I’ve Got Plenty to Spare
– by Ed Bergstrom
When my first born was eating baby cereal for the very first time it was a big deal for my wife and I. He was a new person and we were new parents.
My wife would scoop out a small spoonful while I recorded the entire meal. My son would gladly accept the food in his mouth, after all, he was hungry. But he would push it out with his tongue.
Over and over again my wife tried to feed him and over and over again he would move his tongue back and forth between his lips spitting the food down his chin. My wife and I panicked! What’s wrong with our kid? He can’t use his tongue!
I called her mother while I continued to watch in horror. He spit his cereal out over and over. I immediately made all kinds of judgements. There’s something wrong with our new baby. We’re going to have to give him bottles or breastfeed him forever! What a horrible thought!
Of course, my experienced mother-in-law knew the answer. Our precious baby boy didn’t know how to use his tongue to swallow yet. She told us to keep doing what we were doing and trust in the fact that he will eventually figure out how to use that big thing in his mouth. His natural instincts would eventually kick in and he would be fine.
Really, that’s it? Just keep feeding him? So, my wife continued and yes, eventually he figured out. And now, decades years later, he can eat all kinds of foods without spitting them out down his chin.
We’re so proud of him.
The first “D” living in 3D is Don’t Know. After all, I Don’t Know what I Don’t Know.
I use my Judgement skill every time I’m faced with something I Don’t Know. If someone at work makes a comment about something I Don’t Know – he’s a show off or an idiot because that must be wrong. Otherwise, I would know it!
It doesn’t have to be something I Don’t Know, it could just be something that’s different. Oh, you’re wearing shorts today and I’m not? Then you’re an idiot because it’s going to get colder later. Oh, you’re driving that car? Using that type of phone? Voted for who? Eating what kind of foods?
Want to lose your Judgement like I have? Good! The first step to losing your judgement and critical self is to ACCEPT the fact that you Don’t Know what you Don’t Know. And ACCEPT the fact that it is OK for something – anything, to be different than you know or like.
It’s okay to be different.
And it’s definitely okay for babies to need time to grow and learn how to use their tongues.
Thanks for coming.
Reference: The NEW U – INSIDE; STEP 2; section A – Don’t Know what you Don’t Know
– by Edward Bergstrom
Looking for work sucks!
There, I said it.
Looking for work sucks!
Is there is ever a good time to look for work? It is the hardest thing ever on a person’s self-esteem. And as someone that has a long experience as a Hiring Manager, it is hard to say,
“No, thank you”.
Some candidates are great while some are just better.
There’s nothing worse than not putting your best foot forward during an interview. Have you ever heard this conversation before?
Friend: “Hi. How did your interview go at XYZ Company?”
Candidate: “I thought I did OK but they just didn’t ask me the right questions.”
Friend: “Right questions?”
Candidate: “I never got a chance to tell them any of good about me.”
Friend: “So, what did you talk about?”
Candidate: “Trees and stuff.”
Sad, but we all know that conversation. But let’s back up a second. Who is ultimately responsible for selling you during an interview? An improperly trained interviewer can kill all your hard work.
So, how can a Candidate prepare for the millions of dumb-ass questions out there? Especially, my all-time favorites:
- If you were a tree tell me what kind of tree you would be?
- Describe for me your ideal job.
- Walk me through your resume.
Preparing for an interview is tough enough but it never fails how many times I hear those dumb-ass questions. Or worse, if I read another Blog that tells me the 101 best questions or the 25 most asked interview questions – I’m going to puke!
Who the heck has that many stories about themselves? Which reminds me of my friend Michael. One time when we were talking. He was doing all the talking as usual. He looked at me and said, “Enough about me already. Let’s talk about you.” After a short pause he said, “Tell me what you like about me.”
Now Michael has the answers to all 20,000 interview questions ever asked. But I don’t. Do you? And not everyone wants to bring Michael to their next interview. So, what are the rest of us supposed to do?
The NEW U Interview to WIN course teaches you how to make a POINT with only 5 answers. What’s a POINT? Great question. It is a concise answer containing the Problem, Opportunity, what “I” specifically did, what were the Net results, and how you know that you were successful by identifying the person that specifically Tagged you with your triumph.
But how can you take 5 answers and make them apply to ANY of the millions of dumb interviewing questions asked? By using transition adjectives. That’s the secret to Interviewing. Don’t waste your time practicing and rehearsing 20,000 answers but rather memorize 5 selling POINTS about yourself and then practice your transitions.
And the next time someone asks you what kind of tree you would be, you’ll be prepared. Maybe you’ll use a transition like this. “If I were a tree, I would be one that is sturdy that can stand up to the winds of change, like the time I worked at ABC Company……..leading right into one of your 5 POINTS.
Make a game about it. Many of my students and mentees have practiced this technique so well, that can transition any question into one of their POINTs. Isn’t that what you want? To make your POINTs?
Isn’t it? Don’t you want to have choices? Choices on where you work and not be stuck with the first and only job that comes along?
Then learn your POINTS and practice your transitions.
And have fun!
Thanks for coming.
Reference:
The NEW U – OUTSIDE; INTERVIEWING TO WIN; section 5 – More Prep