Your Job Search Could Use a Surge of Luck

I love to help job seekers reclaim their sense of purpose and move into fulfilling jobs. I’ve done this myself, and I want to share what I’ve learned with you. Please feel free to reach out to me at ruth@confidentcareersearch.com if you have a question about your job search or feel a mismatch with what you’re doing now. Trust me: Career happiness is possible. Want to chat? Book time with me.

Once upon a time, a young actor had a role in a stage drama. The reviews were good, but the actor felt that he didn’t fit the role. It didn’t match his natural acting style, which was more physical and expressive. He was getting frustrated.

And then, someone came to see the play, Berthold Brecht’s “Mother Courage and Her Children,” on Broadway.

Her name was Anne Bancroft, and she saw in Gene Wilder what he saw in himself and introduced him to her boyfriend (later, husband), director Mel Brooks, who was directing the movie, “The Producers.” Mel asked Wilder to read for the role of Leo Bloom.

The rest is history, as they say. This role led to a cascade of successes: “Blazing Saddles,” “Young Frankenstein,” "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” and much more. And let’s not forget Wilder’s marriage to comedy great Gilda Radnor.

Wilder talks about all of this in a documentary that I recently saw. He expressed gratitude and classified these breaks partially as lucky. And he wasn’t wrong. Sure, Wilder was wildly talented. He had a true gift for comedy. But he also positioned himself to be ready for the opportunities that came his way.

This got me thinking about my clients. I find that many people who are unhappy in their careers tend to adopt a cynical attitude. They often express that they believe the system is stacked against them. This leads them to close themselves off from potential opportunities. But none of us can predict the future. To some degree, we must be present in multiple arenas to receive the situations that await us.

We don’t know if and when opportunity will come our way, but, as the saying goes, 80% of success is showing up.