Baby Steps

Yesterday I said I’d post something about the steps I’m taking.  Et voila!

I’m trying to accept the idea that I can just take little steps, tiny tiny actions day by day, and they’ll add up to something useful—my getting hired somewhere, but not trapped for eternity at the entry level bottom rung.  I mean, in principle, duh, of course it’s true that many small steps will cause change over time.  Everybody knows that.  They know it so well that there’s a cliché, “baby steps,” which I am now uncreatively using as well.

What I’m having difficulty accepting is that (a) I can take the small steps even though I’m not sure where exactly they’re going, and that (b) I can take the small steps even though I’m afraid of their outcomes, and that (c) I can take the small steps even though I don’t always feel much confidence in myself.  More about that next time.

Meanwhile, I want to share with you (if there’s a you there, reading this thing) the tiny actions I’ve taken recently, and the ones I’m planning to take soon.  You’re like an invisible accountability partner, you lucky thing!

These are the tiny actions I took in the last week:

• I emailed two people at the university we’re most likely headed to.  Let’s call that school Awesome U.  Just for kicks.
• I spoke on the phone with a woman who is the wife of a student at Awesome U.
• I met another good contact, who has just graduated from Awesome U.  Let’s call her Jane.  (short for Jane Doe, obviously).
• I sent one “Hi! Wanna hire me?” email to an organization in Awesome U.’s area.  (no reply yet.)
• I found Awesome U’s local paper and scanned the classified section.  There wasn’t much there, but I’ll keep checking back.
• I set an appointment to meet with a friend who works in a kind of organization I might be interested in.  I’m going to ask her about the work she does, the work other people in her organization do, and how to get there.
• Started doing shivanata (a flowing yoga that’s good for the brain) with the intention of clearing up some of the negative self-judgments that are holding me back.  (I’m going to tell you more about that tomorrow.)

Okay, and here are the next tiny actions I’m planning to take in the next several days:

• Send an email to Jane Doe asking for ideas and advice about looking for work in the Awesome U. area.
• Send an email to the head of HR at Awesome U. asking about what kinds of opportunities might be out there that I don’t know about yet.
• Actually have the meeting with my friend.  (That’s tonight!)
• Send an application to a job opportunity I found online.  The job is probably not an ideal fit, but the sending of materials might be good practice.  I can at least contact the organization to ask for more details about the job.
• Keeping practicing shivanata, and trying to remain open to whatever I learn from it.  (I already told you I’d tell you more about it tomorrow!  Sheesh!)

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