GalleyCat contributor Jeff Rivera interviewed author Dr. Wayne Dyer for mediabistro.com’s So What Do You Do? feature.
The New York Times bestselling author has published more than thirty books. He also dispenses advice every week on his Internet radio show. With the unemployment rate at 8.6 percent, Dyer gets a lot of requests to talk about the current job market.
When asked about unemployment, Dyer told a story:
“I think about that all the time, every time I see these stories about these people. They’re just going through unemployment benefits and complaining that they can’t get any work but, if you put in your resume and there’s already a thousand resumes for that same job, you’re just going to be one of a thousand. But there are opportunities everywhere if you’re open to them. I was walking in Central Park not long ago, and there was this 10-year-old kid there named Shawn who was juggling. He had a unicycle too. ‘What are you doing?’ I asked him. He said, ‘Well, my dad left; my mom is hurt so she can’t work. I’ve got two brothers and a sister and this is how I earn my money. I can earn as much as $200 a day.’ I asked him how he learned to juggle and he answered, ‘All you have to do is Google ‘How to juggle’ and it’s right on there.'”
What do you think? Is Dyer’s assessment accurate?
Several members of the media industry have responded to Dyer’s interview including screenwriter Anton Hill, former Macmillan editor Anthony Calcara, Whimsy Literary Agency agent Jackie Meyer and Forbes contributing editor Kerry Hannon.
Anton Hill: “As a formerly twice-laid-off private school teacher, I can attest to the difficulties of being unemployed. What Dr. Dyer is (partially) preaching is false and I challenge him to prove otherwise. His claim that he doesn’t have to is a cop-out of responsibility he willingly takes on as the one making the positive claim of woo-woo crap having any bearing on reality. The facts are that there are X number of jobs out there and Y number of people who want them. X is often, though not always, smaller than Y. This means the obvious that in order to get a job, one often has to make one’s self stand out from the pool of other applicants. While this might be a difficult task, as evidenced by history, it’s not
impossible.”
Anthony Calcara: “Looking at losing your job as an opportunity may seem counterintuitive and maybe even a little crazy, especially if the wound is still fresh, but I’ve found what Dr. Dyer says to be true. It took losing a good deal of contract work in the publishing industry a few years back (work I assumed would never end) for me to finally make the leap. After a brief period of wallowing in self pity and panic, I brushed myself off and saw that there was a world of possibilities just waiting to be explored. I discovered enterprises I never knew existed and even reawakened old passions that had been long forgotten. I couldn’t be more grateful—and all because what I initially thought was the end of the road was in fact the complete opposite.”
Jackie Meyer: “When you are going through hard times, it can be frightening, depressing and paralyzing. So these positive message’s can implement even more damage, because you are so far from positive thoughts. The only thing Dr. Wayne could add is that it does take time. Have patience with yourself and others. You may never be the same person again, generally you will grow during these stages in life, and you will be stronger. Being positive is the ONLY option in life. Think of the Wizard of Oz, we learned what you need in life is Wisdom, a Heart, and Courage.”
Kerry Hannon: “I agree with him [Dyer]. If you’re unemployed now, do something. Try volunteering for a non-profit organization in a job that uses your skills. You never know where you might meet someone who will lead you to a job opportunity. Landing a job these days is all about who you know. Plus, it fills in the gaps in your resume while you are job-hunting. Create your own business at home. You can’t have tunnel vision and try to replicate your old job with one employer. Hunt for money-making options as a freelancer or consultant for several employers. Look for ways to redeploy your skills in to new fields. Your chances of getting a job from a resume sent blindly to an online opening is slim and waiting to hear back will simply kill your spirit.”