How to turn defeat into an opportunity
Willow Ufgood failed the interview for his dream job, but still achieved his dreams. Here are three hacks for turning a defeat into an opportunity from the playbook of family man, farmer, and the Greatest Sorcerer That Ever Lived (TM).
1. Get feedback after an interview
After a very public interview failed to result in that Dream Job, disappointment could have ended everything. Instead, feedback from the High Aldwin (Interviewer) led Willow to realise that his original interview strategy had been solid.
But he'd abandoned his strategy at the crucial moment because of self-doubt.
Learning this about himself helped Willow realise there was still hope, and that he should trust his intuition more. His was an intuition based on knowledge and experience.
Hack One: Always get feedback after an interview and learn from it.
2. Volunteer for projects that stretch you
Willow received his interview feedback after he’d already volunteered to join a new project. Clearly, he hadn't given up on his dream and was already making decisions about his future.
The project he volunteered for was something he believed in and knew he could add value to. However, the project was way outside of his comfort zone and would involve taking risks. Willow weighed the risks against the benefits and chose to go ahead with it.
When things went wrong, Willow stepped up and into a leadership position with grace and determination, considering the needs of all involved before making decisions.
Hack Two: Take on challenges that stretch you, and step up.
3. Find a Mentor
Knowing that you don't know enough is the first step to progress. Willow knew he needed to improve his skillset. He needed a mentor.
Instead of going directly to the best in the business, Sorceress Queen Bavmorda, Willow looked for mentors who shared his ethics and values.
Learning from Sorceress Fin Raziel and taking calculated risks with trial-and-error methods helped Willow improve his skills. Working with someone who shared his ethics and goals resulted in a successful outcome for all involved.
Hack Three: Find a mentor who aligns with your values.
There are many more tips and hacks that you can learn from Willow. Watch his biopic, Willow (1988), and share your thoughts in the comments.