We're All Doing Alright
As I sit down to write this post, I’ve noticed that all but one of my posts so far have basically been me complaining about the fact that I haven’t landed my dream job yet, and for that I’m sorry. But then I realized everyone’s first year has their own challenges. Mine are more career-oriented, whereas others are moving to different cities or facing a multitude of other things that can possibly happen during your first year out of college.
I’m not the kind of person who likes to sit still; I never have been. I like to be busy, almost too busy. I rarely slow down, and I don’t stop working towards something if it’s what I really want.
In high school, I wanted to make my school’s cheerleading team. I cheered for my town’s pop warner teams but hadn’t cheered in years, but I went to tryouts my freshman year anyway.
I didn’t make it. I then went to tryouts for the winter season, and still, I didn’t make it.
My sophomore year I tried out in the fall again. Again, I didn’t make it. I went back in the winter and finally made the team. Fourth time’s the charm, right?
I practiced and became a member of the team but was only on the JV team. I honestly didn’t even care that I was on JV. I was just excited that I had finally made it.
Trying out for a team doesn’t seem like an incredibly courageous thing, and I never thought of it as that. To me, it didn’t seem like I had another option but to continue to try out because it was something that I wanted, and it never crossed my mind to give up.
I’m in a similar situation now. I’ve learned that waiting around for things to happen to you isn’t how you become successful.
I’m very unhappy about where I am right now (which is probably why I talk and write about it any chance I get), but I never consider giving up. I work five jobs and come home at night after working and apply for more jobs.
A few weeks ago I decided to take charge, and I wrote a personalized cover letter to every NFL, MLB, NHL, and NBA team in the country and Canada. I addressed these letters specifically to the editors of the teams’ digital departments and attached my resume.
I hand addressed all the envelopes, sealed them, stamped them and sent them off. I sent out 122 letters, spent close to $60 on stamps, and then I waited.
As soon as I sent them I immediately regretted it. Was I being too aggressive? What are they going to think of just getting a letter in the mail?
About a week later, I got my first email from one of those letters telling me that they don’t have any positions available for me but to keep trying. But one email was different than the rest.
It was similar, telling me that there are no jobs available, but it felt different this time. For starters, it was significantly longer with proof that he actually read my resume because he referenced my work experience specifically.
He told me his experience before he got to the pros and how he never thought he would get there.
The last paragraph brought me to tears.
“But, as evidenced by sending out letters like that one, you clearly have the drive and passion to get into the field. So keep connecting, keep working, and I’m sure I’ll see you on a sideline soon enough. Good luck.”
No, he didn’t offer me a job. And it’s doubtful that I will get a job from these 122 letters. But I am making connections and gaining advice from people who have succeeded in the field.
And the fact that at least one person believes that I’ll get there makes me believe in myself even more.
We’re all doing alright, we just have to be reassured sometimes and that’s okay. If we want it enough, we’ll make it.
