By Eli Amdur
As only fate could arrange, I am reaching three momentous milestones – all at precisely the same time. Together, they offer a powerful lesson – if you’re open to look for it – most cogently expressed by Henry David Thoreau. It’s full of optimism, hope, and reason for self-referential thought. The almost eerie confluence of all three just adds color.
So today, I ask your indulgence as I relate this part of my story, with light shed by Thoreau, who said, “You must live within yourself and depend upon yourself, always tucked up and ready for a start.” Wow! Aphorism at its most straightforward, not to mention elegant. What an image!
Typically, I reserve the last Sunday in June for an annual reflective essay that also serves as a forward-looking introduction to the next year of writing for you and to you. Why the end of June? It was June 29, 2003 when my column first appeared here, the result of a spur-of-the-moment “happy accident” when I was offered this space.
Before I begin my reflection, if you’re wondering about my calendar – because this is, indeed, not the last Sunday in June – you’ll understand as you read on. Now to the story and to Thoreau.
It was a warm, sunny day in late May 2003. In my mid-afternoon meeting at North Jersey Media Group – a meeting that, by all rights, would never have come to pass, save for the stars being favorably aligned – I was asked if I could write a career advice column for The Record and The Herald News, NJMG’s two major dailies. It would start as a monthly and, based on reader reaction, go bi-weekly, and if that worked out, it would go weekly. The thought of journalism had never even crossed my mind, but it took me a nanosecond to see the opportunity. I didn’t necessarily know where it would lead, but I jumped in.
Returning home (I was running my then six-year-old career coaching practice from my house), I told my wife that I might be writing a regular column on careers. Though she sees the reality of the present as starkly as anyone, she needs the future to show up before she buys it (“I’ll believe it when I see it”). She thought about it for all of five seconds and challenged me: “After you write an article on résumés, one on interviewing, and one on job searching, what the hell else are you going to say?” Well, here it is, 19 years later. I’m still writing.
OK: Thoreau. That moment when I was asked to write this column seemed, on the surface, simple, but it was far from that. I had to be ready not only to accept but to perform. I had to prove two things: (1) that I could write, and (2) I could do it every week.
I was confident in my skills in writing, observing and analyzing the job market, and synthesizing it into sound advice on a regular basis. Now – 19 years later – I can say that my editors have never had to chase me for a deadline. And I trust my observations and advice have had value.
This is Thoreau 101. When the opportunity presented itself, I’d already been “tucked up and ready.” And that’s the way to approach our careers and lives from now on: Be ready first, then look for the opportunity. Work on excellence and look for luck. Or, as Louis Pasteur said, “Chance favors the prepared mind.” That means committing to lifelong learning, improvement, and growth.
Now then, what are this month’s milestones?
(1) I’m finishing 19years in this space – as a freelancer, no less.
(2) You are reading, as fate would have it, exactly my 1,000th article, which just happens to be published today, on…
(3) …my 75th birthday.
How’s that for coincidence? Or fate?
Retrospectively, I think I’ve answered my wife’s question – and I believe that if old Henry were around today, he’d smile approvingly.
And now, here’s one more piece of advice. If you can write, you can work. Don’t let anyone tell you there aren’t opportunities in journalism anymore. It may be changing but it’s alive and well.
I’ve been privileged, lucky, blessed, and honored. My humble thanks to you for reading all these years and to my editors who are beyond best.
I’ll be here next week – in business at the same old stand.
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Career Coach Eli Amdur provides one-on-one coaching in job search, résumés, and interviewing.
Reach him at [email protected] or 201-357-5844.