A colleague of mine recently told me that she is concerned about how potential employers view her when she applies for jobs. She seems to view herself as unemployable because of some physical limitations from which she's still recovering. The notion that employers couldn't value her seems to come from one central place; she had stopped valuing herself (at least professionally).
I shared my story with her in return. I have vertigo, which affects my equilibrium. Balancing while standing still is tough for me because I feel like I'm moving even when I'm not. I have a few coping mechanisms. I rock back and forth, or shift my weight from side to side. I also tend to lean against things (like a wall or podium) to keep me steady. My colleague was shocked to hear this because I'm a professional speaker and need to stand in front of large groups all the time. I told her that when I first started noticing signs of vertigo I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to do my work as effectively anymore. I was worried that occasionally loosing my balance and stumbling, would make me appear... well... drunk. She chuckled. I'm sure it seems absurd that something so minimal could be perceived as a threat to my career.
I explained that I view her situation the same way. Just because she might have to make some minor adjustments to the way she works or to her work environment, doesn't stop her from offering a great deal to an employer. In fact, most people probably won't notice her limitations; just like they don't notice my vertigo.
She discovered that the only thing crippling her was her mind. I told her...
Let It Go!
www.yourenhance.com
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