The Dream Challenge!

We’ve all heard the story about the turtle and the hare. The turtle, slowly, but surely heading towards the finish line, beating out the quick, but lazy rabbit. Obviously, there is a moral to that story, and here it is:

Just because you’re a genius, or you think you’re smarter than 90 percent of the population, nothing (and I mean NOTHING) beats out a good work ethic. A good work ethic means showing up every day and working towards your goals. It means putting in the time it takes in order to get from point A to point B, and not letting the distractions of life prevent you from hitting that finish line.

The world is full of high-powered executives who didn’t go to Harvard or Yale and who aren’t necessarily smarter or more talented than you. The difference between the executive and the entry level (or the unemployed, for that matter), is the work put in.

The executive has paid his dues. He has probably worked for various companies, built valuable relationships, and now has the clout and resume necessary to work in an executive-level position.

You may be a super genius. You may be the next Mark Zuckerberg for all I know, but that won’t mean anything if it’s not geared toward any focused goals.

I’m not sure if you saw the movie,  The Social Network, but if you did, you saw that Zuckerberg and the programmers for facebook, the ones who are essentially responsible for the social media-giant, were certainly not sitting around. They were docked at computer stations, typing code days on end.

Now, you don’t need to lock yourself in a way, sitting at a computer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to get ahead. But how about this, for all of those employed, and unemployed, give yourself a goal. From Monday morning between 9 and 10, to Friday night between 6 and 7, work toward that goal. Without distractions, without doubt (doubt is toxic to success), and without lazing around.

Working toward your goals, slowly, steadily, and putting in the the proper time (40 hours a week minimum of actual work) I can assure you, you can achieve your goals. Whatever they may be.

Take the dream challenge!

Tags: 40 hours work woeed, dreams, employed, Friday, monday, success, unemployed, work

Hidden Talent: Can You Dig it?

Yesterday, archaeologists announced the discovery of a new pyramid in Saqqara, an ancient Egyptian burial site. Antiquities experts believe the monument is over 4,300 years old and once belonged to the queen mother of the founder of the Sixth Dynasty.

Wow. We spend so much time gathering instant information and rushing innovation, it’s a little jarring when we discover such a tangible reminder of our past. Amazing to think that until just recently this grand structure was simply chillin under some sand. Then winds shifted, folks started digging, and here we are.

I remember wanting to be an archaeologist when I was eight (I’m sure that profession was also featured in a “When I Grow Up” segment before Saturday morning cartoons). The thought of finding something valuable beneath a swatch of plain dirt was almost too exciting to bear–I think I even asked for a metal detector for Christmas (but instead I got a Lil’ Scientists Microscope set). I didn’t end up becoming a scientist, but the idea of discovery and surprise stuck with me.

In the midst of our job searches, our career coaching, our professional evaluations, we should strive to find our own ancient pyramids within ourselves– something cool, something rare, something amazing that has been there all along.

Joining a professional organization is one key way you can discover your hidden talent(s). Being around people in your profession or that share your interests allows you a level of comfort and flexibility to branch out and learn something new. If you are a marketing professional, the American Marketing Association allows you such an opportunity.

Also, the book Is Your Genius at Work? by Dick Richards asserts that we all have a unique genius and an exceptional power that comes naturally to us. His offers suggestions for how to apply it in work and in our life.

If you feel the need to change your path once you’ve cleared some of the sand away and looked at your true talents, come to EmploymentCrossing.com and try our free trial where there’s just the right job waiting to be found.

Tags: archaeologist, Egypt, job, marketing jobs, organization, pyramid, scientist jobs, talent, work

Work: The Ultimate Cosplay?

Those of you heading to Halloween shindigs or who had enough chutzpah to wear your costumes to the office might have costumes on the brain today  (that is, if you invested any time or creative effort into your outfit. I have yet to see what kind of costume my random closet raid will yield). SAG cards or not, most of us like wearing costumes because they allow us feel like we are someone else for a little while.

A former professor shared a story during class once: as her father was leaving for work one morning in a dapper, corporate-looking suit, the little girl next door saw him and shouted “I like your costume!”

The little girl unknowingly made a spot-on observation about what it means to get up, get dressed and go to work every day. In her eyes, her neighbor looked like he was playing a part, like he was trying to be someone else (or going to a Halloween party dressed as a character from ‘Mad Men’).

Without spinning off on those  ‘all fashion is a costume’ and ‘we are always playing a part’ tangents, it’s safe to say that a lot of people like us in the workforce have our ‘work selves’ and who we are outside of work. If the gap between the two is wider than that ginormous tv you’ve had your eye on, you might consider whether or not you are in the right career (Journalism Jobs, Database Administrator Jobs, Operations Jobs) .

Of course we may have a work persona–professionalism and restraint aren’t bad— but if you feel like you have to be a completely different person while you’re at work, are you being true to yourself? You still may have to dress up and play a role to an extent, but your job should be a (metaphorical) cosplay that works for YOU. So when people see your liederhosen and unicorn mask ensemble and you get that ever-popular question, “What exactly ARE you supposed to be?”  You’ll be able to tell them.

EmploymentCrossing.com can help you answer this question, too. Our site allows you to check out genuine job openings and learn about a wide variety of professions–with all the SPAM jobs weeded out. Try our free trial.

Tags: Career, Employment, work