"Don't assume those chairs are for sitting" Showing up is half the battle.

Scene: Standing in line for my first Jr. High dance- ticket in hand, some slick new shoes on my awkwardly large feet, and a stomach full of butterflies. What the heck am I doing here? What if she won't dance with me? What if my friends get asked to dance and I don't? What if all I get out of this a stomach full of cheap cookies and Tang?

I turn the corner to our school cafeteria and see that there are chairs surrounding the dance floor- I take a seat like every other nervous wreck attending.

A volunteer chaperone nudges my shoulder and says one of the most frightening/insightful statements I have ever digested "Don't assume these chairs are for sitting." What the heck was he saying? My fight or flight mechanism had me standing in the middle of the dance floor.

I had an option... perform or call Mom to pick me up. I had a phenomenal time and realized then that showing up is important but taking the risk and stepping outside of my comfort zone was the reason for my successful Jr. High dance.

Cool story, Dan.... I can literally hear half of my core group of pals saying this to themselves right now. Relax I am going somewhere with this.

You can fast forward from your awkward Jr. High dance and find yourself in a similar situation. Instead you are now 20 something and you have on your corporate camouflage and a resume in-hand. Those same questions come back- What the heck am I doing here? What if they won't hire me? What if they hire these other guys? What if all I get from this is a handshake and a stomach full of Starbucks?

"Don't assume those chairs are for sitting" Show up to every interview and job fair you can attend. Show up to meet and greets and professional events. Show up with the mentality that the chairs aren't for sitting. Do not assume your dream job will walk up to you and ask for the dance. You need to put yourself out there in front of potential rejection and show off your skills.

Show up-Hand in your ticket (your resume)-and start dancing. One last thing-the fear that comes when you approach unfamiliarity or challenge is THEE best indicator that you need to dive right in and get the experience.

Shout out to whoever that creepy chaperone was who inspired this post!

With Much Respect,

Mr. Daniel Clark