A couple of guys made their pitch to the Sharks (seeking an investment for their business), and then they were asked a question that led to one of them breaking down completely and crying in front of the sharks.
The question was simple: “Why did you start your business and why are you here?”
It turns out that he started the business because it’s his biggest dream. His passion. The #1 thing he absolutely had to do in life.
And he was there, seeking an investment and support from the sharks, so that he could prove to his fiance’s parents that he was good enough for her, and so that she would be able to leave Japan and come marry him in the U.S.A.
What a powerful reason for making those career choices, isn’t it!?
People do all kinds of crazy things for loved ones… and you know what the billionaire Shark, Mark Cuban, said to this young man?
He said that the one common factor between all the people he’s seen succeed is that they have a powerful reason, beyond themselves, for doing what they’re doing.
So, if you feel a lack of purpose in your life, if you’re bored at work and only in it for the paycheck and the weekends, then I want to help inspire you to connect with YOUR purpose, and show you how you can start turning your career around today - so that you can love the work you do…
Earn the income you deserve…
And contribute to something that matters.
How You’ve Been Tricked Into Losing Your Purpose
Here’s what I believe to be the #1 core reason of feeling “lost" - Distraction.
We’re distracted by ads telling us what success is (buying expensive things, according to them)…
…By TV shows, social media, and texting…
And by the stress and demands of daily life (like paying the bills)...
So along the way, it’s easy to get lead away from your passions and dreams, and all of sudden that job that “paid the bills for now” turned into a career by accident.
It’s not your fault.
But it is your life. And if you choose to keep accepting things as they are, then you and your family are the ones who will suffer the most as you become even more distracted, less happy, and less fulfilled with your career.
However, it doesn’t have to be that way…
How To Find Your Purpose & Get The Job Of Your Dreams
What most people don’t know is that the only reason they’re out of touch with their purpose and feel lost in life is because they haven’t taken the time to get back in touch with it.
All of the answers you need are available to you whenever you choose to seek them. You just need to know how. Here’s a simple 3-step process that I think will work well for you:
First, make the decision, now and forever onward to not settle for less than you’re capable of, and push yourself to continually grow.
It may take some time to make the changes in your life, but every small step counts.
Second, write out this sentence as many times as you need until you feel better, and 100% clear about what you want:
I feel ______ because _____. I want ______.
Third, take action, and seek inspiration.
I suggest making a list of 3-5 companies that inspire you and you would LOVE to work with, and then finding a way to get their attention and get the job.
It’s far better to put more energy and attention into fewer job applications that you really want than applying to a hundred companies you don’t care about with a generic resume.
Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.
In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.
For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.
Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach
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Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:
How did I learn about this job?
How did I apply for the job?
Did I earn an interview?
What was the ultimate result?
A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:
Negative Trends
You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.
The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.
One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.
The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.
This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.
Positive Trends
You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.
The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.
The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.
Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.
The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.
Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention
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Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.
The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.
Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.
While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.
As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.
If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.
Build Your Personal Brand
Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.
Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"
Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.
By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.
You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.
Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search
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Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.
There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:
Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!
Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.