| |
By Jody Ulich
“Believe in yourself. Focus. Close your eyes
and see it happen. Now, step up and make it happen!” These words are spoken
time and time again by coaches to athletes. Close your eyes and see the ball
go in the hoop before you shoot. Watch the ball go in the hole before you
putt. Close your eyes and concentrate first. Believe! Every one of us has
seen players practice that shot in their head before they actually make the
move. When we were young, we did it too.
How many of us actually look at our careers in the same way athletes look at
their game? Most of us would benefit from examining our lives and
professional endeavors this way.
Even more of us would benefit from someone else analyzing our moves and
coaching us on where to move next or giving us strategies. We must envision
where we want to go; believe that we can get there; adjust with the help of
coaches, mentors and networks; and then attain our dreams.
Set Your Course
First, we must decide where we want to go. About five years ago, a very
close friend came to me with a dilemma. He had received a relatively
lucrative job offer that would potentially be a good career move, but he was
unsure whether to take it. It was a good company, and he knew and liked the
people there. Not knowing what to do, he asked if he could bounce some ideas
around.
My first suggestion to him was to close his eyes and tell me what he really
wanted to be when he grew up. Ignore everything that he had done to this
point, ignore the job offer and ask, “What is it that I want to do with my
life?” It was a pie-in-the-sky question, and after a long struggle he came
up with his answer. His dream job was not this position.
The next important question was, “Now that you know what your dream job is,
can this position help you reach your final goal?” After some analysis, the
answer was a potential “yes.”
Many aspects of this job could teach him important skills that ultimately
could be used in reaching and achieving his final goal. The thought to keep
foremost as he pursued this present position was that he must never lose
sight of the final goal nor the belief that he can reach it. See it, believe
it, do it.
 Work
Your Network
The next important lesson is, never underestimate the power of the network.
Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point illustrates the power of connectors,
mavens and salesmen in creating change. As you navigate your way through the
network environment, it’s important to recognize your own strengths and
weaknesses.
Do you connect people or are you the person people come to when they need
information? Do people follow your lead or are you the consensus builder in
a group?
Once you have identified your networking strengths, go out and cast your
network very wide. Start by identifying your current network — organizations
like IAAM, trade associations, leadership organizations and boards that you
serve on or should be serving on. Get involved in continuing education
programs such as Oglebay or Senior Executive Symposium.
Then there’s the unexpected networking. Sometimes it’s impossible to know
ahead of time who will be instrumental for you on your journey. The person
who will be the key to your goal could be sitting at Starbucks at the next
table. You overhear a conversation, laugh about the weather, introduce
yourself and begin the connection.
Or it could be a long, strategic connection with a colleague you met at the
IAAM convention six years ago. Either way, follow-up with a friendly e-mail,
call when you’re in town, let them know your name, and make sure they
remember it. Six years later, they just may hear about a job opening that
has your name on it.
Connecting and successful networking is difficult even for those well versed
in the art. It is painful to enter a room of strangers and introduce
yourself.
Do it anyway — and do it with enthusiasm. Do you remember the name of the
person you were introduced to five minutes ago? What did they say was their
favorite hobby? Listen, listen, listen.
Make it to the Top
Once you’ve practiced the art of networking — and there are many ways to
practice — remember the tools that help athletes make it to the top. A trend
making a huge resurgence in the business world is the professional coach.
Less structured but highly effective is the mentor, who can see from an
outside perspective your goals and how you can reach them. Find someone you
can trust and who will listen to you — and more importantly, who you will
listen to. Confide in him and let him coach you.
I firmly believe in these steps to achieve a particular goal, even a
seemingly impossible one. Lessons learned on the playing field can be
translated to the theater, arena, convention or any business environment.
Achieving that goal is like hitting the first home run or that once-in-a
lifetime hole-in-one. The feeling is amazing!
Remember the friend I mentioned earlier in this column? Last week he proudly
displayed his new e-mail address to me. Five years ago he threw caution to
the wind and set his sights on what he feared might be an impossible goal.
He started out his journey believing he could do it, envisioned his success,
networked, listened to his coach, and is now beginning work in the very
industry he set his sights on.
"Lessons learned on the playing field can be translated to the theater,
arena, convention or any business environment."
Jody Ulich is
cultural services director for the City of Tempe, Ariz. |
|
Back to Facility Manager
Contents
