What did you learn this year? What valuable life-lessons did you experience? Hindsight is a wonderful thing. It allows us to put some distance between the event and our emotions so we can more objectively look at the situation.
~ Henry Ford
~ Sir Winston Churchill
~ Michael Jordan
These quotes say it all!
So as the wonderful year of 2010 winds down, look back on your failures. Here are some of mine, some big, some little, yet I’ve learned from them and trying it again! And by the way, a special thanks to Katrina Klibben for her inspiration for this post!
Missed Opportunities: There were several, perhaps more, that I missed out on. I know why, I didn’t follow through, period. I know why I didn’t follow through in each case. I convinced myself that if they were really interested, they would contact me. Or, at least that’s what I told myself. The deeper reason was…I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to deliver or that I would FAIL. Now, that’s a huge oxymoron.
The Rush of a Deadline: Time management may not be my greatest strength. I have a love/hate relationship with the pressure of a deadline. I love having a deadline but can’t quite seem to do all the necessary steps in between. The truth is, I am a procrastinator. Let’s see if this year I can break the work into smaller pieces so that I can make the big deadline.
Too many meetings, not enough purpose. Gallons of coffee consumed while meeting with fascinating people. Hmmm, is there something wrong with this picture? Was this the best use of my time? How did it it help me? How did it benefit the people I met with? Don’t get me wrong, I am a firm believer in networking, however…it has to have a purpose.
The last six months have been a huge transition for me. I struggle every day to identify my niche. I am so fearful of putting a stake in the ground and moving forward that I get stuck in a vortex. I am sure there are many others with this same dilemma.
Let me say, I am incredibly grateful to the countless friends who have tried to help me sift through this. These friends have been supportive and believe in me and the work I do.
So, what have you learned this year? Please feel free to share in a comment!
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
