I have a guilty confession. It is embarrassing really. I love Free Cell Solitaire. I grew up playing Solitaire with a deck of cards. My grandmother taught me. We would sit at opposite ends of the dining room table and play for hours, talking quietly about this and that. She knew lots of games. When I got my first computer I started playing Solitaire to learn how to use the mouse at first. Sure. That’s what they tell you. Then I got addicted.
Playing Solitaire on the computer is different from playing with a deck of cards. For one thing, you can’t cheat in computer Solitaire. Go figure. How do you win then? And the computer keeps statistics. If you can’t cheat that means you lose sometimes. How can you look like a winner when you can’t cheat?
Then I became intrigued with the strategy of the game. I want to win all the time in everything. So Solitaire without cheating is difficult and challenging. Free Cell Solitaire is totally strategic. Cards are dealt randomly. There are only a few ways to win each game. If you mess up you can press Control Z to go back to the beginning and start all over again without counting the game as a loss. I have a 98% success rate right now!! I feel great about my ability to solve problems.
Sometimes I play Solitaire while I am on the phone. It helps me concentrate better. Really! There is an active training technique that says adults concentrate better with their heads when their hands are busy. That is true with me. When my hands are busy with Solitaire my mind works better and I can concentrate better on what I am hearing.
Finding a job requires a lot of concentration. It is like a puzzle. There is more than a single way to solve the puzzle. This is true whether you are job hunting while employed or unemployed.
You have many options. You must knock on many doors before you find the right combination of people, opportunities, and chemistry that is right for you. You can’t just follow one lead until it plays out then develop another lead. Sometimes a lead is a dead end. You should have lots of balls in play at the same time so dead ends don’t bother you as much. Sometimes you have to press Control Z to restart the game. It does not count as a loss unless you give up, so do not give up. Just restart.
While you are searching you have to keep your hands busy. You have to find something productive or maybe not so productive, to do while you are searching. Here are some ideas how to stay productive with your hands while your mind works on the job search strategy:
- Exercise. Regular exercise releases endorphins that make you feel better. It fills you with positive energy. It also forces you to work with one part of your body while your unconscious mind works on the puzzle.
- Get out of the house. Go to a museum on free day. Walk in the park. Focusing on something with your eyes refreshes you while your mind works on the puzzle.
- Do something else productive. Join Toastmasters and learn how to speak in front of groups. Volunteer at a local charitable organization. Choose something you love and something you can schedule into your week.
- Attend regular business networking groups like your business association or a job seekers club. You will meet new people, expand your network, and open new opportunities.
- Meditate. Clear your mind completely for a few minutes every day. See where the energy takes you.
Keep your mind and body active and stimulated so you can solve the bigger puzzles in life. The Interview Doctor offers proven techniques to shorten your job search. It is worth the investment.