Finding Opportunities!
The process of shifting from an unsatisfying position to one the makes you Love Mondays requires complex problem-solving. You kind of know what you want, you are more explicit about what you don't want. You don't know what is out there or where to look and that can be frustrating. You are facing a complex problem, with no one, obvious, straight- forward solution. But exhilaration can replace frustration if you view this not as a problem to be solved but as a place to learn.
Carolyn Coughlin makes this suggestion about thriving in complexity in her article in Creative Commons
To learn more about yourself, about the professional worlds you find exciting and about the people that intrigue you.
The goal in complex systems, is not to solve but to learn…. And the way to learn about is to run little experiments designed to help us better understand…
Experiments about what is out there? Who are experts? What challenges are being presented?
Short term, clear and straightforward experiments that help you fill in your understanding and increase your perspective.
You start with people. People who can share their experience, their opinions, and their contacts so you can begin to have your questions answered.
This is networking.
This is not networking to get a job, but networking to learn more about who is doing things you find interesting. It's to discover their path, their passions. To share enough about yourself to see something you have in common.
You have nailed your personal brand, you understand and can articulate the problems you're interested in solving. Now, it's time to find others that want those problems addressed.
Start with the folks, you know. Ask them for help, and Lori Bumgarner's article, How to Write Networking Emails that Will Get Responses, is a beautiful place to begin.
And don't limit yourself to people and events within your present industry. Why? Because skills are transferable and new opportunities that allow you to stretch, add value, and grow professionally may occur in unexpected places.
I've found a couple of additional articles that you'll love. Follow these suggestions, and even introverts can survive networking.
Networking is about reaching out and spreading the word. Read Dorie Clark's article, The 3 Ways to Ask for Job Hunting Help and Get It for practical and actionable advice on how to reach out.
Michael Thompson's article;
59 Conversation Starters to Get the Most Out of Networking Events
You'll love the read, and it's a great place to start planning how to jump into networking with a plan.
How This Anxious Introvert Handles Large Events
by Hunter Walk will help you move confidently into the big networking events.
This article offers advice and practical solutions to survive and maybe even enjoy the experience.
I also highly recommend two excellent books on networking. Learn more here.
