Role Models: The Secret To Success In a Tough Economy

For a brief period as a child, my dream was to be a soccer player when I grew up. My childhood hero was the Scottish and Liverpool player, Kenny Dalglish (pictured here). In my eyes, 'King Kenny' was a genius with a football at his feet and I wanted to be just like him.

But then one day when I was 9 or 10, a school friend called John Ryan (wow, I still remember his name) told me "hey Sital, you can't be a professional footballer, Indian people aren't allowed to! That's why there are no Indian footballers in the league - they're not allowed. You'd better do something else."
 
There was no malice or racism in his comment. It was just what he believed, based on the fact that there were no Indian footballers in top-flight football.
 
He was right. There were no Indian footballers on television so maybe Indian's weren't allowed to play professionally. I was devastated. (Well OK, devastated for about a week before deciding I'd become a pilot instead!). 
 
The Early 1990s Recession
 
Talking of pilots, let's fast-forward to the recession of the early 90's when I worked for British Airways for 12 months.  Before finding the 12month work-experience placement during my degree, many of my peers thought it was "impossible to find work in such a tough market." After all, we had little or no work experience and the "market was awful."
 
I chose not to listen to the noise and instead focussed on working my socks off, learning from people who had found jobs and applying everything I learned to my own job search. In the end I found a great job as a buyer for British Airways - not quite a pilot, but my desk overlooked a 747 hanger which, for a 21 year old, was very cool.
 
By the time I graduated after my degree, there were 3 million people unemployed in the UK (compared to 2 million and rising in April 2009). Once again, people were saying "there are no jobs out there", my academics weren't strong enough, big firms weren't hiring etc. 
 
Again, I didn't listen to anyone. I was, after all, only looking for one job - and knew that there is always ONE JOB out there - even in a recession.
 
I sought out role models who had succeeded and found work despite what was happening to the economy. From them I learned to market and sell myself, and I was oh-so-very persistent.
 
After more than 6 months' hard work, I secured a job with a top-10 listed firm as a graduate trainee and began my corporate career.
 
Am I trying to impress you? Not at all.
 
I'm trying to impress upon you that to fulfil a career goal against the odds, we all need role models to give us the belief that it can be done.
 
The Roger Banister Effect
 
Runners needed Roger Banister to break the 4-minute mile before they believed they too could do it. Mountain climbers needed Sir Edmond Hilary to conquer Mount Everest before believing that they also could do it.
 
You're not climbing Everest (even though it may feel like an uphill struggle at times). People have found jobs in downturns before. People are finding jobs today. People have made successful career transitions and people have dealt with uncertainty.
 
Yes, the exact market conditions may be different, but the impact on people is not. This is not completely virgin territory we're in. There will be people who have had similar challenges, similar goals - and succeeded.
 
So seek out role models and mentors. They're the ones that will give you the belief and inspiration to keep working towards your career goals. 
 
Your Field Work
 
Answer these questions:
 
1. What's your number one career goal for this year? If you could achieve only one thing with your career by December 31st 2009, what would it be?
 
2. Who do you know that has achieved a similar goal in similar market conditions? If you can't think of anyone, who do you know that may know someone?
 
3. How can you tap into their knowledge and experience to help you achieve your goal? How can you use their story to keep you inspired and motivated?
 
4. What's the next step? (e.g. Can you send an email or make a call right now?)
 
 
Looking back at my childhood goal of becoming the next Kenny Dalglish, I'm not really sure if I was ever good enough to become a professional footballer/soccer player. But I'll never know because I gave up before I gave it a chance. Listening to a 10 year old 'career advisor', along with the lack of role models, meant that I didn't have the self-belief to give it a go. 
 
What I needed in those days was my own role models; successful Indian players who I could look to for inspiration. People that could give me the belief that it was possible. But they didn't exist. (And interestingly enough, 25 years on - they still don't exist). 
 
Right now, that's what you need - role models - individuals who have successfully navigated their careers through uncertain times, people who have changed careers and found jobs despite the state of the economy.  Fortunately for you, these people do exist. So go seek them out now - they're the key to succeeding in a tough economy.

By Sital Ruparelia, Cross posted on the  6 Figure Career Management Blog

Comments

[Andrea]

Sital I really agree with your point about role models opening doors and helping you extend your horizons. I think many people fail to recognize or capitalize on the mentors in their own circle of friends and acquaintances. These people are most likely to be willing to help you, if you know how and what to ask. A couple of thoughts on how to get the most out of your mentors

1. Be clear about what you're looking for
2. Give your mentor something to react to
3. Do your homework
4. Reach out on a consistent basis
5. Build a relationship

I wrote details on these points on the Gotta Mentor website at http://bit.ly/wAmkT

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