“Things may come to those who wait…but only the things left by those who hustle.”

I’ve never learned the context in which he made that statement, but the quote has stuck with me for as long as I can remember. It reminds me, when I feel lazy or disheartened or tired, that there is work yet to be done. Wherever I am and whatever I’m doing, there’s something more to be contributed or learned or experienced.

Our country was founded and built by enterprising human beings – men and women with the grit, fortitude, and work ethic to make extraordinary things happen. They weren’t people who waited patiently and hoped good things would come to them. They worked hard, and as a result, good things happened.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t rest and wait patiently from time to time. Of course you should. Just not all the time, and certainly not in the context of your purpose or work. If there’s something you want to accomplish or achieve, get started and keep after it until you’ve made it happen. When you get too tired to keep going, rest. Then get up and get back to it. That’s hustle.

Personally, I value the lesson implied in the quote from honest Abe because it came from a man who knew exactly what he was talking about. He didn’t just talk about hustle – he hustled – and the results of his work are with us to this day. As you face whatever comes next – in your job search, career, and life – remember that “things come to those who wait…but only the things left by those who hustle.”

Happy President’s Day!
Mike

Purple Squirrel
www.michaelbjunge.com

This morning I was there. Foggy. Under-rested. Struggling to string together a series of coherent thoughts. And tired. Just plain tired.

Part of me wanted to power through it and get things done, but by early afternoon fatigue won out. I lay down for a “quick” nap, and woke up almost 2 1/2 hours later. Energized, focused, and in a MUCH better mood. It was amazing.

Good for me, right? Yes, definitely. But maybe also good for you.

After years of studying the hiring game, it’s become clear that fatigue, stress, and fear are serious barriers to job search success. Being out of work or trying to make a transition can be a huge drain on mental and emotional resources, and the longer the process takes the more of a problem this can become.

Most people try to do the same thing I do – power through it – but is that really the best plan? Today I rested for a couple hours, got up, and accomplished more in the next few hours than I had in days. Coincidence? Probably not.

Mental acuity, focus, and just plain feeling good all have an impact on performance – a HUGE impact – and that shows up big time in the interview process. The next time you find yourself tired, cranky, stressed out, or otherwise off your game, consider taking a nice long nap instead of fighting your way through it. Sleep helps. Seriously. Give it a try.

1) Know your audience. Put yourself in the shoes of a resume reader and define what you’d consider valuable if you were on the other side of the hiring equation. Start there.
2) Get to the point. We all know how quickly a resume gets scanned before getting a “yeah” or “nay” – usually a matter of seconds – so deliver your message FAST and don’t waste front page space.
3) Use Hybrid Titles. Resume readers are universally guilty of scanning titles to see if someone is a viable prospect (at least on occasion). This would work great if everyone used the same naming conventions. They don’t. If you have an unorthodox title, add a more widely used version in parenthesis.
4) Your Resume is alive. It’s a permanent work in progress, so experiment, play, and refine. Never think of your resume as “finished.” It isn’t.

For more, pick up your copy of Purple Squirrel, and get ready to put your search on the Fast Track.