“When one door closes, another opens… but it’s hell in the hallway.” My brother used to say that. He knew what that hell was like from his own experiences. Even though it took longer than he would have preferred, another door always opened for him. But, it could take blood, sweat and tears to find it.
As I write this, I’m feeling for the many people who have lost their jobs. They’re walking the hall, maybe wailing in a corner, trying to figure out what to do next.
Finding a suitable job is a challenge, especially if you haven’t had to look for one in ages, and you’re not sure what you want. A friend, Kevin, is in this predicament. He’s a seasoned IT Director. His job was eliminated after his company merged and the dominant company decided to keep their own guy.
Like many who have lost their job after dedicating many years to it, he’s feeling stuck in the hallway. He’s very good at what he’s done, particularly the last 15+ years, but he’d love to find something totally different. Preferably in an industry he cares about. Maybe project based, because he’d rather not manage others. He’d be a great team player. Years ago, he was in a team environment where everyone pulled their weight, collaborated, and worked together like a well-oiled machine. He’d love to be part of a team like that again.
But where? Doing what? Although he wants to do something different, he only sees himself doing what he knows. He hasn’t yet allowed himself to dream or play with ideas. He feels pigeon-holed. It’s easy to do to ourselves. Being open to trying something new and different sounds exciting, energizing, but it’s also risky.
If you were in the hallway, doing all you could to find the right door and the code to unlock it, what door would you want to open? What would you love to do, if nothing stood in your way?
I encourage you to play with ideas for practical roles and wild and crazy ones. Explore thoughts that flash through your mind. It may crack open a door that is meant for you… now or in the future. That’s my hope for you, for Kevin, and for all who are looking for jobs now.
