I’ve found that most people don’t seek out their dream jobs for one very reason:  they just don’t believe in themselves.  It’s as simple as that.  Really.

Sure, they’ll come up with all sorts of reasons (translation: ex-freakin’-cuses) why they can’t possibly make a change right now — you know the line . . . can’t take the risk right now, gotta get the kids through school, my spouse wouldn’t want me to become a ________, I can’t afford it, it wouldn’t look good, I studied something else in college, Yaddy yaddy yadda.

Bleh!

And, that belief in self really boils down to getting away from all of the negative images you’ve taught yourself to believe about yourself over the years.

So, it was a nice coincidence when I came across a section of Jeffrey Gitomer’s new book, Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude, (and, wowie, zowie, let me tell ya, that little baby is a gem of a book), a few days ago because he has a section that relates directly to this topic — turning the negative into positive.

Here goes 8 things (Gitomer calls ‘em 7.5 things) you can do to turn around the negative and make it a positive.  Note that Gitomer’s references are often to a business situation, but you can turn those around to fit your dream-job-searching scenario.

1. Stop blaming circumstances for your situation.  It’s not the rain, or the car, or the phone, or the product.  It’s YOU!
2. Stop blaming other people for your situation.  If you are consistently blaming other people, guess what, Bubba, get over it — it ain’t them.
3. Know your customer or prospect better.
4. Persist until you gain an answer.
5. Know where you are or where you should be.  Manage your time.  Have lunch with a customer, not a friend.
6. Work on your skills every day.  (Werner note:  This one is huge!)  Books, CDs, seminars.  You can never read enough books or listen to enough CDs.
7. Become solution oriented.  Instead of griping or wallowing in your problems, why not spend the same amount of time working on solutions?
8. Think before talking.  People speak without thinking, only to regret what they’ve said.  Every time you are about to engage someone else, think quickly about what it is you are about to say.  How will the words be received?  And, what else could you be saying that might create a more positive expression?  The goal is a positive response or result.

Check out Jeffrey Gitomer’s stuff.  Worth a long look-see.

Source: Gitomer’s Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude (I’ll be doing a full review of this whack-your-noggin’ book later on; it’s real solid, and a fun read to boot).

 

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