Envision a Successful Outcome
Practice Success—Not Failure
We are in the midst of the Olympics and so I am leaving behind the tools of job search for a bit. I am amazed at the athletic feats. I can’t imagine doing any of the routines which is perhaps one reason I am not able. (However, age and lack of athletic talent might also play a part.) This topic does tie into job search in that we need to see ourselves as successful. We humans probably spend more time berating ourselves for mistakes we make than we do in visualizing success.
Time magazine reported, in a cover story on the 1984 Olympics, that in the darkness before the finals in women’s gymnastics Mary Lou Retton, at that time age 16, lay in bed at Olympic Village mentally rehearsing her routine ritual. She had done the same on hundreds of preceding nights, visualizing herself performing all her routines flawlessly in her mind all the moves and rehearsing them yet again and over again. The end result was a routine of flawlessness, presented with charisma, composure and coolness, culminating in a gold medal.
Of course, to be successful we must have and then practice the necessary skills. After that we need to get out of our own way, let go of fear and envision success. Next week, I will blog more about letting go of fear.
One way to visualize overall success is to write a letter (does not need to be sent) to someone you admire as if it were one year from today. The letter recipient can be a friend, fictional character in a book, someone in the past, your future self. In that letter, outline all the good things that have happened to you during the year and how happy you feel. Be very specific about the successes and your emotions around this success. Really feel the power of this.
You can also visualize success in particular settings, such as the job interview. Do as Mary Lou Retton did. Visualize yourself walking into the interview room, confidently answering questions, asking questions, ending the interview.
A suggestion is to change your definition of success until you land. In the figure skating events it would be announced that a competitor had beaten his/her prior personal best. I like this as a measurement because everyone can do it, not just those who win medals. So I suggest to you that you strive to beat your personal best in number of networking calls, resumes sent out, comfort level at interviewing. If you set the bar at increasing your ability rather than winning the job, you will see yourself as successful. Then, with the right opportunity, your practice and feelings of comfort will win you the gold–the job you want.
What have you learned from the Olympics that you can use in your job search?
QUOTE
“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right.” Henry Ford
PLEASE COMMENT
Once again, I would appreciate any experiences, comments or questions that will help other readers. I would particularly enjoy some humorous experiences and success stories. Once a month, I will choose one commenter to contact for a free coaching session.
HOW TO REACH ME
www.careercoachjill.com for career coaching
www.limitlesshorizon.com for personal life coaching
www.leadercoaching.org for leadership coaching
Thanks to tech guru David Behrens (http://neptunestudios.net), and editor M. C. Pastoret.
