Career Basics Course: Week 7, Day 32

“A walk through the woods probably won’t change what’s wrong, but it can change how we respond to it.” ―?Heidi Barr,?12 Tiny Things: Simple Ways to Live a More Intentional Life

“Have you ever noticed how nice it is to walk barefoot on sand, grass or dirt? It's not just a relief to take off your stiff shoes or high heels. When you touch the ground with your bare feet, your body receives a dose of powerful healing electrons." ― Qing Li, Shinrin-Yoku: The Art and Science of Forest Bathing

“Nature pulls us up when we feel down, worked up, and vulnerable. It takes us out of our neurosis, shakes off the cobwebs, and helps us to mentally refresh. Nature shows us the way of the cycles and impermanence of all things and awakens the heart.” ―?Michele Kambolis

Practice Different Ways Of Introducing Yourself

THE MOST MUNDANE OF SITUATIONS can be emotional minefields when you are in between jobs. A casual gathering at a friend's house can turn south as soon as someone asks, "What do you do?"

Most people who ask this seemingly innocuous question are only marginally paying attention to your answer, and most are looking to pick out something you say so that they can as "smart" next question about. What you say determines what their follow-up question is. It also determines how they perceive you. ...

The stakes in social situations can feel artificially high. ...

The truth is, you don't need to have the perfect introduction that will convince everyone that you meet that you are the most interesting and enjoyable person in the room ... It's time to try something different.

This exercise is about equipping yourself with several ways to introduce yourself to create a conversation that is exciting and reflective of where you are at this particular moment.

Note: This is either ...

• Way 31, if you reference the 2018 version of the book, which I have, or,
• I'm going to recommend that you look at?Way 29?in?50 Ways to Get a Job: An Unconventional Guide to Finding Work on Your Terms

The Exercise

Practice 4 Different Ways of Introducing Yourself

It’s easy to get stuck in the same scripted response to, “What do you do?” There are always multiple ways to introduce yourself, and you can decide where the conversation goes based on how you answer. Explore these four options and the next time someone asks what you do, chose the answer that excites you.

[1] ~ I am working on learning?x?so I can rethink?industry?y. (Doyle - or this field or position)

• This response will most likely prompt questions about your industry or what rethinking means. You can then ask, “What industry are you in?” Ask if there are any upstarts rethinking their industry, and the conversation will continue from there.?If they ask more questions, discuss how your?non linear career path?prepared you for this work.

[2] ~ I work in?x?space/area/industry doing?y.

• y,?in this case, is your broader career goal rather than a job description. For example,?y =
• Helping people build their companies (if you want to work in Operations)
• Helping people get jobs (if you want to work in HR)
• Working on the business side (if you want to work in sales or leadership)
• Working on the creative side (if you want to work in graphic design or strategy)

Their next question will likely be about how you do what you do. Choose this introduction if you love talking about the future of your work.

[3] ~ I am trying to figure out where to go from?x,?but we will see. I have time to figure it out.

• x?in this instance will be an explanation of the last project you were excited about at your previous job. Choose a project that really animates you, about which you know a great deal. Before you finish talking, ask them: “What do you think your next career move will be?”?This conversation tends to be about the non-linearity of life in general.

[4] ~ I am learning about?x?right now, which is very exciting. What learning edge are you experiencing in your work?

• You will likely be asked why or how you are learning?x. If you are excited about learning and expanding your skill set, choose this introduction.

For me, ... Wow... does this ring true for me, and, upon reflection, I see how my unease in these moments -- and during these job transition -- also spoke to a deep lack of self-confidence in myself, and the journey that I had chosen for myself, the choices that I had made, and the decisions taken. Some transitions were clearly more self-directed while others were the result of "reorganizations." However, in hindsight, I had missed the signs that the sea and the weather was changing. I missed the warning signs that signaled and foreshadowed the events. I'm now a bit wiser, more reflective and more likely to anticipate how the future (in terms of work and employment) might change.

For me, ... this means that while I'm engaged in projects that I'm also always auditioning -- sometimes lightly and sometimes more rigorously -- for new roles; this involves learning as an actor, or set designer might ... always sketching ...

For me, ... Dev's suggestions here offer a way to have these conversations and to answer the question, "What are you doing now?" or "What do you do?" .... and, reflecting back on these moments, it's really because the other person doesn't have another opening line to begin a conversation ... when I initially stumbled through responses during transitions, it was pretty clear that they we're really listening and so I worried and worked myself up about thinking through a response...and so, I begin to experiment and use these moments as "thought experiments..." and then to ask questions ...

Good luck with your introductions ... and remember that you worthy and valuable and good simply as you are in this moment.

Peace and blessings.

Doyle

A Happy Tuesday (on Thursday) ... Week 7, Day 32! Congratulations ... WOW!?

We have welcomed three individuals who will continue throughout the remaining 4 weeks of Career Basics Course as Contributing Respondents. They are:

• Caila Howell?... a business/digital marketing professional and education advocate. We're delighted that Caila has joined us in this journey.
• Kathleen O'Brien 欧凯林?... a mission-motivated, people-oriented and a collaborator between and among cultures. We're delighted that Kathleen has joined us in this journey.
• Lap Gong Leong, a writer, author and political commentary who shares his thinking and writing regularly, most recently authoring,?Uncovering Sensibilities: rethinking axioms in the world of work for autistic people.

All the very best to everyone. Much peace.

Gerald and?Al Nunez