Putting the Pixels Together
I mentioned my mentor before. She’s the one who said that saying no is the most beneficial thing you can do for your professional life. She also told me that as I take each new job, I’m adding pixels to the big picture of my career and one day, I’ll pull up and see the pixels for what they are — the thing I’m supposed to be doing with my life.
I’ve been a bartender, publicist for a circus, a published novelist, a bookseller, a college professor, a reading teacher, a blogger, book reviewer, event coordinator, teacher, barista, I even worked in a deli for one day. My favorite job was bookseller. Oh how I loved being around books and meeting people who loved books and sharing books with others. It was really wonderful.
At one point in my life, I’d have a job and think THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH THE REST OF MY LIFE. Suffocation and panic ensued. I’d usually quit right about then.
And then I started seeing the skills I was learning were just pixels. They were just adding to the bigger picture.
In the past putting together a resume would be a daunting task. I’d feel small and inexperienced. This time, I saw all the pixels come together and realized I had a skill set unlike anyone else.
In my first interview, the woman looked at my resume and said, “You’re a triple threat. Very unique.” They called with a job before I was even home from the interview.
Pixels are simply details. They make up the bigger story. What details are you adding to your story? Which ones could be edited out?
