Many years ago, when I was a new college graduate, an employment agency “counselor” presented a job that was clearly an underpaid dead-end. “Perfect for you!” she smiled happily.
I was clueless about careers in those days. Career counselors gave preference tests, people went to agencies instead of networking events, and coaches hovered on the sidelines of the basketball court. But even I could see how bad that job was.
The agency woman shrugged. “Well, you have to start somewhere,” she said.
In other words, she was advising me, “operate with a scarcity mindset.”
Many years passed. I forgot that brief encounter with an employment agency. I’d gotten graduate degrees, left the corporate world, and became a college professor: one of those people who decided to teach rather than do. And then I left academia to start an online business.
But one day I ran into someone I’ll call Eileen. We’d met in a networking event and hadn’t seen her for months. Now, she told me, she had a new goal. She had just heard a powerful motivational speaker.
“This guy was so great,” she said. “I want to be like him.”
“Terrific!” I said. “Go for it!”
“So,” Eileen continued, I’m going to get more involved in Toastmasters. Maybe I’ll enter some contests.”
I must have shown my surprise.
“Well, you have to start somewhere,” Eileen shrugged.
I have a lot of respect for Toastmasters. I was in a group once. (No, I’ve never been afraid of speaking. That group had a lot of hams, comics, and even a radio announcer.)
But Eileen already has a lot of speaking experience. Now she needed visibility and connections that are not easy to come by.
Toastmasters offered the easy path. Sign up, pay dues, and go to meetings. The worst that can happen? They’ll hate your speech that day.
Eileen’s answer haunted me because I saw it as coming from scarcity and fear, not abundance and strength.
There’s an old English saying, “Begin as you mean to go on.” The way you start can influence the way you end up.
True, you do have to start somewhere. But hopefully, you’ll take some time as you pick the starting place.
Eileen’s not the only one who decided to start with whatever’s available.
Aspiring writers often begin by writing for club newsletters — easy opportunities with uncritical audiences that lead nowhere.
Aspiring entrepreneurs work with low-paying, demanding clients; their work won’t help their portfolio and they’ll waste time with clients who won’t give them testimonials.
Aspiring actors and singers start with small-town community theatres. They won’t gain experience, credentials or credits for professional venues.
Generally, it is better to go into action early rather than late. But random action, just to get moving, can take you on costly, time-consuming detours.
If you’re standing at a crossroads, it’s better to consult a map than to close your eyes, spin around, and point.
“You have to start somewhere” usually means, “Operate in scarcity mode.”
Aspiring entrepreneurs often settle for low-end, underpriced offers because they’re afraid to reach for higher goals. Often they don
Will Toastmasters help Eileen achieve her goals? I have no idea. But she should do her research and review her goals before investing huge amounts of time here.
Your blog resonated with me. I was a personnel placement counselor in the days when all of our jobs were kept in a 3-ring binder.
When counseling someone about jobs, the company insisted that we hold the book close to our chest–so they couldn’t see them. We, in our infinite wisdom, would then go through each section of the book looking at the person saying “No…(turn page), not this one…(turn to another), Ah, here is one you should try.”
I don’t think people realize how much better it has gotten. We now open up everything we have to the client. We coach them to examine their goals, motivations, current talents and skills, and skills they would like to develop.
We never make the decision for them, but help them examine the pro’s and con’s of each decision. We talk together often to ensure they are progressing–with personal satisfaction.
Thank you. Your blog helped me appreciate the difference.
What progress!
I agree: Most people don’t realize how far we have come. What’s funny is, I bet some people liked the “old” approach. I get lots of clients who ask, “Can I take a test that will tell me exactly what I should do for the rest of my life?” They’re experienced professionals – smart people. I wrote an article about this here.
And to be honest, sometimes people fall into jobs they never anticipated, then learn that’s what they wanted all along.