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March 09, 2005
Small Steps in Self-confidence
Last week, seven individuals on this “Swimming in the Mainstream” (SiM) blog tackled the issue of how to build the self-confidence required for obtaining a meaningful job in today’s work environment.
As a result, one bit of general advice bubbled to the surface: Cherish the small successes in achieving your goals because they can form the foundation for your self-confidence.
These two SiM bloggers probably said it most eloquently:
Paul wrote:
“The greatest joy is success in spite of one's disability. Exceeding expectations is far more rewarding than just ‘meeting expectations.’ Small steps may seem insignificant until one looks back at the journey and the point from which it began.”
Priya urged:
“Get in touch with what kind of work has meaning and would be realistic for you to do. Then make a commitment to pursue it. Get the training you need, volunteer to get experience and gain confidence. Small steps and successes toward the goal builds confidence. Don't give up if it gets hard or challenging. Keep going and you will accomplish your goals!”
Mike Burks is a veteran IT professional, but he’s also realizing the same value of looking back on where he’s been most successful as he prepares to launch his campaign to find a new job.
Take a look at the progress he’s made just in the last two weeks. Mike is keeping a journal of his job search as it develops on a day-by-day basis on eSight’s Job Seeker's Network blog. Be sure to offer him your encouragement and advice.
There are three eSight articles which may be timely for both you and Mike on the SiM blog as you contemplate the first small steps you took in your career for gaining self-esteem.
Those three articles are:
"How to Define Success in Terms Meaningful to You"
"My Critical First Steps in Building a Resume ..."
"How to Use Key Success Factors in Your Resume"
A small but significant happening I remember is learning how to keyboard on a clunky old electric typewriter in 1958 while I was in high school. It’s not something I’d put on my resume, but keyboarding was my key to going to college and getting a job at the beginning of the “Information Age.”
That “Small Steps in Self-confidence” introduction provides background for this week’s discussion topic here on Sight’s SiM blog:
Even if it seemed insignificant at the time, what small success helped you gain self-confidence in your ability to work at a meaningful, mainstream job?
Add your comments to this posting
Posted by Jim at March 9, 2005 08:45 AM
Comments
For me, it was finally getting my driver's license after 26 tries. You see, I am dyslexic and also have ADD (Inattentive); left and right mean little if nothing to me. Before getting my license, I was restricted to working where there was a good transportation system. After my disability was diagnosed at age 36, several years after getting my license, I became a mental health case manager, almost tripling my income, and spending almost my entire day driving to and from my clients, as well as accompanying them to important appointments. If it hadn't been for my being able to drive, my clients wouldn't have been able to make the progress that they did.
Learning to drive also taught me to trust in myself and my capabilities, to say "no!" when road conditions (and life situations!) were beyond my skill level. When you know yourself that well and can trust your own judgements, self confidence just has to follow!
Posted by: Jean McIntosh at March 9, 2005 03:17 PM
That first small step to success happened accidently. It was 1981, the UN's year of the Disabled and my story about getting my teaching certificate back when it had been denied by the University of Western Ontario had made the news locally. The then editor called me up and asked me to write a bi-weekly column on disability issues for the local weekly. I'd never written for a newspaper, and they could only pay me 2 cents a word plus transportation costs, but it opened the door for me to begin my journalism career and as a columnist, too. Cam McKnight took a chance and nurtured me, and then, when he left the paper, Paul O'Brien took over nurturing me. Eventually I freelanced for the local daily as well as the local weekly for nearly ten years.
For something that turned out to be the worst thing that could happen, also worked into one of the best things that ever happened to me. I learned to bless the mess as well as the happiness.
Posted by: Liz S at March 9, 2005 10:08 PM