Here’s what doesn’t work when you’re in transition: spending time thinking and thinking and listening to yourself too much. Face it. You can become your own worst enemy if left to your own devices to figure out what to do.
You need fresh input.
Why not try something out?
Like a temp job, or volunteering, or a short-term gig.
Something. Not high stakes. Not a big commitment. Rather, something where you can use your brain, mix with other people, use some skills and remember what it’s like to be in a work environment. Before you say no to this idea, write down a few things that fulfill you when you’re working. For example- being productive, completing a project, being efficient, creating spreadsheets, working with a team… you fill in the blank. It doesn’t have to be big stuff. Remember that work is made up of lots of different things from the mundane to the extraordinary.
Try something new. If you’re wondering what it’s like to work at a radio station or a start-up, find out if you can help out for an afternoon a week. You’ll get the chance to learn about the culture and feel the vibe. If you care about climate change, offer to help out with organizing a rally or entering data into a spreadsheet. Find out which local organizations are working on the issue and see if they need an extra hand and a sharp mind.
Look at short-term opportunities. Landing a freelance project, working on a gig (see Craigslist), or doing a temporary job is a chance to stretch your work muscles and get going. One of the benefits is that the work is time-limited. If you don’t love it, so what. If you do, maybe something will come out of it- a longer term project, a job, a new referral source who can point you toward your ideal job.
Finding your “no” makes way for your “yes”.
Of course, I’ve got a story or three about things I’ve tried out. I really wanted to be an NPR host. Who doesn’t? So, while unemployed and living in Maine I volunteered at the local NPR station. That meant waking up at 5 am, driving to the station, taking stories off the Associated Press wire and writing short blurbs for the announcer to read. I loved watching him work like a conductor at the control panel reading and fading music in and out. What I didn’t love for myself was the technical stuff. The first time I went to do my own story, I managed to come back with an empty tape recorder. I didn’t catch any of my interview.
My “no” was working the technical panel. I was not destined to be a show host, at least not in Maine. My “yes” – I got some radio experience that later set me up for producing a series of radio programs featuring a literacy program that I directed. I also got an excuse to wake up early, do some writing, and learn that there are a lot of electrical fires in Maine in the dead of winter.
Getting out there gives you something to reflect on. You think you want to do something new. You’ve always had a fantasy of being on NPR or working with kids. Why not test it out to see what you learn. You’ll get the chance to use some skills, interact with new people, and gain perspective on what you want.
Chances are, it’ll feel great to make a choice and take action.
You might meet a new best friend or a great referral source.
You won’t know unless you step out and give it a try.
Nike surely made a fortune from the slogan “Just Do It.”
Maybe you’ll find your fortune. Or find you have a future in radio.
If you’ve got a story to share about something you tried, share it. You might give someone a great idea.
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