The Strangest Secret 2009

It's safe to say that 2009 has been a challenging year in headhunting. (I've learned to be fine with the term :) I've seen our job orders reduce drastically, and have spoken to hundreds of recently laid off professional engineers and operations personnel, with frankly no place to put them.

Fear is a common theme in all of my conversations. Employers are fearful to add new positions and $$ to their operating costs. Candidates are fearful that their next job interview will never come. I know there is fear in my voice when I'm on the phone, as I'm concerned about the amount of value I can provide to everyone I interact with.

When this fear compounds, it makes you look more and more at what you're doing for a living, and if you made the right decision. One of my greatest allies during these times is an audio recording by Earl Nightingale, entitled "The Strangest Secret."

Recorded back in 1956 (and re-released in 96') "The Strangest Secret" was recorded by Nightingale and played to a group of salesman he managed on a Saturday morning when he was out of town. Likely inspired by Napoleon Hill and other pioneers of personal development, Nightingale's recording teaches the power of positive thinking and that the thoughts planted in the mind dictate our actions and ultimately life results.

While a positive mind can't (and shouldn't) manipulate others, it can reduce the fear we all encounter in our daily life, by setting a goal and specifically training the mind to achieve that goal, no matter what the obstacles.

This positivity can help a hiring manager know when to confidently add payroll, help a candidate pinpoint the best potential jobs to apply for, and help a recruiter recognize and act upon the opportunities in the marketplace.

While I would recommend listening to this powerful recording all the way through, (less than an hour) here are five points Nightingale makes that I find particularly interesting:

1) Don't conform just because everybody else is doing it--These people believe their lives are shaped by what is forced upon them by everything around them. A successful person is defined as someone who is deliberately doing a pre-determined job, because that's what he/she wants to do.

2) Set a goal, and the sky is the limit--Nightingale uses the analogy of a ship with a pre-determined course, as opposed to one just set out to sea. If we give our mind a goal to reach, and continually keep that aspiration in our thoughts, our mind will constantly strive us towards that goal. Without that direction, we'll just muddle along.

3) The best things in life are free-- I don't know who sings that song, but the lyrics ring true. Nightingale remind us that things that we typically put a high value on, our possessions, can always be replaced time and time again. Experts estimate we use only 10% of our mind, possibly because its free to us and taken for granted.

4) 30 Day Test--To get started with enabling your mind to reach your ultimate goal, Nightingale recommends a 30 day test. Using a notecard, write down your career/personal goal. Refer to the card several times daily. Then see if you're any closer to your goal after 30 days. (I've put mine through the wash a couple of times, but this really works!)

5) The strangest secret definition--Although it seems so easy, Nightengale stated that the theory of "you become what you think about" is a strange secret because its odd that so few people know about it. I certainly haven't mastered "The Strangest Secret" but it has provided priceless guidance during times of uncertainty.

Please note: QPS has launched a new resume management service. On the heels of last month's article, if you're looking to effectively follow up with all resumes received. QPS will:

Respond to all resumes
Screen all applicants
Provide detailed interview notes

We can simply route all resumes to our email. Contact me for more information!