You know that thing you always have to remember that comes up again and again in your career – that thing that you can’t help but have to deal with at every job? Maybe it’s the lesson about saying no when you can’t possibly do another thing. Maybe it’s the one about having clear boundaries with friends you work with about work and home. Maybe it’s the one about giving feedback immediately instead of waiting for someone to just correct themselves. We all have them. And we all need to learn them again and again!
Today’s lesson for me? I had to remember that overpreparing is a waste of time and energy. “Prepare just enough and not too much” is something I’ve learned time and time again. I had the opportunity to be interviewed for a local Fox affiliate about Unfear and the job numbers that just came out – it’s important stuff to remember, particularly most job seekers are looking for ten months before they find employment, and then many are underemployed. So I prepped and memorized the job stats thinking I’d like to sound smart – and then my interview came and they had looked at the book & decided it would be much more interesting to ask about morale at work! Well, so much for memorization – I should have just trusted that I know plenty already! Too bad I’ve had to learn that so many times…but we all have them.
What is your lesson you keep repeating, even after you’ve really learned it before?
NOTE TO LOCAL CHICAGOANS: Watch Karlin Sloan on Fox tonight at 9pm central!