I am having can't-finish-it syndrome. Starting a lot of things and not being able to finish them. Today though I'm going to focus on what I have accomplished since my last post about two weeks ago.
1. Applied to 8 architecture jobs and 1 volunteer for graphic designer (no positive response from ANYONE).
2. Will have informational interview with local firm on coming Tuesday.
3. Called 2 firms to ask about possibility of externship--no result!
4. Passed the 50 mark on my LinkedIN connections.
5. Painted 2 paintings. Night paintings...very pretty if I may say so myself.
6. Assitant photographed an engagement celebration. Learned more about how to use those fancy cameras.
7. Went to the beach for the last time of the summer.
8. Applied to about 5 more "whatever" jobs (also no response) And 3 of the Craigslist's ones were SCAMs. Fabulous!
9. Did favors for people all around me.
10. Smiled and complained less.
11. Made a resolution not to put myself down for the next two months.
12. Read 3-4 short stories.
13. Read more in Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends..."
14. Read more in "Your First Job."
Yes, yes, you're right I should have applied to several times that many jobs in the past two weeks, but what can I say? There are not very many postings for my 0 years of experience. But you know what I really miss? Writing. I used to be a good writer, but I think ever since going to college and writing so much about architecture and stuff like that, I've really lost my shine in writing. Reading short stories like "The Yellow Wallpaper" and such make you think: I want to write something so beautiful.
I am very sad that I do not have a job because I had believed myself talented and a good catch for any employer. If you're in the same sore spot, here's some encouragement for the both of us:
1. YOU ARE TALENTED.
2. Are you a hard worker? Are you in love with design? Will you put in the time and effort to be a great designer? THEN YOU WILL GET TO DO IT AND YOU WILL BE GREAT.
3. GOD is in CONTROL! If you believe in Him, all things are possible. There is a reason you do not have a job yet. A very good and perfect reason that will make sense to you later. I know someone who was jobless for a year. Guess what? At the end of that year he got engaged, and at the same time got a job offer! "Eye has not seen nor ear hear nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." Trust in the power of prayer.
4. "Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. But today is a gift, that is why they call it the present."
Today is a gift. Carpe diem! Call people, email resumes, SO WHAT if no one has responded positively? Put that behind you as though you never heard it. Keep going, try everything, don't be snobbish and do make some changes and learn from the past, but DON'T let rejection get in your way of finding success. Also when your brain hurts from reading job descriptions and writing up what to say in a phone call and thinking about why does such and such have a job and not me: Stop it. Take one or two hours and don't apply to a single job more, don't check your email again, just STOP.
Write, do a painting, design a building, bake a pie--do something that uses that creative and beautiful energy you have. Who knows? You might manage to make some money out of it!
I'm not going to make another to do list for myself. At least not today. I am just going to keep going and let you know what I've accomplished. When I feel guilty about it, maybe I'll work harder to do more the next time. Or maybe I'll start posting the To do list again. Anyway--Good luck to all!
