Job searching can be brutal. It tests your patience, your confidence, and your resolve.

But if you shift your focus from results to wisdom, everything changes.

That's what I'm teaching in this week's lesson, how to use your job search to make you a better professional.

In the podcast, I share a personal story about recently finishing my new book. It's now off and running with the publisher, moving through the production process.

The moment I hit send, I sat in my favorite Pottery Barn Wells swivel chair and thought for 20 minutes about nothing but the "agony" I'm going to endure over the next 12 months.

Kidding aside, I genuinely did this. I didn't think about how many copies I might sell or what it'd take to make a bestseller list. I focused on something more important, the skills I need to strengthen over the next year as I market and launch this new book.

You might think that because this is my fifth time around, I'd have mastered it by now. But if you assumed that, you'd be completely wrong.

Yes, I've done a lot right and built some great skills when it comes to marketing a book. But many efforts have fallen short of my hopes. Some were dead ends. Others just confused the heck out of me. Which means only one thing, I need to try new things, keep learning, and keep building.

Does this sound like your job search?

The things you think will work don't. The things you don't expect to work do. It's effort, surprises, ups, and downs. That's just life in a nutshell.

And what I'm about to say might sound like common sense. But I'm guessing it'll only sound like common sense after I actually say it.

If you're going to go through a job search, why not gain the benefits of the experience?

If we agree those benefits come in the form of new experiences and better skills, then it's time to ask yourself...

👉 What skills do you want to build throughout your job search?

If you'd like to build a great career and lead a rewarding life, check out some of these other places where I share my teachings:

1. Check out the milewalk Academy, my coaching and training site, for freemiums and premiums.

2. I have hundreds of educational and inspirational videos on my YouTube Channel.

3. Grab any of my four books related to career development, interviewing, hiring, and goal setting. All can be found on my Amazon Author Page.

4. Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), TikTok, Threads, and Facebook.

5. Stay in touch with me in your email inbox by joining my newsletter here!

--Andy