A headhunter’s wake-up call. Really?
In the world of business, especially if you’re a sought-after headhunter, it’s common to be invited to numerous lunch meetings and coffee chats.
At first, it seems like an excellent opportunity to network, discuss ideas, and meet new people.
When you’re at the top of your game in the headhunting world, lunch meetings and coffee chats become a daily occurrence.
This blog is about the BUT.
The ego boost of being a popular headhunter
It obviously feels pretty good when candidates and potential clients are eager to buy you lunch or dinner.
It’s a sign that your work is respected, and that people value your insights.
It’s flattering to know that your expertise is sought after, and the ego boost is undeniably gratifying about being the “go-to” person in your field.
I truly appreciate the generosity of those who offer to take me out. Thank you.
It’s a nice reminder that my reputation has grown to the point where people are willing to invest their time and money just to connect with me.
But there’s also a balance that needs to be struck.
While I’m grateful for these gestures, I’ve learned that I can’t let the desire to please everyone or indulge my ego cloud my judgment about my business responsibilities, my overall well-being, and my family life.
It’s tempting to accept every invitation and feel good about being so popular, but I’ve realized that my true value does not lie in the number of lunches or coffee meetings I can attend.
- It lies in the work I do and the lasting impact I make for my clients.
And while it’s great to enjoy those moments of recognition, I’ve come to understand that preserving my health, time, and energy is more important than feeding my ego.
The paradox? Too busy for my actual job
Time Management Crisis. While networking is crucial in our industry, I soon found myself drowning in commitments.
The time spent in these lunch and coffee meetings began to eat into my core responsibilities, leaving me scrambling to meet deadlines and maintain the quality of my work.
I realized that my true value wasn’t in the number of lunches I attended but in the results I delivered to my clients.
The paradox of being too busy to do my actual job became painfully apparent.
Eventually, you can find yourself in a situation where you’re juggling too many things, and the quality of your work, your actual job, starts slipping through the cracks.
Prioritize work without losing connection
It’s essential to strike a balance.
Networking and client engagement are vital, but they can’t come at the expense of your core responsibilities.
I’ve learned that setting clear priorities and scheduling time for my work before committing to additional meetings is key.
Blocking off focused time in my calendar to write my weekly blog and other marketing activities, for deep work like researching candidates, crafting personalized outreach, and following up with clients, ensures that I’m doing the job I was hired for.
By setting these boundaries, you protect your time and make it clear that you take your commitments to your clients seriously.
Why lunch and coffee can be harmful to your business
At the end of the day, networking and staying engaged are essential for business growth.
But when it begins to interfere with the actual work you’re hired to do, the consequences are too great.
By prioritizing time for your core responsibilities, setting boundaries, and being strategic about how and when you network, you ensure that you’re delivering the value your clients expect, while also taking care of your precious daily 24 hours, your waistline, and your long-term success.
Our candidate support services
We offer candidates a variety of support, resources, and services, including both complimentary and fee-based options.
To get started, I encourage you to explore the following options to determine which are most relevant to your situation.
For detailed information, please visit our support services page at: https://www.tomsorensen.in.th/shop/support/
Ask my AI Clone any questions!
We have converted hundreds of pages of raw text from a selection of my blogs, which I have published over the last 15 years, into thousands of unique prompts to train and refine the Virtual Coach AI algorithm.
Get Instant Support, Insights, and Response, Anytime 24/7!
