One Step At A Time
I am reading Gary Keller’s book The One Thing. As you might guess, it emphasizes how focusing on one thing delivers benefits, which I agree with wholeheartedly. But it’s not ONLY one thing; it’s one thing at a time. Then, when that one thing is complete, move to the next. He uses a domino analogy where one falls over and hits another, then another and another, and the sequence continues until they’ve all fallen.
However, Gary points out that a domino can take down one that’s 50% larger, so the size of each domino can grow exponentially as the sequence continues. This means if the dominos (especially the first one) are set up correctly (planning and preparation), tipping the first (proactive doing) ignites a sequence of continual momentum of increasing force.
This is also a fitting analogy for a job-based reentry approach. A goal is established, steps are defined, and the action sequence is plotted. The process unfolds step by step. Attention and emphasis stay on the step at hand with little distraction from the end goal. The working objective is to move to the next step, nothing more. Each person will have their own goal and unique pathway forward, but the process and sequence of moving from one step to the next is a joint, shared, universal undertaking.
This is how a successful employment reentry process/program works: it is individually customized to be relatable yet methodical and process-oriented to be scalable. Securing and retaining employment is the way forward for most reentering, and such a process produces sustainable and recidivism-reducing results.
But there’s more to this value proposition beyond the Job Search Objective (getting and keeping a job). There’s a critical intangible benefit, too: stability. The mix and complexity of moving puzzle parts confronting the reentering person can be overwhelming, leading to inaction (freeze-up) and, conversely, to panic (and impulsive actions). Neither is helpful; both lead to failure and contribute to intractable recidivism statistics.
The process (one domino at a time) is a stabilizing lifeline. There’s an outline and a roadmap to follow. The process steps are addressed one by one in a plug-and-play fashion. Forward movement produces small yet meaningful “wins” as each person advances from one step to the next. The process framework is strategic, and tactics are designed to overcome stage-specific barriers within each step. The whole approach is built around doing, with little or no stewing. It is action-based and sequential.
Doing and acting help calm the tornado of concerns and worries that are unavoidably present when someone’s life comes back together. Furthermore, getting things done folds back unto itself, building momentum and small wins engender confidence and organically induce engagement. So, in effect, there are two goals for this reentry process: first, to secure and retain employment, and second, to provide stability. The process becomes a handhold, something to grab onto as the steps are worked.
Here’s my goal:
That every reentering person becomes an independent, self-sufficient citizen in good standing.
Employment must be secured and retained to accomplish this for the majority. Reentry efforts emphasizing other aspects of reentry have their place but don’t have the firepower to move the recidivism needle.
The way forward, one that really makes a difference, must involve the heavy lifting and hard work inherent in job-based programs. And to be clear, (just) chaulking up “placements” doesn’t / hasn’t cut it. No. What works involves planning, objective setting, and implementation of strategy and tactics: the right job, the right entry point, and the right process. Get in, stay in, and advance. Period.
If I’m wrong, please set me straight.
Onward