I have a standard response to the “What do you do?” question. After all, in the States, it is like THE go to question of anyone who struggles with small talk. We’ll get to that later. But more importantly, I want you to ask yourself: “How do I answer that question?”
Personally, I never give a straight answer to that question. If I am out socializing, the general response is usually something ridiculous. I have used Professional Kickball Player, Obama’s personal assistant, and hand model as recent responses. All for laughs – and I always gets one.
I digress because you’re not here to find out why I never seem to be able to meet ladies.
Whenever I am meeting anyone in ANY setting – formal or otherwise – my answer to the what-do-you-do question is “I’m an entrepreneur.”
Ok. So I haven’t invented the new Facebook, or made a million dollars off of this site. In fact, by my totals, in two months, I have made…..$42.00. That’s something like the equivalent of ten cents an hour. In fact, I made more in one day with my porn file server when I was 16. True story. And my mother wasn’t very happy.
So besides laughing, you are all thinking “Sam, you are one amazing entrepreneur.” Thanks everyone….. (I HAVE gotten 15,000 visitors a month though)
Seriously though, here is a lesson for all of you, from my sometimes OVER-POSITIVELY thinking mind. You may see this lesson as self-promoting and you would be right. But don’t think for a second you can’t learn something too…
The reason I say that I’m an entrepreneur is because I look at my job search as just like any entrepreneurial venture. I AM the “Job Search Hustla…” The product I am working towards right now isn’t the independent “work for yourself” business. It is the “Sam Diener has a job” business. And someone IS going to buy this product. I will use the “Sam Diener has a job” business to build the independent “work for yourself” business!
What is SO motivating about looking for a job in this economy is the experience that both you and I are getting. Don’t you all realize the transferability of the skills gained just by building all of our own little “I have a job” ventures? Take a look:
- Psychological Health: Okay, so it is very easy to let your mind control you in your job search but eventually, we all learn how to control it. In the job search, you get a great opportunity to really learn how to silence those little negative thoughts that can paralyze you. Learning this is SO powerful. You can never discount that you have a great opportunity REALLY self-explore.
- Confidence: Once you master your own mind, you will build up confidence in yourself. Then it will radiate to those around you. And you WILL build it, because you don’t get that offer unless someone feels your confidence. Remember, confidence feeds off of confidence!
- Knowledge: You probably spend a lot of time to catch up with current schools of thought in your industry! Definitely a GREAT thing to do.
- Self-Motivation: Now you are your own boss. No one is telling you what to do every morning. You can lay in bed all day if you want to. Liberating isn’t it! But so is the feeling that you get when you realize that YOU are the one forcing yourself to “go to work.”
- Sales and Marketing: You think you aren’t in sales when you are looking for a job? Think again. You are out prospecting, cold calling, setting meetings. What do you think an interview and networking is? And by the way, one sale is all you need!
- Personal Branding: You are developing your own product. Building a resume. All this social media stuff. Everything that you do in presenting yourself to the buyer of your “I have a Job Venture.” It’s all more sales. And because you will be confident, your buyer will want you. Did you learn how to build a webpage too? WOW!
- Enjoying the finer things: Appreciating life is a huge gain. Believe me. You have free time. AND LESS MONEY. It’s VERY cool when you realize that there are so many things that you can enjoy without dropping a dollar.
- Negotiation: Salary negotiation. You ARE learning how to negotiate a salary right? Nobody is going to drop you because you believe your skills and experience are worth something. In fact, they should respect your confidence!
- Networking: You haven’t read my articles on how to network? Then you haven’t learned ANYTHING. No, no, just kidding. Read them anyway.
- What It Feels Like to Start A Business: This is a huge benefit. Did you ever want to start one? You have to have an understanding of and use ALL of the above to help you. When I asked some of friends what it feels like to start a business…. guess what they said: It feels like you don’t have a job! So nothing to scare you in the future if you have been through it before!
Conclusions: I hope you all grabbed some great thoughts from this article. I am glad you braved my shameless self-promotion.
I will be taking break for a short while. It’s time for me to actually find a “buyer” for my “Sam Diener has a job” business. You know of any opportunities? There is a contact form in “Sam’s Stuff.” Cheers all, and you will hear from me soon enough! Good luck to you all.
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