25 hours a day...

Strike the iron while its hot.

Make hay when the sun shines.

Our language is full of phrases that express the best time to go for an opportunity, which is when things are going the best for you.  There is a lot of wisdom to these sayings, because when the dominoes are falling the right way, our attitude is in the right place.  With the right attitude come positive thoughts and actions, so it easy to move on to your next challenge with the confidence and tools that you have picked up along the way for success.

But if there were never tough days, there would never be good days.  In my initial blog post, I talked about being recognized as a smart guy, but as I climbed within the organization at work, I seemed to hit a glass ceiling at a certain point.  I remember the day well.  I applied for a new position in Customer Training that attracted 65 other applicants.  After many rounds of interviews and mock presentations, the job came down to myself and one other applicant.  The hiring manager asked the both of us to make one more presentation to help him decide who to hire.  After this bonus presentation and so many interviews, he expressed to me how he believed either one of us would be great for the position, so he decided to let his decision be made by who looked best on paper.  He told me that my lack of a degree was one less box checked for me, and thus was the deciding factor in me not getting the job.  Of course this was meant to cushion the blow, but still I was crushed.

That was the day I decided that my lack of a career college training would never be used as a reason not to hire me ever again.  Out of the despair of this news, I gathered myself and reapplied to Granite State College to take part time classes.  Rejection was fuel for the fire; the fire still burns. 

I still work for that great company, and I look forward to the next opportunity that comes my way to share my strengths and talents, combined with the education I am shaping and receiving at my Lebanon NH College.  My day to make hay is coming!