S.U.R.V.I.V.A.L. of the fittest.

Over the past decade we’ve seen boom and bust, feast and famine in the recruiting industry. The good news is that this cycle tends to cull the flock. The strong survive. The weak don’t.

During that time I’ve learned one very important lesson; recruiting isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. You have to survive the trials and tribulations if you’re going to make this your career. Perseverance is your first step. It’s a mindset, part of your personal philosophy. If you lack the will to persevere this isn’t the job for you.

For those amongst us that really love this business, I put together an acronym that may help. S.U.R.V.I.V.A.L.

Size up the situation: Take inventory of yourself, your abilities, your industry, geographic location, constraints, the current circumstances, and your resources. Whether in combat or business, accurate assessment is critical if you are going to make it.

Undue haste makes waste: Rash decisions waste energy, resources, and time. Gunfighters in the Wild West understood that it doesn’t matter if you shoot first, make a lot of noise, or have best gun. You have to be able to hit your target. Keep breathing…oxygen is your friend…Take your time to ensure accuracy but don’t fall victim to paralysis through analysis.

Rely on your wit: Chances are you’ve been in our profession for more than a day. You probably have the solution bouncing around in your subconscious already. If you don’t, there are people around you: a mentor, a partner, a boss, or www.recruitingblogs.com for instance. Use their experience and expertise to guide you.

Vanquish fear and panic: DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT FREAK OUT! People running around like stress grenades with the pins pulled are the opposite of helpful. In fact, doing so will either piss people off or scare the hell out of them. BAD! Once frightened, these jokers will become your very own Chicken Little announcing to all the sky is falling. Stop, breathe, think, and then act. Remember: In a fistfight we’ll get hit, in a knife fight we’re gonna get cut in business deals will blow up. It’s your ability to accept the possibility of disaster that helps you transform fear into purpose and convert that purpose to action.

Improvise: I love to improvise. In fact, after 41 years of doing so I’d say I’m pretty damned proficient. The key to improvisation is the practiced ability to not refuse any suggestions or possibilities. That’s what successful improvisational actors do. You’ve got to roll with the punches. Don’t whine about what you don’t have. Use the resources and tools available to you in new and innovative ways. Make the best of every situation. Find value in all you do.

Value living: Pretty self-explanatory. Possess the WILL to survive. It sure beats the hell out of the alternative. Always maintain hope. General Hal Moore, USA Ret. said, “In battle, I periodically detached myself mentally for a few seconds from the noise, the screams of the wounded, the explosions, the yelling, the smoke and dust, the intensity of it all and asked
myself, "What am I doing that I should not be doing, and what am I not doing that I should be doing to influence the situation in my favor?” You get to choose whether you contaminate your environment and people with your attitude and actions, or inspire confidence in them by the same.

Act like the natives: In 387 A.D. When St. Augustine arrived in Milan, he observed that the Church did not fast on Saturday as the Church at Rome. He consulted St. Ambrose, bishop of Milan, who replied: "When I am at Rome, I fast on a Saturday; when I am at Milan, I do not. Follow the custom of the Church where you are." The comment was changed to "When they are at Rome, they do there as they see done" by Robert Burton in his Anatomy of Melancholy. Eventually it became "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

When you’ve developed your DIG (Discipline, Industry, Geography)/niche you need to learn
the language and gain as much intel/insight as possible (insight is information beyond the obvious). I am of the opinion you need to know it cold. Be a subject matter expert. It’s one of the things we get paid to do. The more you know the more variables you’ll eliminate, pitfalls you’ll avoid and the better you’ll be able to recognize trends and stay ahead of the curve.

Learn (and master) the basics: Master the basics of your craft (market, search, present). Sound fundamentals are the difference between good teams and great ones. Proficiency begets competence. Competence begets confidence. Confidence begets survival.