Acapulco
I was talking to a friend of mine recently about an incident during my college days studying abroad in Chile. As a fellow student and I crossed a monstrously high bridge that spanned the harbor entrance of this port town, a conversation started on cliff jumping and jumping from bridges. “I’ve jumped some heights like this in Lake Powell in Southern Utah . . . so, I could probably do something like this bridge”, I bragged. To which he shouted “no way”! I replied, “I’m pretty sure I’ve jumped something this high before.” “Really”??, he said. “How much would it take, to get you to jump off this bridge?” “Oh, probably $50 bucks”, I said. In my mind I was speaking only in the hypothetical and not literal.
Later that night when coming back over the bridge from the city, my friend yelled “Rhett is willing to jump off this bridge for $50, right now, whose in?!” I was taken back - my earlier hyperbole was being put to the test - I was being called on it, in front of the whole group. It was pitch black now, around midnight . . . all of the excuses started to fill my mind. It would have been super risky to do it even at mid-day, where I could ensure a greater level of safety. But here? Now? . . . as the locals would say - muy loco!
To instill a greater level of confidence in my leap of death, was a wobbly chain link fence that sat on top of the bridge rail, to prevent idiots like me from even considering such a feat.
Here I was, mouth shut with all the excuses running through my head as to how I would back out, while my comrade was channeling Monte freaking Hall - selling my end of life experience like a new set of Ginsu Knives. By the time I had a good excuse formulated that would both maintain my credibility and manhood, he had already collected money and sealed the dare. Students were running excitedly, screaming and yelling as they made their way to the bottom of the bridge to watch the insanity.
What had I gotten myself into I thought? How deep is it? How do I even get out once I do it? What if something really bad happens? The call to my fiancée back home would be an interesting one! There I was, alone with my thoughts, to the chant of “jump, jump, jump” of 28 college students, who ironically, thought they had died and gone to heaven. Before I knew it I was unbuttoning my shirt, scaling the rail and Mr. Wobbly.
I recall the ‘hang time’ clocked in around four seconds; long enough to ponder what my rightful place would be in the pantheon of elite Darwin Award candidates while hearing the voice of my mother crying “why”!? why!? . . . and wooooosh. I pierced the black sheet of concrete H2O with the experience of so many summers in Lake Powell - body aligned, feet pointed, arms tucked in tight. I made it, intact, now which direction was up? I swam hard for the surface, not knowing how deep I was, slicing the surface with a gladiator like “yaaaaa”, fist pumping into the midnight air, with a chorus of cheers and “no ways” all around.
The walk back to the hotel was one I will never forget. It was a cold swim, but I was oh so warm. I smiled satisfactorily listening to my shoes squishing. I had a pocket full of money, a life time of bragging rights and an experience I’d remember forever. My heart took a picture.
So, what to make of that? Irresponsible? Harebrained? Sure.
But, it also depends on your perspective. Crazy, certainly if you’re not prepared. Calculated risk taking if you know what you are doing and can marshal the proper knowledge and skills. Maybe you would never take a risk like that. Maybe that risk is so utterly unique and far removed from the realm of your own possibility. Consider that most of us drive a car, and while not terribly unique, there is a very real risk of having an accident or being injured. Granted, statistics are heavily skewed in favor of surviving a drive to the store versus jumping off a bridge in Chile, but we manage the risks of driving a vehicle with knowledge, experience and skill in much the same way.
Just for a moment, while you’re securely seated in a chair at home or in your office, imagine yourself poised on the rail of a high bridge with the same composure as preparing to give a presentation to a large group or better yet, as you prepare for an upcoming job interview. They may not be terribly high on ‘wow-factor’ but both will be unique to your imagination as is jumping the bridge.
Job searching requires most of us to venture into areas of fear and discomfort. We all have to “jump” at some point. The fear of standing on a wobbly fence, on top of a rail, in the middle of a city, someplace in South America, with people unknown to you just a few months earlier - is the same fear many feel when walking into an important interview. Or making a phone call to a total stranger. Or even when calling a friend, who you haven’t done a very good job of keeping in touch with.
Of all the things that it may be, what it’s certainly not - is easy.
The only way to ensure that you pierce the waters of interviewing or reach out to the sea of humanity with enough composure and skill to not only survive, but emerge with fist pumped - is through practice and coaching. These examples are freighted with varying levels of risk, anticipation and reward. The key is obtaining and maintaining a purposeful and attentive mind-set. Preparation, instruction, practice and experience are pathways to successful, desired outcomes for each of us.
We are unique individuals, with both astounding and mundane experiences that are presented to each of us. You may never “jump a cliff”. To be successful in your career, you don’t have to. But in this job market, with the competition at staggering “height” levels, it simply will not be enough to use the same techniques honed in the friendly confines of your neighborhood swimming pool.
Come, join with Notus Career Management - and they will call you “Acapulco”.
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