When opportunity smacks you

Here lately I've read several blogs and articles about the reality and effort of professionalism. Then I came across a blog by a writing acquaintance that seemed to wrap its arms around the concept and prove a wonderful point about being a "professional" writer.

You never know who's watching.

Alexis Grant is a travel writer and journalist. She maintains a blog that is cute, smart and informative. She caught my eye talking about writing retreats, and I've followed her ever since. She's one of those blogs I just enjoy, and these days, those blogs are few and far between.

She recently attended a writing retreat, and blogged about the experience. She made me want to apply for a dozen! But something completely unexpected happened to her while she rejuvenated her muse at Hambidge Retreat. U.S. News & World Report offered her a position covering careers and job searches. All because of her blog.

From her blog:
Know what helped me get the job? A blog post I wrote on using social media for your job hunt. Yet another reason why anyone who wants to be someone should have a blog. For job-seekers, a blog is a great way to showcase your skills.

And because the job entails some on-camera moments, they viewed her video moments on that blog. Her personality, composure, and consistent reporting made an employer give her a call - out of the blue!

Mystery author Kathryn Wall self-published her two mysteries with iUniverse a decade ago. But instead of relying on the vanity press's promised to promote the book, she traipsed up and down the South Carolina coast, focusing on the setting of her books, to place them in gift shops. An employer of a publisher picked up the book during a vacation and liked it. She's been with St. Martin Press ever since, and just released her tenth novel.

I maintain a resume on my website. It's more for my own reference than anything else, but a magazine editor looked me up a few years ago, contacted me, and requested I write two short pieces for her publication. A $750 gig.

As I tell my job hunting sons, you don't find your perfect career at Craigslist or Monster jobs. You put yourself out there, knocking on doors. You continue to improve your skills, either through volunteer work, education, self-employment, or short-term gigs.

You keep moving forward, advancing, improving yourself, behaving as the professional, because sooner or later, you pass someone who'll want to snatch you up.

They can't find you when you're standing still.

Has opportunity ever caught you by surprise?