If it doesn't challenge you!

So yes you’re employed by a company, you have a contract, you have to adhere to company policy and most importantly you get paid a salary. Yes it’s restricting, but it’s also secure. Ok so let’s stand that on its head, what would happen if you suddenly decided, “I want to start my own business” or buy into a franchise for that matter.  The first thing you are going to need is capital, then you begin the process of building your empire. You network, you business develop, you build rapport and reputation. That’s all straight forward, but then there is the commercial side, payroll, invoicing, credit control, compliance and marketing. Yes we all know the rewards are potentially greater doing it for yourself, but then again so are the risks…

It’s because of those risks that people tend to put their all into their new enterprise and understandably so, because usually their livelihood and the security of their families often depends on it. Therefore what this clearly tells us is, this is affectively all a matter of mind-set... It’s a fight or flight scenario, when our backs are against the wall we act in a different manner to that of everyday life. So what if we could adopt that manner from the onset in our employed recruitment roles?

Take a moment and look at your current position and desk, what does it have to offer you? Structure, support, training, working capital, database, a brand, but most importantly the bit we are all missing, opportunity! This opportunity is staring your square in the face, the question is how much do you want it?

So often I interview potential new members of staff, who tell me they are self-motivated and driven, of course they do, they know it’s exactly what I want to hear, but underneath what stokes the fire? Now, to answer that is essentially going to be different for everyone, because we are all individuals. The key thing to recognise here is it’s that catalyst that above all else, will make the biggest difference. We all have the ability to be successful, ok some have higher IQ’s, intellect and talent, but “Hustle beats Talent, when Talent doesn’t Hustle”.

The difference lies in you, the crucial aspect for you as an individual to recognise is your own drivers and ambitions and your biggest competition is you. You are the one thing that stops you working that little bit harder, stops you making that extra call, asking just one more challenging question. It’s a battle we all face day after, but the starting point is to recognise where that battle lies, before we can tackle it head on. It’s all too easy to make excuses…

Therefore my message to you is to change the way you look at your day to day job. If indeed you see it as just that, a job then straight away there is a problem. Recruitment is not a 9-5, tick the box type role, it is very much a half-way house between normal run of the mill employment and starting your own business. So start thinking about your desk as your own little enterprise, tackle each day with gusto and distinguish the concept of building your brand and your company. Quite simply the more you put in the more you will get out. It sounds obvious I know, but I have seen so many people think that they can be prosperous by cutting corners, being unprofessional and lacklustre, how wrong they were. Like anything you build, in order to sustain long-term stability, you have to establish a firm foundation and put in some solid ground work. Too many people walk into this industry thinking they can put in a half-hearted effort and yet still be successful. It’s like every walk of life, if it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.

Are you ready to change?