Job hunting challenges stamina. Without stamina, you're not likely to find a job. With renewed stamina, you can keep going. In good times, job hunts last about one month per $10,000 earned. In bad times, like this one, job hunts may extend for even longer periods. Begin by developing a positive environment.
ENVIRONMENT
An encouraging environment will nurture you by helping you overcome rejection and non-response. This strategy encompasses much more than spending time around positive people (although that's essential, too).
Derrick Hayes, encouragement speaker at WOE Enterprises in Columbus, Ga., makes clear that your job search isn't only about you. Notice how it relates to others. "If someone turns you down," Hayes says, "ask the person why he didn't hire you or look within yourself to see what you need to do to improve." View the responses as positive opportunities to enhance your search rather than criticisms of your job search, or worse, you.
In other words, don't just retreat. Others can help you step up, but most job seekers don't give them the chance to do it. Meanwhile, toss bouquets to people around you by encouraging them, Hayes advises, which will contribute to a culture of encouragement around you.
'VISION BOARD'
Make the most of your positive environment by developing a "vision board" that will help keeping you going toward your goal, suggests Amanda van der Gulik of Clever Dough Ltd., in Whangarei, New Zealand. "Find photos of your favorite job, of the things you'd like to do in that job and of happy faces doing that work," she explains. "Place those on a board or all over your bedroom wall, on the mirror over your bathroom sink -- some place where you're likely to see them on a regular basis."
There are even iPhone apps and computer programs to create a mobile vision board, or "mind movie." Photos and images become slides accompanied by music. Van der Gulik advocates playing happy background music while you watch your mind movie on your computer at the beginning of the day and at bedtime. Alternatively, dive in and "watch your mind movie all day long, subliminally, transparently on top of all you do on your computer," she says. "I love using this and have accomplished many of my own personal goals, in even less time than vision boards."
'AFFORMATIONS'
Another option is the use of "afformations," which Noah St. John discusses in his book, "The Secret Code of Success" (HarperCollins, $19.99). St. John describes the eureka moment he had in the shower one day when he realized that affirmations are ineffective for lots of people, because you can't fool your brain into believing them. They're "the wrong tool to do the job," because your brain is looking for questions.
"Rather than making a statement you don't believe . . . why not ask a QUESTION that can transform your life?. . ." he asks. "Because your mind automatically starts to search for the answers to questions, asking empowering questions immediately changes your focus from what you don't have to what you have."
St. John outlines the steps:
• "Ask yourself what you want.
• "Form a question that assumes that what you want is already true.
• "Let your mind search for the answer.
• "Take new ACTIONS based on your new assumptions about life."
In other words, assume you have what you want. Ask yourself why you did well in an interview or why you have the best job you could imagine. "This works with pre-interview jitters," he says. If you want to hit stamina hard, ask yourself, "Why do I have so much stamina?"
Imagine the progress if you use all four methods every day.
Dr. Mildred L. Culp welcomes your questions at culp@workwise.net. Copyright 2009 Passage Media.
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