I must confess this photo inspired me to write a blog to showcase it. Here’s my reality, clients drag their feet. Yes, I realize these feet are up in the air, but it got my attention, so how about yours? Where are your feet?
“Procrastination is like going to a fancy restaurant and filling up on bread and not leaving enough room for dinner.” — Richie Norton
I’m gobsmacked at the number of potentials and paying tech clients who are interested in advancing their career journeys and then drag their feet. My minimum criteria are that they want to start working within the next two weeks. That’s the handshake, but what’s the reality? I’m goal-driven and never disliked a spreadsheet, so here we go!
Reality Breakdown (pun intended)
- Go-for-it: 15% consult and complete within eight business days
- Writer’s Block: 20% within 1.5 months
- The Ghost: 25% contact but no follow up
- The Traveler: 40% complete within two months
So, how do I connect with clients? Good question. Referrals, former colleagues, LinkedIn Pro, Google Business listing, networking, and my website. The point being in your career adventure, it might take a minimum 3-prong approach to land your dream job. Or merely a role in the case of some of my clients. It’s a stressful endeavor when you are terminated or decide to eject yourself due to startups gone awry or bad culture fits or ageism. When I review potential client requests for their career goals, they fall into four main categories:
- Advancement within the current company
- Change to a competitor within Fortune 2000
- Move from startup to Fortune 2000
- Migrate from Fortune 2000 to consultancy or startup
What does all this mean? People want to advance in their careers but are challenged by executing the steps. We’re not trained in this during college or by companies. Limited mentoring, no networking, nor encouragement appears to occur.
According to author Bryan Robinson: “procrastination is an unconscious way your mind tries to take away the anxiety of ‘Can I do it perfectly?’ so postponing seems to bring relief in the short term while undermining your career in the long run. If you avoid the looming project, you temporarily avoid the judgment and self-doubt.”
It’s time to change that. Don’t wait until you need a job. Start today. It’s the end of the year, so take the time to invest in yourself. Better yet make it a quarterly initiative to achieve your life goals of retirement, charitable work, or launching your startup.
What Investment?
- Endorsement: Reach out to 5 of your colleagues — including myself — and ask for LinkedIn Profile skills endorsements (be specific with 3) and recommendations (tell them two areas to focus on). I’m doing this challenge personally. Heads up, peeps.
- Network: When’s the last time you had a coffee or tea with a former colleague you admire? Reach out, set the date, and kee-kee (laugh and share stories). Or take my right-angle turn and reach out virtually on LinkedIn to folks you admire or share your views by sending a personalized message.
- Find a Mentor: Talk to your manager, colleague, or friend about potential folks to contact.
- Hire a Coach: Sometimes, we need a 3rd-party view. There are plenty of resources available, including LinkedIn Pro.
Now, quit dragging your feet. You have homework. Please send photos when you have your feet up in the air. Can’t wait.
Land your dream job. You deserve it.
