Practice Makes You Better

Remember the old adage, “Practice makes perfect.” Actually, I’m not a big fan of this statement, instead I would like to change it to: “Practice makes me better and more practice make me even better.” Okay, it’s not as catchy but it is more real. Perfection really isn’t the goal, excellence is!

Everything we do takes practice for us to improve. When we first learned to walk, ride a bicycle and even learn to read, it took practice to become proficient. Artists and athletes know this to be true. How much does Yo Yo Ma practice? Think of all the practice it takes to get to the Olympics. I remember Jerry Seinfeld’s 2002 documentary “Comedian” where he shows the amount of preparation and rehearsal that goes into creating a head-liner stand-up routine.  The film accounts for all the efforts, including the mistakes and bombs, in developing a completely new act from scratch.  It’s not easy and it takes a lot of practice to become good at unfamiliar skills, tasks and behaviors. Seinfeld took about a year to get his act down pat.

It’s not easy, it’s hard, so you’re going to have to work hard... to learn what you need to do to move to the next level. If you’re between jobs or looking to move up in your career, there are a lot of tools you have to develop and become proficient at. For some people saying hi and smiling at strangers is a new behavior. For others, introductions, elevator speeches, scheduling networking meetings and what to say in those meeting are all new and unfamiliar.

I find that when I’m not familiar with a new skill, I make mistakes, fail and sometimes embarrass myself. It’s painful to say the least... however, I’ve never died from making a mistake. For those of you who have to learn new skills, software programs like Microsoft Office, effective business writing, or presentation skills you’re going to meet a lot of frustration in the process of mastery. People will give you feedback that you won’t like hearing. You may even want to quit and give up...

When you hear yourself say something along the lines of: “This is stupid, I’ll never get this.” or “Who am I kidding, this is impossible.” You need to take a big deep breath and say to yourself, “Time to practice, if it’s going to be, it’s up to me. I can do it; this is new and I need more practice, that’s all.”

The Value of Job Clubs

   I am sometimes challenged with job seekers that tell me that they are actively working their job search and when we review their calendar I quickly realize that job clubs are their principle means of job search. Sadly, this is a misuse of a beneficial resource.

   In May, I heard a key note speaker who turns out to be one of the first to utilize the concept of Job Clubs in the USA. Joy Maguire-Dooley is a social worker, author, career transition and networking guru. I also consider Joy to be a friend. The joke between us is that Joy knows everyone; if you need a contact somewhere, Joy has a name and phone number to share with you. There is a saying that goes something like, "With Joy in your life; you'll land a job." Anyway, if Joy didn't invent the concept a job club, she was one of the very first to employ its practice. Joy teaches that a job search requires a WOW factor... this is something that takes practice to develop!

Activity vs. Accomplishment
   It's my belief that many in job transition have received the wrong idea about job clubs and networking. I'll hear folks say that they were networking yesterday and when I dig a little deeper I learn that they went to a job club, A.K.A. networking session. What did they come back with... Hand bills and business cards from the seven others around their table. This is activity without accomplishment, no WOW here. Real networking should be moving the job seeker closer to the goal; in this case getting a job offer. If you come back with only seven hand bills you're not really moving toward an interview and a job offer. Job clubs are the first place to network, not the only place!

Job Clubs are the Practice Arena
   At the beginning of your job search attending one, two or even three job club meetings a week is a great opportunity to practice your networking skills and your job search tools, not to mention your WOW. A job club is a safe and hopefully mutually beneficial environment. Practice your elevator pitch, your success stories, how to listen effectively, how to ask for business cards, how to join a conversation and how to end a conversation and move on to the next person. After you've gotten these tools and skills down, going to more than two job club meetings a week is a misuse of your time. Use that time to meet with those contacts who are working. Use that time to meet with people you've just been introduced to. Use that time to build up new relationships and utilize the skills you've practiced. Use that time to put the WOW into your job search.

Teri Clancy, Joy Maguire-Dooley and Sally Morrison are the founders of CareerPartners3 and the authors of, A Taste for Work... Your Menu for Career Success.