Hat tip to Dawn Bugni for inspiring the title to this post!
Replete with change, our recent Texas transition has dogged us with new challenges.
Enveloped by mesquite trees and a sprawling yard, our resort home would seem to afford our beloved Louie – a 15-year-old miniature pinscher, free range.
However, this delightful, yet willfully spirited fur child knows no boundaries and has been known to single-pawedly break through property boundaries and aimlessly roam the streets, lost.
Rob and I engaged in numerous discussions regarding fencing solutions to protect Louie from harm while also allowing him freedom to roam about, unleashed. However, while our thoughts coagulated to settle this quandary, Rob was quietly plotting a new problem-solving course.
As such, a few days into our move, Rob fetched me for an outdoor walk. Louie, at his side, “un” leashed, began following our footsteps in a cautious journey circling our house. Surreptitiously, Rob had been training Louie as to the benefits of property lines. Doing so actually unleashed Louie to the moderated freedoms in which to explore, sniff, lie around and play.
A transformation that I would not have deemed possible, Louie’s behaviors morphed, and he quickly became the well-behaved dog that I had only dreamed about. And Louie’s adjustment to his new Texas environment rapidly improved as he realized the security, care and comfort within the invisible lines we drew for him.
Similarly, in their careers, I think job seekers sometimes forget where their necessary boundaries lie, spurring willful behaviors to set in. In other words, they feel that the only way to get their way is to push, pull, prod and breach the invisible job-search guidelines that are there to reinforce their goals.
What behavioral change can you initiate today that may have a profound effect on your career (and your life)? What people might you employ, engage and/or ask to help you retrain and execute this change, helping you to unleash yourself from the tether that has you yearning for career fulfillment and freedom?
Poor Louie – maybe he was just trying to find his way “home” to Kansas City? 🙂
As for job seekers, attitude adjustments seem to be huge game changers. Whenever I read about long-term unemployed who eventually get new jobs, their stories usually include how they held true to their faith and kept a positive attitude.
Great tale (tail?), Jacqui – thanks for sharing!
Funny (re: Louie trying to find his way ‘home’ to Kansas City!). Perhaps so!
I love the idea of ‘holding true to their faith … keeping a positive attitude.’ And I truly believe those ‘feelings’ are key to winning the job search game!
Thanks for commenting, Meg!
Jacqui
Jacqui, you knew that this title would reel me in, didn’t you? 🙂
Part of the job seekers quandary is that they get so stressed that those boundaries appear to move, much like pavement on a hot summer’s day.
In desperation, they set off to explore whatever “scent” and “sound” that is presented to them. In the process, they may lose their way and themselves.
It’s a special blend, isn’t it? Having the freedom to safely roam that “career” yard, while utilizing the provided support and guidelines.
Marianna,
You so smoothly extended the blog post message here! You’ve created an accurate visual metaphor of what I regularly see happening with job seekers: ‘exploring whatever scent and sound is presented.’ What begins as a purposeful exploration creates a wandering-about scenario, where they begin to feel (and actually often are) lost.
However, as you mention, blending the freedom of wandering with the use of support/guidelines can create a more effective result!
Thanks!
Jacqui