“It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there’ll be any fruit. But that doesn’t mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.” –Mahatma Gandhi
One of the suggestions I make when coaching folks on career transition is to think bigger, to consider your deepest-down areas of passionate interest, and to create connections out in the world based on a mission rather than simply needing a job.
That will often get you in front of more people at higher levels to create more profound relationships that can take your “career” to whole new levels than you ever imagined.
I put “career” in quotes because, after all, what is that? Is it simply your job, a series of jobs…or is it something bigger than job(s)? Is it perhaps a leave-behind of a difference made: for others, for the world, and mainly, for yourself and your own highest self-expression (which, btw, equals joy).
People make a difference large and small and, no matter what you do, if you do it with a sense of mission, of a bigger game being played beyond the apparent doing-ness, I believe you tap into a real “career”.
I spoke for a group yesterday morning and, turns out, several people there were on this inspiration-letter list (there’s little “newsletter” about it!). One of them came up and said that she reads it each week and gets uplifted.
You know, I get about 15-20 unsubscribes each week, and rarely hear many “atta boys”…but that’s not why I send these out. It fits my self-expression. That’s why I do it. And yet to hear someone acknowledge that self-expression as making a difference for them is, of course, heartening.
So, given that 10 negatives generally outweigh one positive, I invite you to look into your own “career” and life today and find those difference-making things that you’re doing — maybe seen, maybe unseen — and get acknowledged for them: from others or, mainly, from yourself.
Yes, you can acknowledge yourself. You won’t go blind. And you can also simply ask others, whether they’re involved or not, to acknowledge you. It may seem weird, but just hearing it from another’s mouth can make a difference…for you in making a difference.
Got impact?
“No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” –Martin Luther King Jr.
DARRELL W. GURNEY, Executive/ Career Coach and 20-year recruiting veteran, supports people at all levels to make fulfilling and profitable career transitions. His first book, Headhunters Revealed! Career Secrets for Choosing and Using Professional Recruiters, was winner of the Clarion Award for Best Book by the Association for Women in Communications and was reviewed in Publishers Weekly. His newest book, Never Apply for a Job Again: Break the Rules, Cut the Line, Beat the Rest, has been endorsed by bestselling thought leaders such as Harvey Mackay, Keith Ferrazzi, and Dr. Ivan Misner. A personal and business brand strategist, Darrell’s Stealth Method of networking has helped folks expand their reach within both careers and new client circles. He speaks, leads workshops, and is a media expert on subjects such as recruiting, networking, and finding one’s passion. He was recently named Networking Expert for BeyondB-School.com and offers webinars and programs that get MBA students and working professionals out, connected, and landed.
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