While working out is not among my favorite things to do, I really enjoy walking. A few tunes in the iPod and a brisk 40-minute walk 5 times a week energizes me and sets the tone for my days.
However, traveling and being busy can really knock me off my game. I’ve been blessed with great health and I know exercise will contribute to my continued good health. So, to get back on top, I ...
--Made an Investment
At twice the cost of normal walking shoes, Skechers Shape-Ups are not inexpensive. However, I decided I’m worth it. As long as I continued doing the same things, I was guaranteed to continued getting the same results. I wanted better results and enough pain in the cost to ensure I was energized and committed to the program.
From a job search perspective, it’s easy to think you can do it by yourself. And certainly, there are quite a few people who can and have. If, however, you are not getting the kinds of results you want, perhaps it is time to make an investment in yourself. For every week a CFO or senior finance executive is out of a job, it costs him somewhere in the $2,000 to $7,500 range. Getting to work even one week earlier could make an investment in yourself one of the best deals in today’s economy.
I’m not so sure “free” advice is that valuable ... but that’s a post for another day.
--Got a New Perspective
The design of the sneakers forced me to walk with better posture. If I looked down, rather than out, I risked doing a face plant as I wobbled and zigzagged trying to regain my balance. I can only imagine what people driving by thought ... well, yes I can. Looking forward gave me a different perspective, balance, and allowed me to see obstacles well in advance of them and plan how to avoid them before tripping over them.
From a career management perspective, what would a wider view afford you ... being able to see obstacles way down the pike rather than jumping immediately in front of you? Being short-sighted ... looking no further than where you are today ... can cause a life balance crisis if you are completely unprepared to lose your job. And yes, it does happen.
It is always better to look at your current employment as merely being between searches rather than resting on your laurels, feeling lucky or safe. Failing to plan IS planning to fail.
--and Succumbed to the Old Adage ...
No Pain, No Gain, for my own good. The design of the shoe allows for a cushioned, fluid movement which, once mastered, has allowed me to speed up my stride and keep the old ticker pumping. Alternatively, if I slow down and exaggerate the heel-to-toe movement, I get the attention of muscles I forgot I had.
Where do you need to slow down in order to get the attention of people who need to know about you? Perhaps it means transforming from a chameleon to a purple cow!
Or, what strategies do you need to implement to keep your career movement smooth and fluid rather than stop and go? Even today, with the amazing glut of unemployed talent available, the “passive candidate” is still the most valued.
... in order to Reap the Rewards.
It’s early in my program as I write this, but I will say I feel great and my energy level is much higher, even on gloomy days when my solar battery runs low. I have every incentive to stay motivated and stick to my walking regiment.
Again, looking at your career ... the one thing that allows you to fund every other thing in your life ... are you well-positioned to continue reaping the rewards?
