Lately, it has seemed to me that the most important thing to people is who has the most popularity, good or bad. In North America, we seem to base trust and success on self promotional fame. The loudest person who shows the most confidence publicly tends to get the most support. In politics, the most attractive famous person usually gets the job; and in business, the person who walks around talking about how great he or she is gets the promotion, raise, or position. I wonder why we get sucked in by those types of people. When did our values begin to form around fame and fortune?
I think there are a lot of people doing a great job, quietly. There are many successful business people who are donating anonymously, because they want to help our community without having to be recognized for it. Mothers and fathers work so hard every day to raise responsible, healthy, and kind children, because their values are true and right.
There is no glory in most jobs, no grand recognition or praise. There are low wage earners who work just as hard or harder, and who are better people than those who make a fortune and treat people poorly. I wonder if there is payback for those who solely value their own fame and fortune, who spend their days spouting “I am great" to the entire world, to the detriment of those around them.
I don't get star struck, but I have met many people who are. Personally, I would much rather sit and talk to an everyday person, who is caring, giving, and trustworthy, than with someone who constantly talks about how awesome they are. I prefer to know, "what have you done for someone else lately?” than hear stories about fame and fortune. I have far more interesting conversations with those who work hard, who care about their work, who are middle class, and whose stories are different than my own, than with the rich and boring.
Is it possible for people to have bad success? I say yes, if they have a false set of values and are not authentic. As we get closer to the Christmas holidays, we should evaluate the people we spend time listening to, and make sure they are worth our energy and appreciation.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Stop limiting yourself to your past.
Sometimes people get stuck. We get complacent in our work lives, our home lives, our routines, and our relationships. We create our own limitations by what we have already done and are used to doing, especially when it comes to our work histories.
Resumes are supposed to show what a potential candidate could and should do, based on what they’ve done in the past. Everything seems to be based on what used to be, and not on what talent, desires, creativity, and hobbies reveal about a person.
We often talk about setting boundaries, and that we don't easily recognize our own. We seem to create boundaries only after something serious has happened, or we simply get old enough to understand what is acceptable for us. But, when it comes to looking for new work, the forbidden change, we have created such a box around what we think is necessary and right for us, that we find ourselves trapped in it!
We are so accustomed to following patterns that we forget to open our minds to new opportunities for work, relationships, and our well being. I certainly would not suggest that a bank robber should become a cop, or that a dentist should become an electrician, but I think people have become way too conditioned to live within the box of their resume. It seems that the most frequent phrase spoken by job seekers is "I used to", when they should be saying, "I love to, I could try, or I think I’d be good at". We also seem to believe that age is discriminated against. He is too young or she is too old is ridiculous. But what’s even worse, is when I hear from job applicants that they themselves think they are too old or too young for a certain job. There is that terrible box again, limitations created only by themselves.
Self esteem is a complex topic. We often limit ourselves before even opening up to the idea that anything is possible. We should look outside our past, the patterns we are stuck in, and the limiting beliefs we have put into our own brains. If we started writing resumes based on our futures, what we hope to accomplish based on what we love to do, what gives us energy, and what our talents are, perhaps we could rewrite our paths. Imagine, looking for a job or hiring someone based on having no limitations, just creativity, desire, and happiness. Perhaps we would not be so scared of change, if we could just stretch that box to dream of a future where we loved our jobs, our work, and our relationships.
Resumes are supposed to show what a potential candidate could and should do, based on what they’ve done in the past. Everything seems to be based on what used to be, and not on what talent, desires, creativity, and hobbies reveal about a person.
We often talk about setting boundaries, and that we don't easily recognize our own. We seem to create boundaries only after something serious has happened, or we simply get old enough to understand what is acceptable for us. But, when it comes to looking for new work, the forbidden change, we have created such a box around what we think is necessary and right for us, that we find ourselves trapped in it!
We are so accustomed to following patterns that we forget to open our minds to new opportunities for work, relationships, and our well being. I certainly would not suggest that a bank robber should become a cop, or that a dentist should become an electrician, but I think people have become way too conditioned to live within the box of their resume. It seems that the most frequent phrase spoken by job seekers is "I used to", when they should be saying, "I love to, I could try, or I think I’d be good at". We also seem to believe that age is discriminated against. He is too young or she is too old is ridiculous. But what’s even worse, is when I hear from job applicants that they themselves think they are too old or too young for a certain job. There is that terrible box again, limitations created only by themselves.
Self esteem is a complex topic. We often limit ourselves before even opening up to the idea that anything is possible. We should look outside our past, the patterns we are stuck in, and the limiting beliefs we have put into our own brains. If we started writing resumes based on our futures, what we hope to accomplish based on what we love to do, what gives us energy, and what our talents are, perhaps we could rewrite our paths. Imagine, looking for a job or hiring someone based on having no limitations, just creativity, desire, and happiness. Perhaps we would not be so scared of change, if we could just stretch that box to dream of a future where we loved our jobs, our work, and our relationships.
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