I was talking to a client yesterday who is looking for a job. She mentioned a few places that she was interested in—and one even had a friend from high school working there. I suggested reaching out to the friend, but I was immediately shut down. She said, “I’m sure it’s a job she’s interested in, too. There’s no way she will want to help me get that job.”

I paused for a second, and then said, “You have no idea if she wants that job. Maybe she does or maybe she doesn’t, but you just closed the only door you have to this place with a made up story about a friend you haven’t seen in years. What if it was she who wanted a job at your company? Would you want her to reach out to you? Would you help her if you could?” She aquiesed and said, “Of course.” I continued, “If she does want the job, let her throw you resume in the trash if she wants, but I wouldn’t close your only door on some story you created in your head that may or may not be true—especially while searching for a job at a company you want to work for.” She readily agreed.

We do this ALL the time. We decide, right or wrong, what other people are thinking and unfortunately we rarely approach it with a positive slant—we almost always think of the worst outcomes. It’s that self-protective thought process that is our go-to. What if today, all day long, we assumed the best case scenario? Imagine that the unreturned email isn’t a brush off, it’s because it’s buried under 200 emails and he really would benefit from you sending another email (no you’re not being annoying)! And what if the prospect isn’t ghosting you, they are actually trying to have discussions about moving forward but it’s taking time to align calendars to actually meet? Stop closing doors that weren’t meant to be closed; this isn’t helping. What if the only thing standing between you and your next opportunity isn’t someone else’s decision—but a faulty assumption made by you?

Let’s GO! We got this!
Beth