Everyone Has Their Own Unique Story
As I sit down to write this blog, we have just ended the election convention season here in the United States. While there still will be over 2 months of campaigning, commercials, endorsements, (unfortunately name calling), etc., that is still yet to happen, one item that occurred to me over an over again, were the reports that looked to break up voters into different demographics. Whether the voter be liberal or conservative, of a certain ethnic or racial makeup, gender or age demographic, news articles would look to define that demographic and their “tendencies.” I have trouble with that dynamic.
Over the last 13 years I have been privileged to work with hundreds of different clients. One of my roles as a coach is not only to guide them in the methods and approaches, they may find most efficient to use in their job search, but to get to learn about them as individuals. While I may “assume,” (which is a bad thing to do, and which I will speak of in my 2nd blog later this month), that benefits no one, least of all the client. As a coach, I am a trained questioner. I just do not question to hear what the client has to say, but to even get the client hear themselves speak. In doing so, it becomes apparent to many people that they had either forgotten items in their life that were important to them, or frankly which they enjoyed doing and were proud of what they had accomplished completing those activities.
Everyone I meet has their own unique story! There may be aspects of it which may be like another client I have worked with in the past. Or the details make sense to be based on some of the demographic factors indicated in the paragraphs above. However, what separates each individual story that makes it different from any other that I may have heard in the past, (and in turn, which I need to help the client convey in their resume, their verbal pitch, and the materials they need as part of their job search)?
In no specific order, here are some of the items that differentiate stories. For some it may be the path they took to get to this point. That path involves the educational opportunities they had, the companies for which they worked, the job duties and responsibilities they held or the projects on which they were able to participate. The differentiation goes further when I find that some individuals have looked to take advantage or add volunteer opportunities to their background. Additionally external factors often play a major part. The company of which they are a part look to move into new product lines. Or that company opens a new subsidiary and they get to work in that part of the business. Perhaps what is happening in the world around them leads to a major demand for their product or service, (or could lead in the opposite direction).
Beyond the external factors, what I do find is many of the differences which make the stories unique come from “internal” factors. Those could be passions for doing certain types of work, projects, or activities when they reflect to their childhood or young adult years. Perhaps they were exposed to an activity by a relative or acquaintance at one time in their life, and remember how much they enjoyed the experience. Or down deep in their soul has been the thought of doing a specific opportunity some time in the future, but only once they realize that all the major expenses in their life, (children’s education, saving for retirement, etc.)., have been addressed and now it is their time to explore that “calling” that has always been there.
When I look back at my own life, I would have never thought I would have been doing what has been the focus of my life for the last 15 years. Until 2008, I had never heard of professional coaching. I had never considered having my own one-person business. I did in hindsight always open myself up to listening to individuals and the challenges they faced. That happened often in my corporate role as a supervisor and a manager. However, to make a profession out of it, (and realize that I really had to be more the person with the questions as opposed to the answers) really set a direction in my story that I could have never scripted myself.
What makes your story unique? Even if you feel that you are like others in your demographics, I assure you there are “differences” in what matter and inspire you than may guide others. And, there is nothing wrong with that. Like I said from the beginning, the only issue is when others try to “categorize” you, “put you in a box,” and say to you, this is what you are and should be doing. Turn yourself off to that noise at all costs.
