I have a little ritual when I go on an interview. I picture my friends, family, and supporters sitting around me. They don't speak. They just sit quietly and read the newspaper or calmly watch the proceedings. Once in a while, one of them catches my eye and smiles at me or gives an approving nod.
It's my fan club--they're only in my imagination when I'm in an interview, but they're very solid in real life. And boy howdy, am I grateful for them.
For years, some members of the club have proudly and loudly proclaimed that they'd vote for me for president of the United States if I ran. The first time someone said that to me, I was more than a little surprised. Me? The president? That's when I realized I have what they call moxie. Personality. Verve. Spirit. Courage. Know-how. Energy. Initiative. And all of that translates into the ability to inspire, lead, and push the envelope.
I know that I will put my moxie to use in a nonprofit organization again. The universe is, for now, teaching me humility and patience. I thought I had learned those lessons, but I am happy and willing to be a student once more. As long as I have my fan club by my side.
4 comments:
You are so smart it's ridiculous. I love the idea of visualizing your fan club--taking all the supportive people in your life along when you have to do a job interview, or anything else that takes a lot of confidence. (I'll remember that for my audition this weekend.)
And I love even MORE the phrase "the universe is, for now, teaching me humility and patience." That's brilliant. When there are things that I want SO much, and work for as hard as I can and still can't make happen and it's making me nuts, I need to remember that phrase and think about what it is I'm meant to be learning right now.
Man, you're like my guru or something. :)
Kate
I'm with Kate - you are a tremendous inspiration to me. When I saw you teach in class today, I wondered how someone could know that material so well and make it meaningful to an audience it would otherwise be lost upon.
You rock!
You have my vote :)
Humility and patience. I think I'm too old for this lesson; I'll be dead before I internalize H & P. Here are the lessons that I've learned instead:
Persistence: when you can't get where you want to be, just keep going. You'll end up somewhere. Maybe it'll be a better spot than you expected.
Kindness: when you are feeling left out of the privileged class, practice kindness to someone in a less privileged class than you. This won't bring any change to your life. It might not bring any change to theirs. You will simply be a better person for it.
I remain, as ever, your biggest fan...
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