When the national tour of Fiddler on the Roof was in town recently at Proctor's Theater, I attended one of the Sunday matinees. It was a wonderful show. During the performance of "Matchmaker," I was struck by how different our life goals are just 4 generations after late 19th-century Russian shtetl life.
Actually, not so different for the 3rd generation removed. On the trip north to drop me off at SUNY Albany for my freshman year, I was asked why I wasn't getting married and getting a job rather than attending college. It worked out fine, despite the 3rd generation's concerns. I finished college, established a career, and to my surprise, got married, albeit a little later in life than the 3rd generation preferred.
Also, unlike some of my contemporaries, I have absolutely no talent for romantic matchmaking. Seriously. Don't ask me to find you a date, it will not work out.
I do, however, love vocational matchmaking. And I'm great it. My hit rate is about 98% or better matching up the right candidate for the right job. Either via the phone or face-to-face. For profit (in one of my SME career workstreams as a recruiter), or even better, for fun. Connecting potential business partners; employers and employees; and mentors and mentees. At work, at social events, at church, you name it. I hear and/or intuit the needs, the matchmaking wheels start to turn, and I start doing my vocational / business connector thing. A Career Yente, if you will.
However, unlike the slightly kvetching tone of Fiddler on the Roof's "Matchmaker," I don't sit on my tush waiting for the Matchmaker to make me a match; I'm the Matchmaker, connecting my network and building our mutual success and reputation. And fortunately for me and my network, there are a number of us out there, constantly connecting the dots to support our mutual success.
Who will you connect this week to create new career and business opportunities?
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