Tips for Motivation/Burnout

This is less of a Blog and more of a question or request for advice.

I'm 5 years in the business, recently promoted to Director (manage several recruiters), my production has gone up every year and 2010 was my personal best at over 560K (#1 in company) in direct hire contingent fees. I'm staring at my board with 0's across it and I cannot find the motivation/fire to do it again.

I have read through several blogs on the site and there seems to be little conversation on the topic that I know we all have/will face in our careers.

With so many great recruiting minds on this site, does anyone have any advice that might help me?

Thanks,

Jason

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Comment by Sandra McCartt on January 5, 2011 at 2:51pm: Don't panic. Don't try and force it. Let it happen, it will. As job reqs start to come in, good candidates start to surface "recruiting autopilot" will kick in. I feel the same way in the few days after every big placement i make. My first thought is always, "I am not sure i can jump back on the horse and run another race." Then the call to colors sounds with something new on the horizon, my brain starts into overdrive, adreneline hits, the excitement starts to build. One turns into two, two into three etc and it's February. It's only the first one that starts off slow when the salmon run has been fast and furious. Recharge the batteries if you will. If you worked right up to the last day of 2010 hitting those numbers take a couple of days to clean out your desk, listen to the other recruiters you supervise. If they are gearing up it won't take long for the competetive energy to kick in..after all don't you have to produce more than the folks you supervise? :)

Most fire does not happen from internal combustion. Someone or something has to strike a match. They will.

Comment by Bill Ward on January 5, 2011 at 3:14pm: Jason,

I feel your pain. That being said, it sounds like you had a very productive year. I would assume that you have loyal clients that you could go back to and ask for introductions. Don't be afraid to ask for help. It's not a sign of weakness. Warm calls are a heck of a lot more motivating than cold calls. I would also have each of your staff compile their list of top clients and arrange a few appreciation meetings/lunches where you could learn more about their plans for 2011 and where the opportunities for your business may lie. Remember that these meetings are not meant to sell work, but to strengthen/maintain those key relationships which will eventually lead to the end goal.

If you need an excuse to call, clients always appreciate it when a vendor asks for their time to find out what they could improve on. It could be a great way for you to develop ongoing personal and professional development initiatives for your staff as well.

Comment by Thabo on January 6, 2011 at 7:30am: Jason, I am not sure as to the context of the "I'm staring at my board with 0's across it and I cannot find the motivation/fire to do it again.". Are you saying that you are looking at targets for the year and need to replace the zero and are not sure where to go in at as a target? What I am also not sure of is what the new promotion entails in terms of what is expected of you? For instance could it be you are managing a fear factor where you were number one in fees, and how you will fare this year? Are you managing that as a Director there is a shift in what your expected output is versus your core strength (placements and billing)?

As Bill mentions, you have clearly done well so far and can measure it. So it is only fair to say you can only measure how well you will do in 2011 at the end of it and it will be relative to whatever goal you set yourself now (you can only set a goal you are motivated to chase and achieve). If it is you do not want to make fee revenue as a priority for you this year, then you can't beat yourself up at the end of the year if you bill less than you did last year.

Your question could be one of many things, so where you are on point is you are not scared to make yourself vulnerable and put it out there, so keep bouncing around for different perspectives but in the end you choose. A guy with your track record for performance does not strike me as someone who is looking for a directive. Good luck!

Comment by Mia Hirschel on January 6, 2011 at 11:22am: Hello Jason,

When was the last time you took a vacation, had a massage, or attended an industry conference? Perhaps your internal batteries just need to be re-charged!

Comment by Linda Ferrante on January 6, 2011 at 11:25am: It happens every year at this time, Jason! No worries!! I look at it this way....I have a whole, blank board that I get to fill up every which way I can!! It's exciting to start with a fresh new board and see what you can do with it by the end of the year! January is clean and fresh. It's a great time to start with a crisp, detailed plan of action. Sowing the seeds you plant now (and all those from last year), will muddy up your schedule like crazy over the next 12 months. Take advanage of the clean board to get your head on straight, take a few deep breaths and get ready to jump in....then do it!

Comment by Charlie Allenson on January 6, 2011 at 11:43am: Never being one to preach, I would simply offer this thought. When you find yourself in a rut, find yourself a new outlet to rejuvenate your mind and creative juices. If you've had that guitar gathering in dust in the corner, pick it up again. If there's some secret artistic passion, give it a shot. Maybe you've a scifi screenplay in you - start writing. The point is, find something out of your normal routine that makes you feel alive again. That will translate into motivation and joy in other areas.

Comment by Karen Kerr on January 6, 2011 at 12:01pm: You mentioned that you were recently promoted. Managing recruiters can use a lot of your energy that you once used to focus on your own production. Do you have peers that are in your role? I always found it so motivating to speak regularly with peers who were in the same boat as me. It is an adjustment.

Comment by Jerry Albright on January 6, 2011 at 12:45pm: I like the (luckily rare) occasions where I'm staring at a blank activity sheet. I find myself enjoying the mystery this profession brings to my life.

Where is my next placement? Who might it be? Where will my next client visit take me? What will the lobby look like?

I love it. Don't force it.

Over the holidays I intentionally let my "blur of activity" subside. I find that by the time December rolls around I've got a pretty big list of what "could have been" - but never materialized.

Someone needs you. Someone needs me. It'll happen.

Go spend some cash. That should get you back into the action soon enough. And good luck!

Comment by Jason Simmons on January 6, 2011 at 3:37pm: I want to thank you all for the responses. I have a trip planed to Mexico in 14 days to recharge the batteries. It has gotten a little better I have had 7 new orders since posting this blog and that helps me stay excited :-).

Thabo - as for the "0's" I just meant a clean whiteboard with 0 in the MTD, QTD and YTD catagories. The Promotion is to Director and I and a Managing Producer responsbile for a unit of 7.

Thank You all for the warm welcome to the site. I will keep you updated.

Jason

Comment by Ravi Goel on January 7, 2011 at 12:34am: Jason,Good starting topic and real good comments.. we all find ourselves in your situation once in a while in career.. the whole need to self motivate and win from inside becomes the key... easy to say hard to do..