These days I’m canvassing a multitude of events looking for companies that outsource their software project management. These events range from professional organizations, networking groups, as well as job fairs, like the one I attended today at UC Irvine.
During my two hours roaming around, I noticed something quite staggering: hopelessness. I spoke with a handful of companies, but, more importantly, I connected with a number of folks who’ve been out of work for quite a long time. There was a true sense of loss and desperation in their eyes and voice.
I asked each of these people how they were searching and whom they approached for work. In the process I gave them as much encouragement as I could, ranging from telling them about the numerous calls I receive weekly about contract and full time job openings that I offer to others, to signs of the economy turning around, like the stock market changes and the flood of federal money. None seemed to help. Some folks have just lost hope.
That’s the point. We see the masses hopeless and we lose hope too. I was reminded of the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad and how the author was forced to work for free to learn what it takes to become wealthy: having the mindset that you are the master of your own destiny…having hope!
One of the reasons I began a services company was hope: the hope and knowledge that I can be the master of my own destiny. I knew full well that I’m no less smarter, no less energized as many of the successful entrepreneurs I know and have read about. I have not only hope, but a full acceptance that my success is inevitable because I believe it is.
Once you have hope, others see it too. They’re energized by it and can’t help to want to be near and involved with you. They yearn to know more about you, a person whose unwavering hope makes him smile, especially in times like now.
This is just human nature. We gravitate toward those that seem to have an uncanny ability to see something positive when others don’t.
Look at it this way. Whom would you hire if you were the hiring manager or a partner looking to pay for services: the dude who’s hopeless and begging for the job, or the guy who’s full of confidence and hope knowing full well that he’ll get the job done and then some?
The bottom line is that however you decide to feel today defines what your future will be tomorrow. If you’re confident and full of hope that you’ll land a big gig tomorrow, that’s exactly what’ll happen. If you have no hope you’ll even have a home to sleep in by the month’s end…well, you know the rest!
But you may not know this: I have hope that our population’s lack of hope will soon change, even if I have to personally change it one person at a time.
What Do You Think?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Am I full of it? Post your comments here or email them to me, and let’s get this conversation going!