Milk Cows and Maybe

If you are a farmer, grew up on a dairy farm or know someone who is a farmer, you may know that milk cows do not care at all whether you have a good attitude or a bad one. They flat out do not care. Just ask them. All they know is this: they need to be milked. Period. At about 6:00 A.M. in the morning and again at about 5:00 or 6:00 P.M. at night.

Have you ever milked a cow? Maybe you have; maybe you haven’t. Have you ever milked a mean cow – the type that kicks you even before you start milking them? The type that kicks you just because they can? The type of milk cow that doesn’t care where they kick you – whether it is in the head, the heart, your hand, your leg or some other precious body part – if you get my drift. Mean cows can kick the ever-living crap out of you and if you have ever been around a mean one, you know this is true. 

Back to attitude. How is yours?

Recently, I have had a few clients share with me that they have a really $#$%^& attitude. How is your attitude with respect to looking for a new job? What five words come to mind when you think of your attitude on this beautiful Fall day in October?

Optimistic?

Realistic?

Pessimistic?

Bad?

Good?

So-so?

Lame?

Weak?

Poor?

Terrible?

Fluctuating?

Up?

Down?

Volatile?

Flat?

Awesome?

Awful?

Positive?

Negative?

As a job seeker, you are the one who gets to choose your attitude. The hiring manager or corporate recruiter or decision-maker cannot choose a positive attitude for you. They can, however, make decisions that work against you when you don’t bring your best attitude to the job search game. And as a result, when your attitude gets in the way of your gratitude, maybe you will mentally get kicked in the head, the heart, the hand, the leg or some other precious body part – if you get my drift.

"It’s like the farmer says: The hardest thing about cows is they never stay milked. Our attitude is just like that. It just doesn’t stay set.” ~John C. Maxwell

cross-posted billiesucherblog