by Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D.
You've embarked on a major transition and your enthusiasm is growing. Just when you get a small fire going, someone comes along with a heavy wet blanket.
"You'll hate it."
"I turned down that job two years ago, but it's perfect for you."
"Nobody makes a living that way."
Strategies to Transform Wet Blankets into Comfort Quilts.
"Calm under pressure" is a skill you can learn, and it gives you power. I used to flinch when people were critical until I worked with Rick, an Air Force veteran who had seen more action than he cared to admit.
When a bullying administrator yelled, Rick would laugh. "It's just noise," he would say, "not enemy aircraft." And he'd bounce right back into his next idea.
Recognize the champion in the critic. By investing time and energy to insult you, your critic acknowledges you have strength and power. Be proud!
The universe has sent you a coach. Dancers and athletes learn that coaches do not waste time on losers.
Pat Summitt, award-winning coach of Tennessee's Lady Vols, warns recruits that she yells only at the best players. It's when she stops yelling that you need to worry.
Use humor. When I told a colleague I was considering jobs outside academia, he suggested I visit the campus psychiatrist. Next, he recommended a career guidance book designed for people seeking their very first full-time position after completing a doctoral degree. ...
Click here to read the rest of this article from Career Know How
