Steve Jobs (1955-2011) was one of the great innovators of our time. Who doesn’t have some kind of connection to an iPhone, iPad, iMac, iPod, or iTunes? (Even if it’s only through one of their many imitators…) Hundreds of years from now, people will still be talking about one of the greatest leaders of the digital revolution.
Steve Jobs’ life story was one of starts, stops, detours, and possibly the most amazing comeback in business history. If there ever was a risk-taker, it was him.
One of my favorite Steve Jobs quotes, from his Stanford commencement speech in 2005, sums up that side of him:
Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.
The sentiment expressed in this quote has made some of the biggest decisions in my life and my business much more clear. Thinking about it causes you to step back and look at the bigger picture and see that most of the things you’re getting all wrapped around the axle about really don’t matter. All they’re doing is keeping you from something that could be great.
I thought about that this morning when I was talking to a coaching client who was afraid to do something that I tell all job seekers they must do: contact the hiring manger directly. It’s one of the most powerful moves you can make in the job search, but it strikes fear in most people’s hearts, like it did in hers: What if she did that and got a negative response? What if they were mad at her for daring to approach them about a job instead of going through the “proper channels”?
My response: So what? If you contact 100 potential employers and 3 of them are offended, another 3 (at least) will be thrilled. If you get back a negative response, just throw it out. They’re not a good fit for you…but you’ll soon find someone who is. Unless you take the risk and try it, you’ll never know.
Fear is one of the biggest enemies of the job seeker–fear of embarrassment, fear of failure. I want to encourage you today not to let the fear take over. It will keep you from something great. You really don’t have anything to lose. Take the risk. There is no reason not to go after the life you want and the job that will help you live it.
“There is no reason not to go after the life you want and the job that will help you live it.”
Powerful words. I once listened to a Goldie Hawn interview where she said loads of people are living a life they detest because humans are naturally terrified of endings and no’s. We’re great at starting things – and once started, we hang on for dear life fearing the unknown future brought by change.
Maybe we each need to pick something to try where we’re fairly certain to get turned down to practice working through fear?
Thanks, Peggy.
Susan
I needed that. I remember a time when I had no degrees and a child to support. I was fearless and got jobs that, when I look back, I had no business having and I loved them.
Now, because I am an older worker with an MBA I have become so fearful of rejection I hesitate to apply twice for the same job.
Thanks, Peggy
I have been told many times to contact the hiring manager. How do you find out who the hiring manager is??? That is the big question I have.
Frederick,
That’s a good question. You can find out how to get the hiring manager’s name (and lots of other great tips on what to say when you contact him) in our FREE training webinar, How to Find Hidden Jobs in Any Economy. It’s about an hour’s worth of detailed information that will really help you. Sign up here:
http://www2.onlinemeetingnow.com/register/?id=495bd5ccc7