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Let the Games Begin
Inspiration from Chess, Narnia, Big Ideas, and More
Liesl Garner
January 04, 2024
Your Daily Dose of Sunshine - Today’s Inspiration
You sit at the board and suddenly your heart leaps. Your hand trembles to pick up the piece and move it. But what chess teaches you is that you must sit there calmly and think about whether it’s really a good idea and whether there are other, better ideas.
Chess is one of those games I am in love with, but am not the greatest at playing. It has been a major character in one of my favorite book series - the All Souls Trilogy, by Deborah Harkness. And there are so many movies about the importance of chess.
Today, I am reminded that just like in Chess, a job search is not jumping on the first move that makes sense, but taking the time to consider it from many angles, and looking forward to several plays in the future to make sure it's the BEST move.
Narnia Night
What started two years ago has blossomed into such a rich treasure. We used to read out loud as a family when our kids were younger. There are so many memories of reading around a roaring fireplace, on roadtrips, or snuggled together on the sofa.
My kids often repeat lines from stories we've read together.
In 2022, when the worst of the pandemic seemed to be over, my kids were older teens and no longer interested in reading aloud together. I started realizing I would be an empty-nester soon, and needed to find something to fill this void. I asked a local Assisted Living Center if I could come read weekly to a group of Senior Citizens. They loved the idea.
We started with The Chronicles of Narnia - which I will never, ever tire of reading. Now we are in the third book of the Mitford Series, but my alarm to leave the house to go read still says, “Leave for Narnia.” Something about that phrase is too magical for me to change it to simply, “Go Read.” It will always be Narnia Night to me.
And because I was already a part of the community, when my dad got to the point where he needed Assistance, we were able to move him and my mom up from Sonoma to an apartment in the facility. Now, our home is a hub of activity for the extended family with comings and goings all throughout the year.
How this little offer to Volunteer has changed my life!
And it reminds me that there is no idea that is too small. In my career, I have had some outlandish ideas, some partnerships with non-profits that might not have at first seemed like they would be good for business. But they were passion projects, and they did, in ways we couldn’t have expected, increase our bottom line.
Imagination, creativity, passion, a desire to help others - all these can be good for business. All these could be considered key indicators of a business I would like to work for. Let me keep that in mind in my job search!
No idea is too small, and all sorts of ideas have potential to change the world as we know it for the better.
The Search for a Needle in a Haystack
Oh, the job boards! First, there’s the intricate effort of crafting a resume to showcase my best work, only to have to fill in applications for every job - as if I’m applying for an entry-level position flipping burgers.
That’s humbling, and frustrating. And as much as is posted about each job to make them look amazing, a quick peek under the hood on sites like Glassdoor show that what employers are saying isn’t nearly what is experienced by their people.
They are putting their best foot forward to find talent. I’m putting my best foot forward to find a job. We’re all doing our best, right? And so we trudge.
Not a Bad Thing to Seek Professional Assistance
Just this morning, I read a LinkedIn post by a friend and former co-worker in the Staffing Industry. She spoke about the competitive business landscape and why partnering with a Staffing Professional - for both businesses and job seekers is a good idea.
Crazy thing is - I’ve worked in the staffing industry. But I forgot until she mentioned it, that at this stage of my career, I could use the help. I don’t want to go out there on my own thinking I can navigate the complexities of the job seeker market. I’ve been out of job hunt mode long enough that a fresh set of eyes would be a good thing. Maybe some introductions to companies who only work through that firm. So, those are some calls and meetings I’ll be going for today.
It’s never a bad thing to bring in a professional.
Thank you once again for being a part of my journey. Thank you for being here!
Question:
Where do you find inspiration - from what vast superhighways of your mind are ideas coming to you?
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