Onward In Faith: Letting Go of Old Habits

ONWARD IN FAITH
Letting Go of Old Habits

Richard Bolles’ best selling job search book What Color is Your Parachute has been annually updated since its inaugural publishing in 1974. That’s quite a record. Few know that Dick began his career as an Episcopal pastor before he found his calling—to inspire people in career transition through writing and speaking. His message is to cast aside conventional job hunting and become a zealous information seeker.

Seeking information about employment and then translating the information to intelligent questions, observations and ideas puts us in a position where we can be our best, most marketable selves. Job offers don’t come immediately but they do come—to those who carry out this process with persistence, professionalism and patience. Dick Bolles believes we can all pull this off. And faith is the key ingredient.

“When in transition, if you happen to have an old faith hanging in the closet, it’s a good time to bring it out and dust it off.”
–Richard Bolles

The work of transition is long and hard. It requires risk taking and perseverance. You need to be able to go out and meet new people who can help you directly and refer you to others. Whether networking or interviewing, you need to creatively communicate how your strengths and accomplishments connect to organizational needs. No easy task. Faith in yourself, your “team” and a power beyond yourself can be sustaining.

“The way of faith involves traveling by night.….Living with this kind of willingness to let go is one of the greatest challenges we face. Whether it concerns a person, position, or personal reputation, in so many areas we hold on at all costs. The great paradox is that it is in the letting go, we receive. We find safety in unexpected places of risk.”
–Michael Ford

BBC broadcaster and spiritual writer, Michael Ford helps us see how even in this difficult process, often dark and complex, there is hope and progress if we can challenge ourselves to do things differently in the job search. Be an information seeker in your process of finding new and meaningful work.

TODAY…

Describe on paper the ways you’ve been job hunting, making note of successes and failures. Have you been sticking to conventional tactics? If so, what’s it going to take to begin a new level of research into organizations and opportunities; and secure meetings where you can ask thoughtful questions and build your case as a serious and curious information seeker?