I was thrilled to be listening to Jerry Jerome this week at the JobSeekersAZ meeting. He has a keen sense of the market and a handle on how people are feeling during unemployment, especially extended unemployment. This could be because he has been through it and then also he has a professionally licensed counseling background.
There were many points he made during his 1 hour presentation on how to keep plugging forward and find the ideal position. One that I completely believe and know is the place to start is Changing Your Outlook to Change Your Outcome. This is the basis of all other principles he discussed. Most people are not expecting to get laid-off, and it tends to make us feel depressed and not good enough (not a good spouse, not a good parent, not a good employee, etc, etc, etc). When we get into this mentality, then everything around us looks drab and deary.
Jerry – you nailed this, I’d like to share part of my story here.
Last year when my husband and I were both unemployed at the same time and going through the short-sale of our home, I decided to take action. There had to be some opportunity in this tough time. This is when I choose to help other people and launch JobSeekersAZ. Though this program is all volunteer, it has personally been the best thing I could have done for myself (building my confidence, growing skills I needed honing, meeting thousands of people, networking like crazy and building the ability to lead and organization). I didn’t realize at the time that I was going to gain so much from it as I was doing it purely to help others.
I love this part of my life because it tells just a piece of the story of how changing my outlook changed my outcome. There is no way I could have known how a volunteer initiative could lead to one of the best years of my life in so many ways.
Thank you for reminding all jobseekers of this very important concept. We are excited to have you speak again in the future.
Jerry also has a great book of inspiring quotes called Instant Inspiration. I love the book and use it to Tweet out quotes all the time. One of the best quotes I heard during the presentation was Jerry’s own quote, “many who are unemployed have psycho-schlerosis, hardening of the attitude”.
Jobseekers – please know there is an end to this and it will probably lead to something incredible!
Jessica M. Pierce
JobSeekersAZ
Founding Partner
480-239-6738
Thanks for publishing this. I was planning on attending, mainly because I am at “that” place myself and I drove out there from my location in Phoenix, but never did find it. When I got all the way to I60 I gave up and went home. Almost 70 miles round trip and never made it there. Since I would have been late, I don’t know that I would have gone in anyway. Sounds like it was a great presentation and I like what you wrote as well. I know I will get “there” and it will be a better place, but the mean time is hard. However, like you, it is important for me to help others, that is where I thrive. I do some volunteering, but there is the cost with that which can be a barrier. I look for the little things everyday. Holding the door, saying excuse me, please and thank you. I never walk by anyone with out them knowing that I knew they were there and saying hello. That can be the bright light is someones day, I want to do that for everyone I encounter. It really is the little things that matter, if you take care of those, the big ones fix themselves. Thanks for sharing.
Gretchen Holmes