Decide Who You Are Before Deciding What You Will Do! | Business Advice

Francina R. Harrison, MSW

Approximately 7 million Americans are unemployed in the United States. Since August 2003, our economy has witnessed severe layoffs, plant closings and overseas relocations for white and blue collar jobs. As a college student you may be wondering, “In this depressed labor market, is it possible to have the “American Dream” and be successful in the workforce and in life?” Absolutely! The proof is in the person. Look at Oprah, Bill Gates, Denzel, Beyonce, Kweisi Mfume, and Sam Walton. They’ve found the way. In a nutshell, they focused on their potential, not the economic indicators. Successful people discovered who they were “before” they decided what they would do. It’s deeper than a job with these folks. It’s about delivering their passion, purpose, personality, and potential.

I’m convinced that the individuals listed above no longer have to go to work everyday. They work hard, but their careers have become another dimension of their personalities pushed beyond the “average” functioning levels. Successful people consistently strive to produce at 100 percent utilizing a true blend of purpose and occupation. What about the rest of us, can we attain that level of synergy in our professional career and life? Absolutely. However, understand that success does not come without cost. Our cost, we must make a personal commitment to explore ourselves at deeper levels than we ever imagined. The actual price is the authentic desire to uncover our wants and needs, in order to let go of old habits, and gain new experiences. I challenge you, find out who you are “before” deciding what you’ll do. The seven steps to self-discovery that follow will help you to discover who you are in work and in life. Remember, it’s deeper than a job…it’s about discovering “you.”

Accept Who You Are: The ability to be comfortable in your own skin, and to find your own niche, is a must for today’s competitive world. There is no one on this planet just like you. Learn to embrace and accept your originality, your body composition, the hue of your complexion, your voice, your essence, and your professional style. Once you have accepted “who you are,” you can begin to share “what you bring” to the workforce, relationships, and the world. Your unique “brand” is a selling point that you must deliver in all of your networking experiences. Be the pacesetter who drives class and style. Set your standards and leave the crowd behind. Power Statement: Failure Happens When You Try To Become Something You Are Not.
Tap into Your Gifts and Talents: If you don’t like something, you won’t do it very well. In order to find your “fit” with a particular employer, you need to explore your interests, desires, natural gifts and acquired talents. Consider the following questions and write your responses. In what areas of your life have you received compliments with minimal efforts? What do you enjoy? What relaxes you? What would you do for free? How do you feel when you are doing “that” activity? Do you “dream out loud?” How would you describe your ideal environment? If all of your debts were paid, and you could do anything in the world, what would it be? Your answers may open the door for you to discover the best fit for your personality in the work environment. For instance, I enjoy helping people discover themselves. I need flexible, relaxed environments, open spaces, vibrant colors, limited supervision, and the ability to “go with it.” I would not be successful working in the Patent and Copyright Office for the Federal Government (even if it’s a GS-12 position), there are too many limitations. The result of an improper fit is friction, in which case, poor performance and/or termination would likely follow. Power Statement: In The World of Success or Failure, Your Fit Makes The Difference.
Discover Your Strengths/Know Your Limitations: You can’t sell what you don’t know. Let’s uncover your power. Consider the following examples to start your strength building process. Are you comfortable speaking in front of groups, keen with numbers, academically solid, business savvy, or an excellent leader? Don’t discount your soft skills (compassion, drive, patience), combine them with the hard skills listed above. To determine your limitations, use the same techniques as above to find areas that are underdeveloped and need strengthening. Once you have completed the above task, sell your strengths and minimize your limitations. Example: Strength: communication skills, Limitation: rapid speech (by product of a Yankee upbringing). Plan – be aware and conscious of speech rate while delivering my messages. No one will know, employer or otherwise, the areas of your life that need work, unless you decide to tell them. Power statement: The Road To Success Is Always Under Construction.
Declare What You Don’t Want to Do: Fact: I don’t like okra. Therefore, I don’t eat okra, I enjoy collards instead. If you don’t like something, stop pursuing it. First step, declare 3 areas that you have “zero” interest in working. Let your flood gates open and list the industries, environments, job titles for which you have “zero” interest. Next step, do not apply for an opportunity in any of the areas you have listed in this exploration. If you don’t want to work nights and weekends, then don’t pursue the service industry (management or otherwise). If you have a more circular personality and need freedom and energy from others, don’t look for opportunities in a linear environment where order and routine is the norm. Your declarations will release you to pursue those areas where your interest, gifts, talents, and strengths can shine. Retention is more important than recruitment. Power statement: When You Love What You Do, You Will Never be Forced to Go to Work Everyday.
Acknowledge Your Power Source: In our academic pursuits, relationships, and work lives most of our actions are determined by some form of motivation. In other words, “if I do this…what’s in it for me?” Find the origins of your motivation, consider these questions. Are you internally or externally focused? What motivates your successes? What compels you to select particular programs? What drives you? What fuels your passion? What keeps you connected to the things you love to do? Knowing where your passion originates is a career selling point. Some industries are looking for internal motivation, (helping profession, education, sciences, and arts). Other industries need the externally motivated, (PR/marketing, entertainment, business, legal profession). A quick note of caution, understand that your “fuel source” must be replenished or you will run on empty. The technical term for not refueling is “burnout”-- don’t let it happen to you. Power Statement: Find Your Life’s Work Not a Work Life!
Deliver Your Ambition and Accomplishments: Today’s employers are looking for that top 10 – 30% employee who can perform in the marketplace. Make sure you have what it takes to meet their needs—be a “performer”, not just a “presenter.” Be an “employee”, not just a “candidate.” Expect HR associates to dig deeper and ask questions regarding performance, achievements, initiative and leadership potential. Hiring managers and recruiters are aware that candidates can “shine” in a one-hour interview, but what about the long haul? You must make sure that your career search tools combine what you can do, with what you've got. You must showcase your accomplishments, how you achieved them, and your next steps. Be prepared to demonstrate your contributions, projects managed, and how you “stepped out of the boat” at various levels (individual, group, community). To have nothing… won't do. If you are struggling in the performance/accomplishment area, now is the time to “get on top of that.” Get involved and become active in the community. Join professional groups and associations. Find volunteer opportunities that meet your life mission and academic standards. Don’t just take a back seat, secure a position of leadership and develop those skills and accomplishments. Power Statement: Work Like You Have a Purpose.
Manage “Your” Business: Successful people see themselves as an enterprise; they act and think like a business. They value performance, change management, accomplishments, quality, self-management, time-management, community service, and reputation. You are a business—an enterprise with a quality based product line, and skilled knowledge base. Your resume should function as your brochure, highlighting your strengths and minimizing your limitations. Your interviews are to be considered “sales” meeting where you share your core products (passion, purpose, personality, potential, and performance) with a potential vendor. Your image, dress, and conduct should be consistent with your business standards. Your follow-up contact (thank you letter and/or follow-up call) will close the deal, and leave a lasting professional impression on the employer. Membership does have its privileges. Join the “Top 10 – 30% Club” or settle for the average career seeker club...you decide. Power Statement: Your Reputation Will Outweigh a Resume Any Day!

Francina R. Harrison, MSW, “The Career Engineer”, is a graduate of Norfolk State University School of Social Work and the owner of Harrison & Associates a career consulting business in Virginia Beach, VA. She is the author of the book, A Mind to Work: The Life and Career Planning Guide for People Who Want. Need to Work (ISBN: 0-595-30390-0) and just released the Don’t Get Anxious, Get Prepared Audio CD set with 100+ minutes of career winning coaching. You may contact the motivator at 757-420-1109 to arrange speaking engagements or for more information visit www.thecareerengineers.com.