It holds more significance for me as I coach my son's fourth grade basketball team. My son and I watched it together during Jimmy V week, and he didn't quite understand why I was crying throughout the entire piece. I even used the inspiration to get the boys fired up over the weekend in a game where we were down 18 points and it looked like it was over mid-way through the second half. I asked if anyone wanted to give up, and of course none of them did. We came all the way back to force triple overtime and lost in heart-breaking fashion on a made free throw by the opponent. We could have all thrown in the towel, had the same outcome (a loss), and on paper we would be in the same place today. I was thrilled the team didn't want to go down that path.
I can't tell you how many times I have worked with candidates and clients alike that were ready to throw in the proverbial towel. The candidate(s) couldn't find the right job or get the offer on the job they really wanted. The client(s) couldn't find the right candidate or get themselves talked into extending an offer on a candidate that really wasn't their first choice. Here are some thoughts that Jimmy V would probably offer to someone caught in that situation:
1) Give it your best, even when you don't feel up for it. The night of his infamous speech Jimmy V needed help getting up and down from the stage. His body was worn down from tumors, treatments, and general weariness. He admitted to not wanting to be there to accept the award, but he came despite his exhaustion and pain. You would never know by watching his speech how awful he must have really felt. If you are experiencing pain in your life, no matter how significant, show up to an interview or a meeting giving 120% as you don't know if that is your only shot at making an impression.
2) Don't listen to others telling you to stop. At one point during his speech Jimmy V mocks the red light that is the sure signal from the producers of the show that your time was up. He joked that he is about to die from the dreaded cancer taking over his body and they wanted him to wrap up his thoughts in a matter of seconds. He seized the opportunity and powered through, giving one of the most memorable speeches in recent sports' history. During you search you might come across people that think you should just stay put and remain miserable because that is just what work life is all about. Don't listen to those people. Go blaze your own trail!
3) Let people know you care. Some professional business coaches and recruiters say to keep emotion out of the interview process. I don't necessarily agree with that. At one point during the speech Jimmy V says, "To me there are three things everyone should do every day. Number one is laugh. Number two is think, spend some time in thought. Number three, you should have your emotions move you to tears. If you laugh, think, and cry, that is one heck of a day." Maybe keep most of the crying out of an interview, but you get the point. Being relate-able is a lost skill in today's world of sterile social media posts for updates on peoples' lives. Tell some stories, live a little, and show the person on the other side of the desk that you are a real person.
If you really listen to the speech you will notice that Jimmy V doesn't talk much about basketball despite being a coach. His sage advice can be applied in many aspects of life, and I'm here today to insert it into the conversation regarding your job search.
What inspires you to look for a new job? Or procure the one you are in final stages with a prospective employer? The holidays and year-end usually bring up many of these questions. Happy to hear your stories and thoughts as always as you reflect this time of the year.
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