Do you have one of those fairy tale books that is so broken read that it is stuck together with tape and sticky tape? Then chances are you believe in fairy tales. But which fairy tale are you living up to?
Let’s look at a few fairy tales. The common thread is that they are usually stories about that you have to stay on the right path, otherwise you will be eaten by the wolf (Little Red Riding Hood). That you are so beautiful that your stepmother is jealous of you and you have to be rescued by a prince (Snow White). That you are cursed by the witch and can only be woken up by a prince with a kiss of love (Sleeping Beauty).
The prince on the white horse
Do you recognise the message in these stories? Adapt, stay within the lines, don’t take risks and be rescued by a prince, otherwise you won’t survive.
Just look at the fairy tale of Cinderella. Her stepsister Anastasia is the well-adjusted girl and does everything her mother says. While Cinderella finds a way to still go to the prince’s party. For she is curious, uses her talents and makes her dreams come true.
The rules of the game
According to which rules do you want to play the game? To Anastasia’s or Cinderella’s?
Anastasia dare not deviate from the path, while Cinderella creates her own. Go figure, if you want to do the work you love most, you can’t plot out in advance exactly when and where you will do that work. That happens because you are proactive and create your own opportunities. You show what you want and what you have to offer and that gets you where you want to be.
Take the lead
Like Cinderella, you don’t have to wait until a job vacancy comes along to get new work. Take the lead and engage with the organisation where you want to work. Your drive, energy and what you want show and are a gift to the organisation and the world. So: Do you wait until you fit the mould of a position or do you go looking for the organisation that fits your mould?
Take risk
Cinderella played the game and dared to take risks. While she could also have failed. She went to the prince’s party and made sure she was back home before 12am. That could have gone fatally wrong. But if she had let that stop her, she would never have married the prince. So you have to take risks to get the job you want most.
Question
Anastasia and her mother conspired against Cinderella every time. For example, by getting the slipper on Anastasia’s foot at all costs. Which didn’t fit. Cinderella, on the other hand, actually asked for help from two pigeons. She knew that, after all, you don’t win on your own. Because you need each other. You have to be there for each other. Don’t be against another, but strengthen others. And let them strengthen you.
You are unique
How cool is it that Cinderella believes in herself and gives 100%. Very different from our Dutch “just act normal and you’ll be crazy enough”. Have you also learned not to stick your head above the parapet? Follow Cinderella’s example and come forward with your talents and be clear about what you want without apologising.
You are Cinderella
The moral of this story is that, of course, you have to do it yourself. But that you don’t have to do it alone.
You want to start doing the work you love most. That’s why I have a free Career Session for you. Together, we will look at where you are currently stuck. And I will give you two tips on what you can do differently to stop getting stuck in the work you are doing now.
See you there, Cinderella.