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There is never a perfect time, nor are circumstances ever ideal
to obtain your ideal career;
sometimes you just have to start! There will be costs to
finding your calling, including:
technology costs, telephone costs, postage,
traveling costs, and wardrobe costs. Be frugal,
but not cheap! If you appear cheap
or cut corners, that will show when you go to meet your
employer. Don’t
sacrifice or be anything less than 100% professional because taking time
to
spend money
now will pay big dividends in the future. If you spend an
extra dollar here or there or are
concerned about funds, think about the millions you’ll earn over the course of your career.
For example, if you start at age 20 and retire at 60 (work for 40 years) and average, say,
$50,000 a year, that’s $2 million dollars earned over the course of your lifetime! With that
perspective, a few dollars here or there shouldn’t matter to you. If you’re going to buy that
one suit or dress for the interview, make it count. You deserve a professional resume. If you
need to make a long distance telephone call to a mentor or buy lunch for an employer, do it!
With the tools that you now have at your disposal, I know that with effort you can find your
ideal career. It will be challenging, but as a long-term thinker seeker, you know that good
things take effort. Quoting again the great Vince Lombardi, “The difference between a
successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but, rather, a
lack of will.”
By finishing this book, you should be congratulated on achieving that goal. You are ahead of
90% of all career seekers who talk the talk, but do not walk the walk. You have a competitive
EDGE; now use it! Many people say that they found a great career after having completed
less than half the book because a word, example or exercise created a breakthrough in their
thought process.
It truly is the little things that make the difference. In today’s 21st century workplace, people
will be forced to change jobs and industries at a record pace, while many will start their own
venture. That is why it is essential to take action and plan for the long term. This is a marathon,
not a sprint!
And please don’t put the book on the bottom shelf or give it away because
there will most likely is another day in the future when you may need to refresh
your memory on the enclosed strategies.
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Section 17 - On The Job Success