Last night I watched the story of mogul skier Alexandre Bilodeau who won the gold medal for Canada on Sunday. He credits his older brother who has cerebral palsy for inspiring him and keeping him driven and focused on his goal. Doctors told his family that his brother would no longer be able to walk past the age of ten, but at age 28 his brother can still walk. So each day when Bilodeau thinks about the training challenges in front of him, he pauses for a moment and thinks of the challenges his brother faces every day, how he has overcome them, and how he continues to beat the odds.
What if job seekers could adopt this Olympic-winner attitude and create internal “tapes” to motivate them and move past their challenges? Perhaps then the setbacks they face would seem manageable and the hope would stay alive. Here are some positive messages job seekers should be sending themselves on a regular basis.
- I will maintain a healthy life style so I can manage my search at an optimal performance level.
- I will challenge myself to reach out to new people who may be able to help me with my search.
- I will accept the help of friends and family during this difficult time even if it makes me a bit uncomfortable.
- I will seek out coaches and mentors who can help me move closer to my goal.
- I will put in the time necessary to research potential employers and market myself directly to them.
- I will examine my resume and other personal marketing collateral to make sure they are the best they can be.
- I will celebrate the victory of landing an interview, even if I don’t ultimately get the job.
- I will not blame external factors for my situation.
- I will be a good team member and support others in their job search when I can.
- I will regularly envision the end goal of landing my new job.
Some days it’s hard for an athlete to muster up the motivation for the grueling training session ahead of him. Likewise, some days it’s hard for a job seeker to stay motivated in a challenging market. Positive self-talk can help. So does keeping your eye on the gold. Let the games begin!
