The Big Score: What Keeps the Unemployed Jobless and Underachievers Underachieving

We coaches learn the most from our clients. Everything from just-in-time practices in recruitment to what kinds of workers are getting promoted. 

What I have been observing in this challenging and ever-changing labor market is this: Too many of those coming to me for a complimentary consultation have an unrealistic mindset about how to get, hold and more on to better work. They share a fantasy of The Big Score. 

For example, they want a better paying job than what they had had before being laid off. If they're making a career shift they want to surge to the top quickly. There's no factoring in how to get there in 2026. 

So they turn down work not aligned with that fantasy. They remain jobless. And in increasing isolation. Those once on their network start to duck them. Financial reserves are running low. Meanwhile they blow off the recommendation to grab a survival job to restore their confidence (which they might not realize they've lost) and reset their persona as work-ready. Of course, in interviews for opportunities in their fields they come across as clearly not work-ready. They seem so out of touch.

Or, in a career change they don't do what's necessary to earn the kind of reputation on the job that gets you noticed - and rewarded. That happens one day at a time. And it won't happen if the vibe given off is entitlement. Especially if they are older.

Those career-changers wind up underachievers. A typical underachiever in the legal sector says, "This isn't what I went to law school for and left a good job in public relations." The reality is that lots of others also went to law school and they made it their business to 1) Figure out what they need to do to get ahead and 2) Do that and more. And it still may not happen. But if they do all that they may keep the job. Those with eyes only on the top could tumble into the abyss of a PIP (proposal in improving performance). 

It's not an overstatement to describe anticipating The Big Score as delusion. Even in a more welcoming labor market the majority just manage to hold on. 

When they were laid off they had to adjust their expectations of the next job to the realities of the changing law of supply and demand, economic conditions and age. 

If they changed career paths they had to accept that they had to start out all over again. 

Actually the same applied when leaving one corporation and going to another. A reputation had to be earned. Yet again. That was, though, the lesson too many stars in public affairs at Gulf Oil ignored after it had been acquired by Chevron. The latter only retained one of them. It was typical for the former twinklers to enter their new employment setting with the assumption that they could automatically transfer the wattage - and power. Disasters were standard.

Those realities are even more brutal in a labor maket driven by cost-efficiences, AI and age bias. What it usually comes down to is this: If you are working, if you are paying your bills and if you are socking away some you are doing fine. Want to do better? Carefully figure out what that takes and assess the risk in changing what you're doing. 

Success is a mental game. Failure comes from being done in by the “committee” in your head.

Together, we reprogram your thinking. Then we change your story. And, unleash success.

Intuitive Coaching. Special expertise with transitions, becoming a solopreneur and aging. Psychic/tarot readings, upon request. Complimentary consultation with Jane Genova (Text 203-468-8579, janegenova374@gmail.com). Yes, test out the chemistry. Zero risk.

Don’t give up before the miracle.

 





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