By now I think most of us are familiar with the latest You Tube sensation that is “Ted Williams.” If you have managed to dodge this story to date here is a quick summary– Ted was a homeless “Wolverine” look alike who had been living on the streets of Columbus, Ohio for the last 10 years. He is a recovering drug and alcohol addict and has recently found faith in God. He panhandled and held a sign stating that he had a “Golden Voice”. A video of him and his amazing voice went viral on You Tube and got over 10 million views. The result…..instant fame in the US and multiple job offers including a job offer with the Cleveland Cavaliers (Cleveland’s NBA Basketball Team) and even an offer to be the new voice of Kraft’s Macaroni and cheese. What an amazing stroke of luck Ted had and what a wonderful positive story to kick start 2011 I thought. However, on reflection was this amazing story all down to luck? Maybe not.
[youtube width=”325″ height=”244″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaGLDKBE8Ho[/youtube]
Here are 4 ways Ted Williams created his own luck and ultimately kick started his career.
- He had a USP (Unique Selling Point) and he knew what it was. Ted knew he had a great voice and used it to survive on the streets when pan handing for money. Ultimately that very USP helped him move from homeless to star in 48 hours. As a job seeker do you know your USP? What value can you offer an employer? Ask yourself do you promote your Unique Selling Point(s) enough when targeting employment?
- He believed in himself and in his ability. He knew he had a really great voice and never doubted his ability despite 10 years on the streets of Ohio. As a job seeker one must always remember that you have the same valuable skills and ability to do a job that you had when you were employed. Constantly remind yourself of the benefits you can bring to your future employer.
- He had support. Ted Williams’s support in recent months had come from his new found faith in religion. I think as job seekers it is vital that we have a strong, loving and supportive network of friends and family around us during our job search. Resist the temptation to cut yourself off from family and friends during your time of unemployment and instead reach out for support.
- He kept going, even when all seemed lost. I can only imagine the abuse and negativity Ted had thrown at him during his 10 hard years on the street, but he kept going. Even in the “now famous” video on You Tube, one thing that struck me about Ted was his smile. He came across quite calm and was not aggressive in anyway. It is vital that we smile and stay positive as job seekers and make an effort not to become defensive or even aggressive during our job search. No matter how difficult our situation is we must keep going….After all what would have become of these 3 people if they gave up?
Michael Jordan – Cut from his High School Basketball team.
Thomas Edison – Told by his teacher he was too stupid to learn anything.
Walt Disney – Fired from a Newspaper because he lacked imagination.
So to all the job seekers out there: believe in yourself, surround yourself with people who care about you and never ever give up. You could be the next success story. May 2011 be your year!
