We all have it but some of us don’t realize how potent it is until we are suffering from the repercussions…it is most noticeable when it is bad and we rarely think about it when it is favorable.
What goes around comes around is an old expression but how often do we claim to be surprised when we end up with “bad luck”Additionally, how often do we put good luck into play by investing in the well being of others?
Are we in harmony with our fellow job hunters?
Do we pass along job leads that may benefit our friends..and that don’t apply to our background?
…Or, do we greedily harvest all leads for ourselves, even they have nothing to do with us…
I believe in survival of the fittest and may the best person win…but it can hardly be considered harmonious if we step on the toes of others as we struggle to make our way to the finish line. The way I try to practice this is to do the following:
Give help for the sake of giving…never expect anything in return when giving.
If I come across information that can benefit someone I pass it on.
If I am vying for the same job as someone I know I do my best and silently wish them well…I never try to discourage them or flaunt my perceived advantage.
If a former coworker contacts me and asks to use me as a reference in advance I politely agree as long as they don’t take me by surprise or demand I do something unethical.
These simple practices keep things tidy and above board…it invests good energy into the atmosphere and it certainly cannot help. What is good for one may not always benefit all but it is a start.
The reverse is a whole other matter….and I have experience with negative karma.
There have been times I accidentally overheard about a job opportunity and thought it was a good idea to run and apply for the position before the time was too late…and more than one time I had it done to me…Example:
I was bragging to one of my coworkers that I was going back to a second job interview and just had to bring my references and provide proof of my technical certifications…and be prepared for a mock presentation complete with a question and answer session.I held court and told fantastic stories about how I had the interviewer spellbound with my speaking skills. I also couldn’t resist making the interviewer sound like a simple person that didn’t have the same vocabulary I had.
Well…armed with a competitive advantage..my coworker shuck in and “stole” the job away from me because they had insight into how to progress through the process until it was time to conduct the presentation.
I was smug and they knew it…so, several times in my career I talked myself out of what could have been a very good opportunity…all I had to do was behave myself but for whatever reason I couldn’t.
Karma is evident for those willing to change…and painful for those that resist.
