The Right Fit!

The Right Fit!

As with many people, my lifestyle and habits were significantly altered by the COVID-19 pandemic. While in my case I did not have to help school my children from home, and my job role was such I was already doing some of my coaching work from home, (although now I do far more of it from home than ever before), I now found myself home for days at a time. Prior to March 2020, in a given week it was very rare that I was home during the middle of the day at lunchtime. As such, I was usually eating out, whether at the local diner, pizza places that I like, or coffee shops. Sometimes that not only meant having lunch, but perhaps coffee and a treat where I might be meeting a client or networking contact. After all, it just was not right to meet someone somewhere, take up a table and not order anything.

While many people when being home actually find they gain weight because they have more snacks around to eat, I have the opposite situation. My wife, who is the family shopper is very disciplined. As such, she will only buy what she feels is best for us to eat, with little deviation for special snacks or treats. About the only time items like that are in our house are during holiday periods, when we may get them as gifts from friends.

As such, in 2020 I lost about 25 to 30 pounds of weight rather quickly. My primary care physician was actually worried about me. However, after sending me for some tests, and me reassuring him I had an understanding of what was happening, I stabilized at a weight that I can proudly say that I have now maintained for nearly two years. While at the same time my weight changed, the clothes I wore did not. Much of what I was wearing, (especially my pants), were obviously big on me. I could keep my pants up with my belts, (which I actually ordered in a smaller size that aligned with my new waist size). But, given that I was going out of the house less, pretty much do very little that calls for extreme dress up events, and being a person that tends to get comfortable with the way he does things, and resists change unless needing to do so, I kept wearing the same pants I wore before the weight loss.

My sister and I are very close. As such, she is not shy about telling me when she feels I should be doing something differently. Sometimes I listen, sometimes I don’t. However, getting tired of seeing her brother in oversize clothes, many of which were beginning to wear away and fray, she took matters into her own hands. She knew her local clothing store was having significant sales. She used 3 days to find me several pants in my new size. (In fact, not knowing for sure my new size she brought two sets of everything in different sizes, knowing she could return the ones that would not be the right size). I entered August looking one way. I exited August looking far sharper in my wardrobe than before the month began. And, I must admit, it is good to have “the right fit” in clothing.

It is the same way many times for the job searchers with which I work. Perhaps the job role they have been in is no longer “the right fit” for them. Sometimes the expectations of the job function change. Or the individual is exposed to other ways to use their skill sets in their work life and take a liking to those new ways of working. In other instances, further educational courses introduce them to new opportunities. Whatever, the reason, often when I meet someone in job search transition, (whether that is because their company has decided they no longer need the individual, or if the person sees this as an opportunity to explore new ways of working), we look to do an analysis of what may be right for them.

Sometimes those decisions are made by speaking with someone who does a role that aligns to their talents, but in another industry. Other times they are made by having an experience, maybe through a hobby or volunteer opportunity, that calls to them. There are those who may be able “to shadow” someone doing a job to see what it is like to do that line of work. And, others do their research by learning about new ways of doing things by either reading trade journals or online postings.

The point is, we often do get set in our ways. Many of us can be resistant to change. Or, we get so immersed in what we are doing, that others can see that perhaps we may need to consider a change to make us perform at a more optimal level. Whatever the reason, be open to what may be the “right fit” for you. (You always do have the ultimate final word to say no if you truly do not want to make the change).

And one last word about my sister and me. She is very excited about how her brother looks in his new clothing. As we did this changeover late in the summer season, I am now set for the autumn and winter seasons. But, do not fear! My sister is already planning ahead to next spring and summer when her mission is to get me summer clothing, (think light weight pants and shorts), which will continue having her brother look the best he can in the clothing that he wears as he moves forward.