You Already Know What You Need to Do.

This is a small story of success (helping others), failure (not making enough money), and (an ongoing) redemption (by getting real). If you are young and haven’t taken life’s punches on the chin yet, this story may seem goofy. But bear with me.

I started helping people with resumes in 2020.

I began working on the writing. Grammar. Spelling. Reorganization. Rewrites. Clarifications.

I had made so many mistakes in my career. Underestimating my abilities. Overestimating my leverage. Staying too long. Leaving too soon. All of it.

Over time, I saw patterns with the people I was helping. These matched many of the mistakes I had made, but folks also revealed incredible strengths that they either took for granted or didn’t even see. As I incorporated these strengths and accomplishments into their resumes, I wanted them to feel this success in their hearts, not just in their passing thoughts. I helped people to advance their careers. But I wasn’t an entrepreneur.

As I only help out part time now where I can, I feel comfortable sharing the biggest lesson I’ve learned in this journey.

Deep down, you already know what you need to do: get humble and get moving.

For most of us, the issue isn’t strategy or skills. It’s that we are so terrified of “failing,” especially in front of others, that we refuse to start moving until we are 100% sure of every step and feel that success is guaranteed. We avoid admitting things because we are afraid people will mock us or stop loving us. We avoid steps forward because of faulty and selfish perceptions. I justified inaction with a perfectionist fantasy. In my head, things were a grand slam or a strikeout - that’s it.

But…you can’t just think your way out of negative inertia. You have to do something.

Recently, when business wasn’t what it needed to be, I took a job at a convenience store. A good friend had himself made big strides by taking a delivery job when his business had stalled. For many months, I brushed off this advice, as I had when it came from others. I had helped others by thinking, so I must be able to help myself that way, right? I had taken other part-time jobs, but they gave me plenty of time to sit and ruminate about things. Thank God my friend was persistent.

Finally, when bills came due, I went and got this job. I accepted some of the best advice I could have received. At the store, I talked with dozens of people from all walks of life each day, I did physical work that got me moving, and I helped solve problems. I learned so much from my managers, customers, and colleagues about the real world, and how much I had shielded myself from it. I also got the stupid idea out of my head that I was only valuable for the ideas I produced. I finally learned the critical lesson that every job is a big job if it is done with mastery, care, and consistency. I grew up.

Sometimes, one needs to come home sore in order to move one’s feet. The only person that could give me permission to take action was me, but I needed to let the universe push me too. Consequences are instructions.

You already know what to do: start moving forward, however small the movement.

Above all else, do something everyday, because small beats none every time.

I have since taken on another full-time job. The convenience store was a place of change and redemption for me, without which the next steps were impossible. Thank you.

Michael Kane, June 2, 2024, Marstons Mills, MA.