Defecate in one hand or wish in another?

Which gets filled first?

Link to video below.

Don’t let the actual video title fool you. The message is about perception: not really about the South by Southwest conference that they recently attended.

I focused 100% on this podcast once I heard this at 1:42: the disconnect between the “go get a job” reality versus pursuing passion and cultivating creativity.

Most of the conversation focused on the topic introduced at 7:44: the concept of “hope” versus optimism. At 36:45, “learned helplessness.”

In a job search environment, we aren’t used to feeling this way. In burnout, we may feel it’s time for a career change. Why do we hesitate?

Some of the psychological terms they used, which required a Google search for me to understand:

• Pragmatism

• Identity compression (21:58)

• Self-efficacy

In layman’s terms:

• Create a plan.

• Recognize what you can control.

• Recognize what you can change to gain control. How you can gain control.

• Take action.

At 8:43, the defecating analogy is explained: “Don’t just wish. Figure out the way to do it.” Essentially, stop complaining. Instead, focus on what is in your control and take action.

At 31:50, they talk about networking. Understand the value of getting out of the office to meet new people. Even if you aren’t currently looking for work. Meet new people and expand your network.

Think about your current job. Are you happy, or are you settled?

I had a manager once who told me that it was always a good idea to send out resumes at least once a year to stay fresh and practice interviewing.

At 3:41, they talk about how it’s psychologically healthy to “have something in the hopper.” They talk about this throughout the 44:08 podcast: a new view of what you want your life to look like, but acknowledging that there are restrictions to taking that risk, like having kids and paying bills.

At 10:56, Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl’s book “Man’s Search for Meaning”was referenced. Find meaning in your environment. One of the podcasters used the phrase “Sharing his soup” as the health of Frankl’s hope: taking care of other people, which Frankl attributed to maintaining his health in the concentration camp.

ShrinkSpace is a channel on YouTube, hosted by organizational psychologists. It’s worth the follow because a lot of topics will resonate with the job seeker, or someone considering a new role.