Tend To Your Own Knittin'

As a job seeker, do you find yourself caught up in the comparison game? You know how it goes because you have heard it all before…

~ he has a VP title now

~ she has her MBA

~ he’s an industry leader

~ she has charisma

~ he has youth on his side

~ she has such wisdom

~ he has good looks

~ she’s got brains

~ he drives a Range Rover

~ he has a degree

~ she knows technology

~ he got another promotion

~ she got a big raise

~ he’s really connected

~ she’s knows the right people

~ he travels the world

~ she found a job 

And on and on and on it goes. Do you ever find yourself in a comparison game with other job seekers? If you do, I would invite you at this very moment to stop -- stop comparing yourself to other people. And do yourself a big favor and do so now instead of later. Why? Because it is exhausting. It is overwhelming. It is mind-boggling. And, as my client so succinctly put it:

“The comparison thing is one of life’s absolute energy sucks.” 

You are you. You are not Ben or Tom or Jessica or Denise. You have gifts. You have talents. Many of them. You have your own wonderful qualities. You have your own assets. And as it goes in the job hunt world, along with your assets, you no doubt have some liabilities. I’ve met but a handful of people in my years as a career management professional who described themselves as a perfect 10.  As a job seeker in today's intensely competitive market, it is vitally important to identify both your brand's pluses -- and minuses -- so you know exactly what you are dealing with as you embark upon the career transition process.

The next time you find yourself wandering over into the comparison pasture, simply stop in your tracks and repeat: I will take this comparison energy and invest it fully into my own life and continued career success. I will not dwell on matters that serve no useful purpose for me, my family and my future. 

The next time you find yourself caught up in the comparison game, perhaps you will reflect upon the following words from one of the best teachers I ever had:

Tend to your own knitting. 

Five simple words.

27 characters.

For you. 

Today.

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cross-posted billiesucherblog

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