Your attitude may keep you from getting a job

I am continuing my assault against shallow thinkers this week. This started after I received a couple of negative comments to my article last weekend regarding the rising unemployment rate in Charlotte and what to do about it. In short, the comments were critical of me for suggesting that you take responsibility for your job search success, and to dare suggest you might consider going into business for yourself. Don’t misunderstand, I love the comments. I just believe that the folks criticizing me are likely the cause of their failure in working what they love to do.

For proof, let’s look at examples of folks taking responsibility for their lives. I do not entertain the thoughts that this is a Republican conspiracy, or the fault of the “Protestant work ethic”. Certainly we can find places where government policies have impacted the ability for jobs to be created, but it’s certainly been a bipartisan effort. However, we elect these people, so the first thing you might want to do is vote.

I am far more interested in what people do to land or create jobs. I saw a status from a wonderful gal I went to high school with. She’s a nurse who works in delivery and the emergency room. What really inspires me is how she talks about her love for the work she does. And she’s working 12 hour shifts. I love stories like hers. When you are doing what you love, time flies by and you aren’t watching the time clock.

The other story is that of Latoya. She’s a single mom of two who lost her job with the county. Latoya tells me that she felt sorry for herself for about three weeks and then decided to take charge. She’s started up LC Janitorial in Concord, NC. She also is doing photography on the side. Latoya was in my financial class at Rowan Cabarrus Community College. She’s also taking courses to develop the skills she needs to run a business. Latoya was always smiling, and she doesn’t have a job! When I asked her how she stays so happy, she says that she looks at her blessings, and trusts in a higher power. Oh no, the Protestant work ethic is rearing its ugly head.

Now, I’m pretty sure that Latoya didn’t wake up and decide she wanted to clean businesses and homes for a living. However, she did decide to not be defined by the circumstances around her, and understood that self employment provides the best opportunity to control her destiny. She’s doing what she loves! Likewise, my former classmate gets incredible fulfillment by helping those women having babies and those in the ER. She did what she had to in order to pursue her calling.

So what are you going to do? The tale of two ladies shows that you can do what you love with the highly developed skills of a nurse, or you can start your own business with a can do attitude and strong work ethic. As I keep saying, YOU are responsible for the success of your job search. It is defined first off by your attitude, and the acceptance of that responsibility.