In 2007, after working at my previous place of employment for 10 years, I decided to look for a new job. This process ended up taking up much longer than I had initially thought. Not only that, it turned out to be much harder than I thought and was full of setbacks. I would make it all the way to the interview (no easy task!) just to not get the job and have to start all over again. This ended up being quite a frustrating process and it was hard to “keep on keepin on” as the saying goes, and it was harder still to keep focused on the final outcome… Getting a job. Considering I actually had a job at the time, it really was difficult at times not to throw in the towel and stay at my current job. It was not a bad job at all, but I just wanted a better one.
Looking back on everything, I really think there was one little “trick” that helped me. The trick was in keeping this goal in the forefront of my mind EVERY DAY. Remember, this process took over a year, and I had to keep focused on the goal for the entire time. So how did I do this anyway? I picked something that would remind me of my goal and how I needed to not to “rest on my laurels”, but needed to “go, go, go”.
The thing I picked was a building. “The 88” to be exact.
So, how did this work exactly? Everyday, I would take the bus home from work. The bus stop was across the street from a large building that was under construction (The 88). Everyday, while I would wait for the Hwy 17 Express bus to pick me up, I would look at that building and watch the construction guys slowly build this thing. Then I would tell myself….
“I WILL get a new job before that building is finished and has tenants who have moved in”
The race was on.
It seemed like a simple thing at the time, watching the building being built. Looking back on it now, I realize that of all the things I did, that one daily exercise was really the most important. It was the most important because it kept me focused and installed a sense of urgency on my quest. You see, watching the building being built, I could see progress. This progress on the building reminded me that I had to get my butt in gear if I wanted to reach my goal before the building was finished.
I have to say, it worked!
It was a close call, but I did end up getting that new job before the building was done. For awhile there, it looked like I was not going to make it, but that just motivated me even more!
I got my new job just as the building was being finished. One month later, the first tenants moved in. However, I was not at the bus stop to see this, but I was already gone!