Thursday, February 19, 2009.   I remember one time I was 19 years old, and I was at my mother’s home complaining to her.  I had just quit a job and I didn’t want to find another one.  I mean, I knew I had to have a job and earn income since I was on my own, but I did not have the drive to seek another job and I had saved enough money to take the summer off.  I did not have any inner urge to look for a new job.  She told me to “always follow your heart” and “be prepared for the consequences you put in motion.” I told her that I was afraid that if I followed my heart, I would not find a job and earn income and I would end up being a bag lady on the street. 

She asked me what I thought was wrong with that, if I was a happy bag lady.  I told her I aspired to much more, however just in that moment I was feeling insecure and worried about it.  She suggested I use the time off to practice interviewing for positions I thought were out of my reach.  If I wasn’t real serious about it, I didn’t have anything to lose and I wouldn’t feel as much pressure.  It’s not like they were going to actually offer me the job or anything.

And that summer I learned a lot of things.  I learned that even though I had just basic typing skills, as long as I was tall and attractive and friendly and acted confident, the interviews were a breeze.  I learned I was probably just as smart as anyone who interviewed me, and could appear just as sophisticated and professional, by mostly keeping my mouth shut.  I loved to type and typed fast, and had a quick mind for details and organization. I learned to dress on par with my female bosses and loved being support staff behind the scene to help make the star shine.  I made friends easily with both sexes.

That summer I learned I could have just about any job I wanted to have.  Me doing those few “practice” interviews gave me tremendous confidence.

And even if it was just a trick my mother used to get me back out and into an office, it worked.

Even if it was just a trick my mother used to change the topic from me feeling like I never wanted to work again or look for another job, to let’s make a game out of it and play with it, if you’re going to chuck it all anyway, it worked.

And I’m all for whatever works.