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SAUDICKA DIARAM| Contributor
“I believe luck is preparation meeting opportunity. If you hadn’t been prepared when the opportunity came along, you wouldn’t have been lucky.” Oprah Winfrey
It is a place that most persons have been before, some have managed to use the experience to prepare themselves for the peak of their lives. Others have realized a new path while pondering and hoping for a job. Unemployment in its ‘realest’ form is not fun, especially for those who have student loans and reoccurring bills. I remember my experience like it was yesterday. Fresh out of university in 2006, I did not know where to get the first job or how to maneuver the prospects of my degree.
Focus on the bigger picture– That was the last thing I wanted anyone to tell me while I was laboring in doubt and fear about my future that seemed so dismal and uncertain. However, in an effort to combat said fears, I began to visualize the job I wanted and the stories that I planned on creating and producing when I landed that job in a media house. Essentially, I began planning and preparing for my dream job. It really does start in the mind and despite how grim things might look now, the good news is that things will get better. Once you decide to change the picture in your head, and by extension change the thoughts that are fueling you, you will witness an automatic boost in your mood and drive.
Learn while you wait– Organizations are constantly changing their modus operandi [mode of operating] as technology evolve and new methods emerge and disrupt the ‘traditional’ way of doing things. Giving rise to the possibility of your desired role becoming obsolete before you get a foot in. Ensure that you are monitoring your industry and work diligently at modernizing your skillset to match the growing evolution.
Explore other options– The wonderful thing is that we are living in a digital world, one where more persons are venturing into side hustles and entrepreneurship. Think about the skills that you have that can be monetized; oftentimes we have those skills but are not thinking about how to become our own boss. While the ‘entrepreneurship life’ is not for everyone, it doesn’t hurt to profit from something that you love while you wait for your ideal situation.
Build that brand– This is the brand-centric era, meaning everyone is actively trying to define and build their brands to match the need of the market. It is incumbent that you focus on defining your brand, and acquire a clear definition of what your brand is about, while actively designing strategies to ensure that you are engaging the right audience. Your social media platforms are superb tools that can be employed to control and shape the desired narrative that will attract the right employers and investors.
Make sure when opportunity knocks you are prepared, that’s your luck!
[Featured image courtesy of Entrepreneur.com]
@https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUgh6yglSbM
Saudicka Diaram is one of the Caribbean’s finest Journalists who is credited for her work in uncovering and highlighting noteworthy stories.
