I Broke Cement. Hire Me.

Update on this one: This was written during a job search and I have not only found in employment but have advanced my career since then. I am reposting this as an example of a tie-in, and an example of how to relate your life to your employer's needs.

I was a little winded. I had just finished fighting three guys less than half my age while my wife stood by helpless. There were others watching as well, who could have stopped it. But then I wouldn’t have earned my belt rank. It was a martial arts test, and I was up for the last belt I would earn before my black belt test.

At this point I was relieved. Sparring multiple opponents would be the last part of my test. I sat back and watched the lower ranks, mostly younger than 15 years old, break boards with various chops and kicks. Breaks only occur every second test, and it wasn’t my turn. That was the rule, until the Grandmaster called my name, and asked the assistants to bring out cement. Three slabs, all for me. But this was something I knew a little about. At this point the audience and my classmates were nervous for me, but I understand how these breaks work. I got some coaching from the Grandmaster and away I went. My only regret is that I didn’t save a piece of a slab as a souvenir. 

My secret? Beside being a martial artist in training, I am also a professional magician, and there is a lot of information about breaks like this in magic books. I had also watched black belts break cement for their tests, looking for the technique. It was the bits of extra knowledge I had tucked away that made me a success. It always is.

My last job was created specifically for me to perform duties that only I could fulfill, with my unique blend of skills, skills that I didn’t even need before the promotion. I just don’t believe that it is a good idea to limit myself.

As I have always told my students: In life you don’t get to decide what you don’t need to know. Can you be sure you will NEVER need to know how to change a tire? Of course not. So it is with job skills. I won’t stop adding to mine, because you never know what you might need. And I want to be the guy you hire to get it done.