Career StrataGems!

© 2003, Rosemary Augustine  -  Posted 2nd Quarter  2003

 

Only Good Can Come From Downsizing

      There is so much doom and gloom these days, with the continuing sluggish economy, the war in Iraq, and continuing lay offs – company after company – it seems to never end.  Meanwhile, the frustrations for the job seeker seems to heighten as more doom and gloom adds to the stress of searching and finding the perfect / right position.

       However, there is good from all this.  Yes!  Only Good Things can come from downsizing.  Disagree with me?  Sure you do.  Let’s look at a different perspective to the topic and see what I mean:

 Time for a Change

      Author Dale Carnegie said, “if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten!”  It’s definitely time for change.  Think about what you could do differently – even if it is only one thing – to get the wheels moving in a new direction.  No one likes change.  And with change we desperately try to control the outcome.  Make the decision to change and let go of the outcome.  Just because you decided to move into a new direction, will automatically open doors.  Most importantly, be open to change – it’s a good thing.

 Learn New Skills

     Right now is an opportunity to learn something new.  A new skill, software program, foreign language, or even something different, such as a new hobby.  Change is good, and with learning something new, you’ll be surprised how additional doors will open for you.

 Adjust the Balancing Scales

      During times of unemployment, the frustration is great because the emphasis is strictly on finding a job.  What about adjusting the balance in your life with spending some (or more) time with family, your children, friends, and/or developing personally or spiritually, etc.  It is a wonderful time to adjust the balancing scales and place lifestyle at the top of the priority list.

 Focus / Stay on Track

      It’s easy to get side tracked in the job search.  A 20-minute online research project suddenly takes you 3-4 hours over onto Ebay or Amazon, or worse yet, the entire day on Monster.com.  Keep you focus.  Remember, it’s like using a camera and taking a picture.  What’s the subject in the viewfinder?  Stay focused on your goal – for that day, week, or job search project.  By keeping your focus, you are less likely to get off track.

 Goal Setting

     What goals have you set for the New Year?  In setting goals, what time frames have you given yourself? And, what steps do you need to take along the way to achieve your goal in the timeframe you desire.  There is a different between goal setting and wishful thinking.  With goal setting, there are often smaller goals that need to be met in order to get to the bigger goal.  Map out a strategy to achieving your goal and then set out to accomplish it.

 Attitude

      A positive attitude goes a long way.  A negative one takes you down a street that will dead end.  If you are unemployed, you cannot have ‘even a moment’ of a negative thought.  Remember, you’re not the only one unemployed or looking for a job right now.  Most importantly, those that are positive in the process, succeed in their endeavors – much more quickly – as they attract positive results.

        So as we begin a new year, downsizing is good.  During a downsizing you are faced with these challenges and more in the process.   Meanwhile, you have an opportunity to step up to the challenge and improve your life, looking back months (or years) later and saying, “quite a bit of good came out of my being downsized.”   Wishing you much success in 2003

 Warmest Regards,

 Rosemary Augustine

  

 PS.  If you or anyone you know would like help in their job search, please let me know.  I continue to work with people worldwide in their job search efforts.  Please review this website for additional information in working directly with me.  Or, give me a call at 303.759.1685.     Thanks!

BACK