10 Toxic Words you Must not Say in a Job Interview

There’s plenty advice out there to rehearse what you’re going to say in a job interview: research questions the interviewer might ask, practice your answers, come up with salient questions of your own…

But what about rehearsing what you’re not going to say?

I put together a list below of some words you’ll want to try to avoid at your next job interview, because even though they seem like just ordinary words, they could be major red flags for an interviewer or recruiter.

No.

First of all, if asked even a simple question, you don’t want to give a single word answer (yes or no). But when the answer is no, definitely don’t leave it there! For example, if asked if you know a particular computer program, and you don’t, you could say, “I haven't yet had a chance to learn it but would be interested to do so,” rather than simply saying “No.”

Er… Um…

That old saying, “If you don’t have anything to say, don’t say anything at all,” applies here a big. Rather than hemming and hawing while you try to think up an answer, just be silent and think. Saying er or um too much could make you seem unprepared or as though you’re not paying attention.

Whatever, OMG, bae… groovy?

Lose the slang when talking to an interviewer. You want to come across as polished and professional, and you don’t want them to have to dig out their urban dictionary to understand you.

Sure, cool, kinda…

These kinds of words are just too casual, even in a casual workplace. You should be presenting the best version of yourself, not the sloppy, casual version.

We

This one seems innocuous at first, but if you use it a lot when discussing job duties and accomplishments, the interviewer might start to wonder if it was you or your team that was responsible. Try to use “I” as much as possible.

Dedicated, motivated, team player...

Lose the resume speech and jargon. Besides the fact that these words are incredibly overused in interview situations, they’re also better demonstrated than just stated. If you want to convey your dedication or motivation, share an example from your past work experience; examples will go much further to making your claims believable.

Leverage, synergy, ideation…

I’d avoid using too much business jargon. The chances that you’ll come off sounding like an idiot are just too high. Too much business buzzwords or jargon tends to make people sound pretentious, or worse, downright stupid.

“Hit the ground running,” “Circle back…”

These kinds of cliches have little to no meaning, they’re just verbal fluff, and they don’t add anything to what you’re saying. So leave them out.

Hate

I can’t think of a single instance when saying you “hate” something in a job interview is appropriate, but it’s exceptionally inappropriate to say anything about hating your former job, co-workers, boss, etc.

Perfectionist

It’s become almost a cliche in and of itself to answer a question like, “What’s your biggest flaw?” with a positive flaw like, “I’m a perfectionist.” Any good interviewer will see right through that, so just don’t do it.

Swear Like You Care: Passionate Profanity at Wor

Disclaimer: If you are the sensitive or easy-to-offend type, read no further, especially if mild profanity is offensive or hurts your eyes.

If you haven't uttered a single "shit" or "f**k" in the last 30 days at work (even in private), it might mean you just don't care.

There are an infinite number of situations where swearing is inappropriate in the workplace. But the scenarios in which swearing is not only acceptable, but appropriate and inspiring, are exactly why you should become proficient in passionate profanity in 2015.

It might even get you promoted.

The use of profanity in the workplace is an incredibly polarizing issue, with unique perspectives as you shift country to country, company to company, and person to person. In fact, more than half of American's and more than three quarters of Britishswear regularly in the workplace. A Google search on "profanity in the workplace" has over 500,000 results ranging from "WTF? Is your workplace a hotbed of profanity?" to "Watch your mouth, cursing in the workplace could get you fired". We can all agree to disagree on when it's appropriate to swear at work.

However, if you are passionate about what you do, there is a specific reason to incorporate deliberate and intelligently architected profanity into your game at work.

It's massively memorable, proves your passion, and will help you bond with your audience. (if you don't f**k up the delivery)

There are many scenario's where passionate profanity has a true business application: Team meetings, large group events, 1:1 discussions, hallway conversations, commiserating with colleagues. If you dare cross that line at work, I suggest starting in a simple place. Ensuring your presentations are MASSIVELY MEMORABLE.

Leverage profanity to deliver massively memorable presentations. Contrary to what you might think, words are better than pictures.....And profane words are better than regular words to drive your most important point home.

"A picture is worth a thousand words" is a commonly accepted premise in the business world. Most people nod their head approvingly when you say it. The business world has shifted to highly visual presentation materials. As a result, Powerpoint is the most overused (and arguably ineffective) presentation tool on planet Earth. But as we shift to easy visuals and metaphoric presentations, we are dismissing almost 100 years of research on how the brain processes information.

You may not have heard of the "Stroop Effect", but it's an 85 year old theory on the brains ability to process and prioritize information quickly. The classic Stroop test consists of a series of words in different colors. The goal is to simply say the color when the word appears. Try it below:

Not incredibly easy, is it? But doable. It gets quite a bit harder when those images flash quickly on the screen one by one. When you get home, there is a NSFW example of the Stroop test using profanity here (same disclaimer applies from above). It gets exponentially harder to name the color when profane words appear.

But why? The Stroop theory asserts that the brain processes words at a faster pace than colors or imagery. If there were a word/image race, the word wins. As a result of this race, your brain struggles to take in images when words are competing for the same attention. Words that trigger an emotional reaction, essentially beat out all other images and words in the race to your cerebral cortex. This means that you can massively emphasize the most important parts of a presentation by deliberately incorporating strong emotional words.

Profanity simply ups the ante, creates intense emotion and cements focus.

Harvard Science Review summed it up nicely, "Swear words, in the appropriate context, can be beneficial when used for group unity, coherence, and general expressiveness."

Dan McGinn, in a Harvard Business Review article titled "Should Leaders Ever Swear?" called out Barack Obama for leveraging deliberate (though mild) profanity after the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Obama told Matt Lauer on live television that "one of his goals was to determine "Whose ass to Kick". This statement gave viewers immediate insight into his state of mind, intent, and focus on solving the problem. Imagine if he had said his focus was on "conducting a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the spill".

Not as much impact, eh?

I am definitely not taking a stab at that! Hey, I don't work at your company. Shit. I don't want to get you in trouble. Get creative, test some boundaries, have some fun. Even in the most conservative companies, you can find the right forum to express your thoughts in a...well "colorful" way.

How I became a morning person - 6 ways to hack your mornings

I’m Al and I'm a morning person. I never thought I’d say that. 

I’ve run my own business for eight years, which means I could work whatever hours I wanted. That meant 9am or 10am, sometimes even later. I worked late, woke up groggy and entered an office where others had been sitting at their desks for an hour. Looking back this was causing major problems with my productivity. Working in to the night isn’t a bad thing, but missing the most important part of the day because of it is. 

Then I started a new business. My co-founder wakes up at 5:30am, so he gets in to work at 7am. We’re competitive, so I wanted to beat him in – I just didn’t like the idea of him working harder than I did – so I needed to change the way I approached mornings. 

Here’s some of the things I’ve changed in my life, and some great advice from leaders that I've met. 

1. A good morning starts the night before.

Former NBA-star John Amaechi told me he could fall asleep in three breaths – the trick is not the breathing but the preparation. It’s the same with having a good morning. 

Get all the things you need ready the night before – it’s a double time saving as some morning-tasks take longer as your brain is still waking up. I get my laptop and gym-bag by the front-door ready to go and get my clothes in a pile ready to put on. 

Mentally prepare for the next day by scanning your calendar. Knowing what’s on and where you need to be removes any lingering questions from your head. 

Clear your mind for sleep. Phil Jones, MD of Brother UK and president of Forever Manchester, told me he has an iPad by his bed to note down anything on his mind so he can wipe it from his conscious and have a good night’s sleep. He can then pick up his thoughts again in the morning. 

Work out what helps you sleep. Getting to sleep is a challenge for almost all and so much has been written on how to get a great night’s sleep – what worked for me was simply reading, and occasionally herbal sleeping pills. Gary Chaplin, a corporate head-hunter and someone who’s up at the crack of dawn every day, suggests taking magnesium an hour before lights out. 

Buy blackout curtains. If you struggle to sleep in a light room then invest in curtains with a blackout lining. Mine were £70 ($112), they shut out all light and are more noise absorbent. I’ve had a good two years of use from mine which equates to a cost of 9p (15 cents) per night. 

2. Improve the transition from fast asleep to wide awake.

Are you one of the few who likes to be woken by a piercing alarm sound? If so then you can skip this part – if not then why not change the way you’re woken up? 

Use a Fitbit as an alarm. It’s a wrist-based fitness tracker that’s comfortable enough to be worn in bed, and it includes a silent vibrating alarm. It’s a far more gentle way to wake up, with the added benefit of waking just you up, and not your partner. You can pick up the Fitbit Flex for £70/$90. 

Don’t hit the snooze button. A study in 1999 that involved Harvard Medical School found that the going back in to sleep mode disrupted your ability to concentrate. Gary echoes this: “I get up the second I wake up - literally as soon as my eyes open I get up”

Get a Wake Up light. These devices simulate sunrise, filling a bedroom with a glow around thirty minutes before wake-up. Philips claims that their products (£43/$68 and upwards) are the only ones scientifically proven to work, with 92% of users saying they found it easier to wake up with the device but there are others on the market. 

3. Wake up earlier and make it count.

Reclaim the morning and get up earlier – there’s no feeling like being in the office at 7am and having a full two hours before everyone else comes online. Don’t aim too early at first; stagger yourself back slowly in twenty minute increments. I love to setup meetings for 8am (no one has yet agreed to a 7am meeting with me) because it gives me a hard-start . 

Vikas Shah, a highly driven entrepreneur who is MD of the Swiscot group and a visiting professor with MIT Sloan in Lisbon, advised me: “Business is global, and the time you have in the morning before the rest of the country wakes up is really crucial to get yourself up to speed on your day before the wave comes.”

Don’t waste those extra hours in the office. Set yourself micro-goals that will impact on your day, with a 9am deadline. I want to wrap up my replies to urgent emails, set out my to-do list for the day and I like to include a social element. Catching up with a member of the team before 9am is a rewarding way to start the day. Vikas likes to do similar: “I use the early morning to assess my meetings for the day, solidify ideas and strategies, and also make sure I'm on-top of my correspondence.”

4. Reward yourself every morning

Do something you wouldn’t normally do each day, something that makes you happy.It’s a great to hack your morning to increase productivity, but if you can build in something that also makes you happy then you have a double win. It doesn’t have to be complicated; a donut at your desk, a smoothie and a newspaper in a quiet part of the office, or something that has bacon in it. Vikas says: "We need something to look forward to, not just big goals such as a new house or car, but small daily rewards. Set a treat that if you get-up on time, and get some exercise done, that perhaps you'll treat yourself to a mind-break doing something wholly unproductive but fun at some point in the day! Are you a music fan? Your gym-time is a great way to really clear your head and enjoy music too!”

5. Exercise to gain energy in the morning, not lose it.

Do it. Do it. I paraphrased some great words from Gary for the title above, he makes a good point about morning exercise: “Exercise first thing. Exercise in the morning gives energy, rather than taking it. I always hit the gym first thing. Get my body and mind fully awake to hit the rest of the day.” 

Get someone else to motivate you. I love training alone, but I never put in as much work at the gym as when I’m with someone else. I have a great PT called Lewis who pushes me beyond where I normally go – I leave the gym feeling mentally ready, and happier. 

Exercise gets you out the house earlier. There’s no need for a shower if I’m going to be caked in sweat in twenty minutes, so the only thing standing between me and leaving my house is putting on my gym kit. I can be in the office early, go for a ten minute sprint, shower-off, then be at my desk in the same time as if I didn’t exercise.

6. Save coffee till later. Go water. Go juice. Go vitamins.

Ease the body in with something that isn’t coffee. Vikas says: “Sleep is hard work for the brain, it needs to make sense of all the craziness of your day. When you wake up, don't provoke it with coffee, but feed it with the hydration and nutrients it needs to get up and running. One of my most used items in the kitchen is the juicer!” 

There are other coffees. Gary says: “Early morning nutrition is vital. Always start the day with a BulletProof Coffee (Toxin-free coffee with Grass-Fed Butter and MCT oil) - gives all the energy for body and mind. ”

How important is coffee in the morning?
Quick straw poll via Twitter: “How does coffee fit in to your morning plans? Yay or Nay?”

64% says YES. 36% said NO. 

Here’s some sample responses – we don’t always share our morning routines but you can pick up inspiration from what other people do. 

“porridge & tea first thing, then hit the coffee around 10” - @georgedthompson “First one wakes me up, 2nd one gets me going” - @topcomms “Hot water & lemon for me and scrambled egg” - @natalieasprey“It is essential!” - @sambooth1 “first thing I do on wakeup to put brain into gear!” - @pbridgecollyns “keep it pure: H2O all the way.” - @mancier “essential - tough morning calls for multiple coffees”- @paulkalleegrove “not immediately after waking. First thing when I get into work though.” - @hi_randy “Once I get into work, Coffee and check emails to start the day.” - @sdxcreative “always tea, occasionally green. Get enough coffee in meetings” - @burtongaz

Go Berocca. Just launched in the US, Berocca fills you with vitamins and gets you hydrated with water. My un-medically-trained co-founder says it’s the closest thing to an electrolyte-filled IV drip that you can get from a supermarket. I top up with multivitamins. Just in case. 

Thanks to all quoted above for their wisdom – have an awesome morning tomorrow!

What I’ve Learned After One Year at a Startup

I made it folks. One year ago, I joined a Boulder, Colorado marketing technology company called Kapost. At the time, it seemed like a potentially risky move. I was recently engaged, leaving a company at which I felt secure, working with great people and for a great person. A year later, it's the least risky and best decision I've ever made.

Throughout this year I've been documenting my evolution as a new employee, sharing what I had learned after one month and four months, and my awe of the people I've worked with and for. This is another in that series, documenting lessons from this past year at Kapost.

You Can't Fear Change

For those following along at home, this is a recurring lesson. In fact, it's probably the number one theme. In the past year we've altered the way we do business (3-4 times by my count), adjusting appropriately as we learn what works/doesn't. We've grown from a company in the teens (I was employee 19 a year ago) to somewhere around 60 employees. I think. I honestly can't keep up. In my first post on this topic I bemoaned the construction of a cubicle wall that divided the room, however noting:

"...aside from whining about it in this post, I’m not throwing much of a fit, because I know this too will change.

If we continue to grow as rapidly as we have been – and as rapidly as the company is planning to – we literally will not be able to fit everyone in the office space we’re in now. There will be another move, and maybe we’ll return to an open, lively, & energetic workspace. The point is, change happens at breakneck speed at a startup and if venting in a blog post like I just did isn’t enough to help you keep moving, you’ll struggle to catch up."

It did change. We kept growing. We kept playing with the layout of our space. Now we're moving to a bigger space in a month or so and an even bigger space a few months after that. This constant adjusting of ideas - and in our case physical space - can't rattle you if you want to last in a startup

On a smaller scale, our marketing team has been under constant change this year. We're now at the largest we've ever been staff-wise, but we've had to get to that point by overcoming the departure of 6 marketers in the process. Sometimes we filled positions, sometimes we created new ones. If there's one thing our team knows, it's that the way things work now, sure as hell won't be the way they always work.

Fortunately, we're the kind of team that just keeps rolling.

You Can't Stop the "Up"

So, remember that part above where I said the marketing team lost some folks this year? Well, among them were our web designer, front end developer, marketing automation & Salesforce admin, and our director of marketing. Ridiculously talented people in critical positions. I can't stress that enough. In fact, the latter two were the ones who built Kapost's original marketing structure from the ground up. You don't just replace that overnight.

But despite these key setbacks, our marketing goals remained in place. We still had to produce and still had to produce more each month. So we did (for the most part). We found a way to keep momentum, because, well, we had to. In order for this company to grow, we as a company need to continue to produce, to innovate, to stretch ourselves to be the best version of Kapost we can be.

I'm proud to work at a company where that is not only a mandate but a common understanding and something we all push for. We all know, that as tough as things get, we'll keep going and keep this company booming. So far so good, and we're not stopping any time soon.

Don't Hire Jerks

Now you might be thinking "no shit, Coate", but the reason Kapost has been able to handle change, turnover, high demands from prospects, customers, board members, investors and so on is deeply rooted in an old SlideShare presentation by CEO Toby Murdock. On slide 5 Toby lists Kapost's cultural values.

Numbers 3-6 make up the part I have most commonly cited when people ask what I enjoy most about Kapost. It started with good people, it's grown with good people, and it will continue to grow with good people. As we've grown I've never questioned a hire. With very few exceptions, the people who have walked in the door have belonged, have been all-stars at what they do, and fit in as those they've always been a part of this.

I've also watched as wave after wave of new hires has been welcomed by those before them. There is no sense of "us vs. them", "originals vs. newbies". There's no overt favoritism solely toward longevity. Appreciation, sure, but I mean to say a person is able to walk in to Kapost and do a great job from day one, because they already have the trust of existing teammates.

The great part too, is that the awesome people that have left this company this year have been awesome to the company on the way out. Our marketing team survived a potentially treacherous transition period because none of those key departures left on a bitter note (awesome people are in high demand and they were demanded elsewhere is all), and were willing to do everything they could to make sure we could keep going in the interim, often going above and beyond what's typically expected.

So yeah. Don't hire jerks.

Style Doesn't Matter...

Referencing that SlideShare deck again, #7 reads "We evaluate by results." One of the joys of working for a startup is how freeform a lot of work tends to be. Goals are in place, along with general process guidelines (sometimes), and then it's "okay guys, go get 'em."

This is where innovation comes from - finding different ways to get somewhere. Experimentation has its place, so does unconventional thinking. There's no format, really. It's purely about getting things done, however that looks.

While I referred above to a unity among Kaposters, you wouldn't notice it directly by looking around the office. I see a diversity of workspace and clothing choices, of work styles and work schedules. We aren't a group of look-a-like do-a-likes but we're getting it done. There's something to be said for that.

...Though Apparently Neither Does Cleanliness

Kaposters. Dirty dishes in the bucket. Seriously.

Also, what's going on here?

Or here?

Clean up after yourselves, adult humans.

So that's year one for me. Hope you enjoyed reading my experiences this crazy year as much as I enjoyed having them.

5 Reasons to Quit a Job You Love

I felt like I was on the top of my game: I had a great boss, loved my team, was getting high profile projects, and visibility with senior leadership. So I did what any sensible person would do: I quit. That's what you would do right? After I put in my notice I started doubting myself and asking if I was crazy. Who leaves a job they love? Especially in a society of people who don't like their jobs? I do. And perhaps you should to. So when do you leave a job you love? Here are a few thoughts:

When the job no longer fits the vision you have for your career. Everything you do is either moving you closer or further away from your vision. While a position may have started out with the right alignment, you may have gained what you needed from that position. Understand the end game and think about what will take you there. Look at your target position and understand what makes a person successful in that position. It won't be a one-size-fits-all but most likely you will see some key traits and skills you should be proficient at. Maybe you need to lead a bigger team, or do a rotation in finance. Keep in mind, the road to your goal may not be a straight shot. Detours can be valuable for your career as well. Focus on making them strategic detours.

When you identify a gap in your toolkit that can't be filled where you are. As briefly mentioned above, if you identify a key trait you need to build, understand what options are out there for you. I have heard many people in the C-Suite mention doing time in sales or finance has helped make them successful in their positions. Understand the experiences that will help you round out your leadership and decision making and focus on finding a position that will support that.

When you are no longer growing or your job is so easy you are becoming complacent. If you aren't growing the probability of becoming complacent is high. While it's nice having an easy job for awhile, it's important to be developing and doing things that stretch you as a leader. You may be able to achieve this in your current position by asking for new responsibilities - perhaps even taking some of your boss' workload. However, if growth opportunities aren't sufficient enough you may need to consider a different job. Whatever you do, don't let complacency creep in because eventually someone will come in and outperform you and it will be a struggle to catch back up.

When you and the company no longer have value alignment. Companies change. This can especially be true when a new leader comes on board. Your job may still be great, but you may not have value alignment. This ultimately means you won't be as passionate about initiatives the company tackles. Some values speak to us and some don't. Cigna Health Care came out with a brand of "go you". The premise was "why aren't you living your dream today? Just go for it." That really spoke to me. Recently, I noticed their branding changed to "together we win." That does nothing for me, but obviously does for others. Does your company inspire you? Do you get excited about the work they are doing?

When you've outgrown your company. You may be a big fish in a small pond. Isn't that a wonderful feeling? You're the expert! People are dependent on you and you are highly regarded. BUT, you are no longer surrounded by people or challenges that are going to propel you forward as a leader. Or, you may have a vision that is bigger than what the company can support. If you have great ideas but the company doesn't have the infrastructure or willingness to implement, it's probably time to take your ideas to a company that aligns more with your vision.

If you read this list and feel like it's you, don't go in tomorrow and quit your job. Leaving a job should be strategic. Now you see the gap, it's time to define where you are going and understand which move will get you there. You want to avoid leaving a job on a whim and being a victim of impulsiveness. Justify your decision to leave, map out your plan and don't leave until you have found a good fit. While I still look back on my departure with a bit of bittersweet feelings, I can tell you leaving has challenged my thinking, expanded my skill-set and opened new doors of opportunity.

If You Lose Your Job, Avoid These 3 Things

Back in 2008, right at the exact time the economy collapsed, my career collapsed. I found myself without a job…no warning, no severance, and quite frankly, no good reason.

As clearly as if it happened 5 minutes ago, I remember sitting there with my mouth gaping open, staring at the messenger of this news, not knowing what to do…I was literally paralyzed while my life flashed before my eyes.

This was the first time in my professional career anything like this had ever happened to me. It was so startling to me! What made it even more bizarre was that I was actually crushing all the goals that had been given to me in the job. How could this happen to me?!?! 

Over the next few weeks, after telling my wife and kids what happened and realizing how bad our financial situation was about to get, I went through a rollercoaster of emotions. From shock, terror and sadness, to just downright pissed off! Not only was this a terrible thing, but it was at a time in our economy when no jobs were even available.

If you are, or ever have been in this position, your anger is totally normal. If you haven’t ever been through this, be prepared for it anyway.

Here are 3 things you need to avoid after you are fired or “laid off”:

• Never Let Them See You Sweat (or even turn red) – Each day I would wake up at 5am and start scouring the internet for jobs. I applied for everything that could possibly work and then some. My goal was to get at least get 3 interviews per week, but some weeks I was lucky to have any. The prime window after you lose your job is the first 2 months. You will have many jobs you can apply for, and thus a greater chance for interviews. After several weeks of applying and interviewing, I still didn’t have a job offer and I found out why. I was on the phone with a recruiter one day. She was talking with me about a position with a company she represented. After speaking with me for about 30 minutes she said, “Paul, let me tell you something. First, I want you to know that although I am a recruiter, I do not work on behalf of the candidates...rather, I work for the employer. Thus, I have to protect the employer from bad candidates. While I like you and see a very solid resume here, I can’t recommend that they talk with you. The reason is that when you told me about this last position you were in, I could hear all kinds of anger in your voice. My advice to you, Paul, is that if you want a job, you had better deal with that anger and get past it. No one will hire you if you cannot let it go.” This advice from her was solid and she was right. Employers do not want angry employees and they can smell anger a mile away. When you badly need a job, you have to consider that each time you get an interview, you are being granted a chance to get your life back on track. Do not blow any of those chances, by talking about how you were wronged. Instead, talk about how you learned from the experiences you had there and how it made you grow (while smiling the entire time). It’s not easy, but it will make a world of a difference. Yes, you were wronged! Yes, it is horribly painful. No, you cannot show it at all if you want a job. Life goes on, C’est la vie…let it go, my friend.

• Don't Try to Control The Weather - There are things in this world that you can control, such as what time you get up, how many phone calls you make or job applications you fill out, and even which outfit you wear to an interview. On the other hand, there are many things you cannot control and you have to stop trying to do it anyway. Years ago I figured this stress reduction trick out. You see, I was walking around in a world of complete and total anxiety. I was a walking bundle of nerves. My brain wouldn’t stop thinking about all of these things I wanted to have happen in a specific way and at a specific time. One day, after feeling extremely worn out, it dawned on me…I said to myself, “Paul, you are going to die a young man if you keep thinking about so many stressful things…focus on those things that you have direct control over and let the rest go!”. Yes, it would be awesome if the employer you just interviewed with yesterday would make you a job offer today. It’s likely not going to happen and more importantly, it’s outside your powers. Sure, it would be best if the lady with 50 items in her grocery basket wasn’t checking out in the “10 Items or Less” line, but it’s too late, she is. Dwelling on things that you cannot control in this world will make your hair fall out five times faster (trust me, I have a receding hairline to prove it) and it will do you no good. Put your energy and mental focus only into those things which you can directly impact. That should be enough to worry about.

• Don't Judge Yourself by Your Job! (aka,Your Career Is Not What’s in the Mirror) - Many years ago there was a great skit on Saturday Night Live, that I still use for therapy to this day. Al Franken played the part of Stuart Smalley. His character was the main character in a fake TV show called “Daily Affirmations with Stuart Smalley”. In his self-help show, and he was always starting the show by looking in the mirror and saying, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me”. After losing your job, you will go through many times where you feel alone and small. If you have go and stand in the unemployment line, it will be a very humbling experience, to say the least. There will likely be many jobs that you are not offered. With all of this in play, it is quite common to feel like you have lost your mojo. You really are good enough and smart enough! You need to make sure that you never mix who you are with what you do for a living. When you think of yourself, taking your career out of the mix completely, you will see that you are a good person who is very talented and capable. Losing your job never changed that. Take a minute to remind yourself of all that you have accomplished and all that you can do, each and every day. If you smile and give yourself this pep talk each day, you will find that your interviews will go better and that job you are looking for will be right around the corner. By the way, when you are feeling low, you should sing a little song I wrote, called “Focus on the Finish Line”.

NOTE: In a previous article I wrote, “Empathize With the Unemployed”, I spoke about some of these emotions and stressors that the unemployed folks go through. It’s so important for us all to be aware of how to cope with things like this, which can be so debilitating. If you know anyone who is unemployed, I hope this article gave you some perspective and that you will offer a pat on the back and maybe an opportunity to help them get back on their feet.