Changing jobs is exciting and stressful at the same time. I made six job changes over the course of my career: seven if I include my current entrepreneurial venture. With each move I felt a degree of anxiety wondering what the people would be like. After sharing my thoughts with a friend, he offered advice in the form of the following story.
A man was driving to another town to start a new job. He stopped at a filling station to get gas. He asked the attendant what the people were like in the town ahead. The attendant asked him what the people were like in the town he moved from. The man said they were thoughtful and kind. The attendant said you’ll find the same type of people where you are going. Another traveler stopped at the same filling station and asked the attendant the same question. The attendant asked what the people were like in the town he had left. The traveler said they were rude and stand offish. The attendant said you’ll find the same type of people when you get there.
Many times, we get what we look for. That was my experience in Franklin, Tennessee while there to attend a wedding. A Harley-Davidson dealership was near the hotel where we were staying. One of my nephews is a motorcycle enthusiast. He invited me to visit the dealership. I heard some bad things about Tennessee bikers, so I was withdrawn. My nephew was just the opposite; he was outgoing and jovial. I anticipated hostility while he anticipated hospitality. As a result of his outlook, we had a good experience at the dealership, and then invited to a cookout that evening. What do you look for in an unfamiliar situation?