Dirk and wife, Karen Steadman
Not too long ago, Dirk Baxter, a management consultant with global experience and a PhD in industrial and organizational psychology, spent two weeks doing business in Spain. After a week of saying “escuche” to any Spaniard due a pardon, Dirk was informed by an American who knew better that, although “escuche” sounds like “excuse me” … it actually means “listen”. That’s right, he was basically telling people he squeezed by in crowded spaces to “listen”. An understandable mistake – but one Dirk won’t make again.
Dirk will soon begin a career sabbatical that will combine working in an emerging market and immersing himself in the Spanish language. Having been recently laid off from consulting giant Development Dimensions International, Dirk quickly determined that looking for a job in this economic downturn is perhaps a poor strategy . Instead of working during this recession, he’ll make the recession work for him.
This concept of using the downturn to your advantage was just written about by Peter Bregman in CNN’s section on “Road to Rescue: The CNN Survival Guide“. Peter’s article, along with many others in the series, puts aside all the doom and gloom and looks at the opportunities we all have with our sour economy. One opportunity: Get more training. Another: ”Expand your comfort zone with new activities, new people.”
Dirk knows this to be true not only for himself but also for the leaders with whom he consults. “I am practicing what I preach by filling out one of my development areas (learning Spanish) and finding an opportunity where I can use my strengths, such as volunteering or working for a business in an emerging market,” Dirk says.
If anyone could get a job right now, Dirk could. In fact, he’s turned down a few lately. The Alaskan native and Atlanta resident has a powerful network, which he maintains via traditional and social networking means. Even when layoffs abound, Dirk is a desirable acquisition for talent recruiters.
He’s also uncommonly smart. A MENSA, in fact, which means even Einstein would be challenged with Dirk’s level of intelligence. And he combines super-smarts with practical, hands-on skills – this experienced outdoorsman could be on the cover of Outside magazine, and he’s been known to get his hands dirty in home renovations (currently, he’s completing a new master bathroom in his Atlanta loft space).
Spanish fluency won’t take him long, particularly if he immerses himself in study and surrounds himself by Spanish speakers. He’ll start his immersion in Peru and will remain open to opportunities in other emerging countries.
Dirk’s a really good consultant in a really bad economy. But instead of tough times, he sees opportunity – after his brief sabbatical, he’ll return to the job hunt recharged and with fresh perspectives that can only be realized through new experiences.
So, all you doom and gloomers, ”escuche”: what are YOU doing to turn this economic downturn into an opportunity?
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