourself?
That was true for me. When I was young (and healthy!) I had a generally “glass half empty” outlook about my own life. But the truth is that bad health helped me realize that I couldn’t afford that thinking or behavior. I had to teach myself new tricks.
I’d love to tell you that there are 3 sure fire tips to developing a positive attitude. It’s not that neat but there are some well defined places to start.
- First, create your intention for yourself. This is your big theme idea of how you want to approach your career and it’s becomes like your north star, your guidepost. You might not ever reach it but it’s where you’re headed.
- Next, set some goals for yourself with clearly defined desired outcomes.
- Now, identify the opportunities and what gets in your way of achieving them.
- Finally, identify where and how you can get support from others to fill in your gaps.
Maybe you’re thinking, I’m too old to change or I’ve been this way forever. But it’s not true. Forget what that say about old dogs. My dog, not old but not a pup either, can learn new behavior. Because his habits are ingrained, he needs more help from me to learn a new trick. And then he needs reinforcement.
You can get that new training, new ideas and reinforcement by reaching out for help. Join online or professional professional groups for information. One tool I’ve used often in my career is a mastermind team (more information is in this online booklet – I’ve not used but it covers the stuff). A mm team is a terrific way to get ideas and feedback from like-minded people.
Another tool I rely on is to work with a coach. Yes, it’s a financial investment. But when you find the right fit, it’s the best investment you can make in your future.
You can stop repeating the same old tricks that keep you stuck in “half empty” mode. Start today.
# CareerCollective Bloggers Posts on this topic:
Career Trends and Transition 2010, @MartinBuckland, @EliteResumes, http://aneliteresume.com/
Kaizen and the Art of Your Job Search, @heathermundell, http://dbcs.typepad.com/lifeatwork/2010/01/kaizen-and-the-art-of-your-job-search.html
Looking Into the 2010 Careers Crystal Ball @barbara safani http://www.careersolvers.com/blog/2010/01/18/looking-into-the-2010-careers-crystal-ball/
The Resume and Your Social Media Job Search Campaign @resumeservice
http://resume-writing.typepad.com/resume_writing_and_job_se/2010/01/socialmedia-resume.html
New Year: Time to Assess Yourself and Your Career @kat_hansen http://resumesandcoverletters.com/tips_blog/2010/01/new-year-time-to-assess-yourse.html
Help for job seekers in a rut @keppie_careers http://www.keppiecareers.com/2010/01/19/help-for-job-seekers-in-a-rut/
Job seekers: 5 tips for making the most of 2010 @heatherhuhman http://www.heatherhuhman.com/2010/01/job-seekers-5-tips-for-making-the-most-of-2010/
Ya, but @DawnBugni http://write-solution.com/2010/01/21/ya-but/
Advice to Job Seekers in 2010–learn Yoga? @ErinKennedyCPRW http://exclusive-executive-resumes.com/career-collective/advice-to-job-seekers-in-2010-learn-yoga/
Starfish, JobAngels, and Making a Difference @Chandlee http://emergingprofessional.typepad.com/the_emerging_professional/2010/01/starfish.html
Making the most of a new year @debrawheatman http://resumesdonewrite.blogspot.com/2010/01/making-most-of-new-year.html
Starting anew – tips for truly managing your career @walterakana http://www.threshold-consulting.com/threshold_consulting/2010/01/starting-anew-tips-for-truly-managing-your-career.html
The Year of the Tiger @careersherpa http://hannahmorgan.typepad.com/hannah_morgan/2010/01/the-year-of-the-tiger.html
Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter says
Love this post, Rosalind. Though I personally do not ‘work with chronic illness,’ I have occasionally debilitating headaches (not sure if they’re full-blown migraines, but occasionally experience nausea associated with migraines). Recently, after having become more intimate with you and your blog postings/website, I am more sensitive to what it may be like to work under the cloud of illness, particularly when I’m headache plagued. Rising above and creating positive intentions is no easy feat!
Yet, reading your posts on the value of doing so makes GREAT sense for the individual’s overall well being, sense of hope and forward movement.
As well, I DEFINITELY agree you can teach old dogs new tricks. My dog, Louie is 13 years old. He was spoiled and ultra attached to me, having been his ‘single mom’ for over 7 years when I remarried in 2008. My hubby has proven to me that old dogs definitely can be retrained to show more obedience and submission (while also receiving the benefits of a loving home).
Thanks for another hearty and pragmatic blog posting contribution to the Career Collective!
GL HOFFMAN says
Great post and a great start on changing a negative attitude. For those of us who naturally seem to have a positive outlook, it is a bit frustrating to be exposed to negativity.
I wish there were a magic pill those people could take. That would be easy. Unfortunately some dont even realize that their negativity is hindering their own advancement whether career wise or relationship wise. Your tips are a great start in that changing process. And, for sure, old dogs need new tricks more than anyone.
Rosalind says
Those magic pills are anti depressants and I think they do work. For some it’s the ONLY way they can even begin to deal. My tips only work if you’re ready and able. 🙂
Career Sherpa says
The Master Mind Team caught my eye! Really powerful concept, or so it seems. Terrific work!
Jason David Reid says
A great article and a great website. i have had Crohn’s disease for over three decades. I went through several years where I was sick and underemployed but stuck with things to eventually find myself excelling in a challenging and competitive career. It’s tough at times but never underestimate the power of desire, hope, hard work and common sense to get you where you want to go.
Rosalind says
Thanks for the input, Jason. Always like to hear these stories. How did you figure out what to do and what are you doing that allows you to keep working, even with disabling disease?
Debra Wheatman says
This is an excellent post, and hit home for me. It is so important to embrace the positive things in life and allow those things – not negativity to ensure all of the areas of your life are fruitful. I agree; sometimes it is hard to keep a ‘stiff upper lip’. Ultimately, this will allow you to pull through from all of the curve balls that life throws.
Jason David Reid says
Good questions Rosalind.
Well I guess the first thing that helped me succeed was having a strong work ethic, which I received from my “depression era” grandparents. The idea of not working for years on end did not seem like an option for me.
Determination also helped. Even when things were rough I kept sending out resumes, doing my own freelance work and putting myself in front of employers. I took a job at my current TV network as an on-call writer. I didn’t think I would stay as it was a small network and not terribly prestigious at the time. It was a great job for me as it was less stressful than most news jobs. Eventually both the network and my career grew together. One of the things I learned early on was to make sure you have a job you love. If you don’t, it makes it that much more difficult to get up every day.
The second thing I did, when I was feeling relatively well, was to make sure I gave extra to the job. I was always better prepared than any of my co-workers. That way, when I was ill, the company was more willing to cut me some slack.
The news director job I have now is a tough one even for a healthy person. I’m on call 24/7. My hours are unpredictable and the demands on me and my department are constant. The one thing I have going for me is the great relationship I have with my employees. Many of them know I often come in to work feeling terrible and still give my best, so they give their best at all times too. When they know I need help, they give it to me. It has definitely paid off for the company too. Since I came onboard we have won several prestigious national and international journalism awards and increased the number of news elements on the network by almost 400 per cent in 5 years.
I’m now past 40 and for the past year and a half have been tapering down off 30 years of prednisone use for my illness (Crohn’s disease). My personality is changing and the excess energy the drug has given me these three decades is waning. Despite my position at the company and in the industry I’m not sure I will be able to continue the pace of my current job.
When I look at the things I have found truly rewarding about what I do, I realize that it’s the support and coaching I have given to members of my staff who have chronic illness themselves. Helping chronically ill people perform at a high level in a competitive business is the area that I see myself pursuing in the future. Besides yourself Rosalind, there isn’t much support out there for us.
I am at the point where I could go on long term-disability if I wanted, but instead I’m still working my old job while gradually building my own business – publishing, speaking and consulting on high performance with chronic illness. Running a business is not easy, but I realize this type of endeavor is perfect for me. When I do have energy I can get a lot done, whether it’s 8pm or on a weekend. It provides more flexibility. Hey there’s that word again.
It also reminds me of the other key to working with a chronic illness – being pro-active. The less you feel like a paper boat being tossed on rough seas, the better your chance at succeeding.
Rosalind says
Wow. You said so much but I want to highlight a few things – You started with strong work ethic and determination -both learned/innate qualities at early age and you’re lucky you had that. You worked really hard and impressed others with your ethic so they knew you were a team player and more than willing to help when you needed it. And I love the boat analogy – I’ve used it a lot in my blogs! Great stuff here. I’ll have to refer to this in one of my blogs soon!
Gayle Howard says
Excellent article Rosalind and filled with positive, intelligent advice (and not only for those with chronic illness!). Coming to terms with who you are, what you’re offering, what you can do and understanding your value puts all job seekers in a position where they can research for the right job and the right career. Creating the intention, setting the goals and knowing and respecting your own abilities goes a long way to gaining clarity of understanding!