Recruiting, carrots, eggs and coffee beans
Published on 22 Jul 2008 at 9:49 am.
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I received this story from a friend, and of course had to revise it to relate to the Staffing and Recruiting Profession.
A frustrated recruiter had a discussion withhis manager and told her that recruiting was just “too hard” for him. He was not producing what he expected, his income was not as high as he wanted and he felt it was time to “give up!” He was tired of struggling and hated the constant rejection. It seemed the minute he solved one problem, a new one occurred. He went into this profession to change lives and now was questioning if he even “liked” people!
His manager took him to the kitchen in the office and filled three pots with water and placed them on a high fire on the stove. Soon they came to a boil. In the first she placed the carrots, in the second she placed the eggs and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word!
Twenty minutes later sue turned off the burners. She took the ingredients out and placed them in separate bowls. She then asked her recruiter to “tell me what you see.” The confused recruiter noted that the carrots were soft, the egg had hard boiled and the coffee had a rich aroma. He then
looked at his manager for answers.
She explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water, but each had reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting, however after being subjected to boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile, but after sitting
through the boiling water, it’s insides became hardened, although the outward appearance was still the same. The coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had CHANGED the water.
“Which are You?” she asked her recruiter. When challenges present themselves, are you a carrot, egg or coffee bean? Are you the carrot that seems strong and confident, but do you soften and lose your self-confidence and resolve, when things don’t go your way? Are you the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Was your heart filled with enthusiasm, excitement and a fluid spirit, only to become hardened by rejection. Does your outward appearance look the same, but on the inside are you becoming negative and tough and has your
heart hardened. Or are you the coffee bean? The bean actually changed the boiling water, which was the very circumstance that brought the pain.
When the water got hot, it released the fragrance and flavor. It you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When adversity is at it’s highest, you elevate yourself to another level.
The manager explained the following: The most successful people in our profession don’t necessarily have the best of everything but they MAKE THE MOST of everything that comes along their way. They realize they have 100% control over how THEY CHOOSE to react to issues and rejection, and become solution vs. problem focused.
I remember once watching my husband Tony conduct a demonstration. He had everyone face the audience but turn their heads around as far as
they could, trying to see what was behind them. He then asked them to take three steps forward. It was impossible for them to move forward when they were looking behind themselves. You can’t focus on what has gone wrong and expect your future to be different. View disappointments and rejection as learning experiences and opportunities to fine tune your skills. Throughout your career make the minor adjustments that can provide you with the income and success level you desire.
We are in Sales and Sales is a numbers profession, that is filled with rejection. Every rejection you experience is that much closer to your next “YES!” Objections are “buying signs” or “requests for more information.” You WILL produce more and you WILL enjoy a higher income level, if you just become more like a COFFEE BEAN!
My suggestion….bring some coffee beans to work and place them in a container on your desk. The container filled with coffee beans represents your “dream life.” Each time you say something negative, focus on problems or want to give up, take a bean out of the container – realizing those attitudes WILL prevent you from attaining your success and income goals! Most recruiters are “visual” and this type of “visual aid” can be a constant reminder of the incredible opportunity you have each day to succeed!
May we all be more like COFFEE BEANS!
Barbara J. Bruno, CPC, CTS
