Around this time of year, there’s a lot of talk about reindeer, especially the most famous one of all- Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. There’s more to Rudolph’s story than nostalgia and holiday tradition. There are valuable lessons in Rudolph’s journey that can not only be applied to the job search, but to life as a whole!
It’s Okay to be Different
At the start of Rudolph’s story, all he wanted was to be just like the other reindeer, who would tease him about his glowing red nose and exclude him from all of their reindeer games. In the end, it was the thing that made Rudolph different that ended up saving Christmas! Rudolph thought that his nose was a weakness, but he found a situation where it was actually a strength. Similarly, you need to evaluate the things that make you different, the things you might consider to be shortcomings and try to find situations where they are strengths.
Don’t Hold Grudges
Rudolph doesn’t hold a grudge either. When Santa asked him to guide the sleigh through the foggy night, Rudolph could have been a real jerk about it. Remembering how badly he was treated in the past, he could have forced them to beg or plead with him. He probably could have forced them to give him whatever he wanted. But Rudolph knew that he had to do the right thing, otherwise nobody would get any Christmas presents. So he put aside the differences of the past and pitched in. Likewise, you should know when it is appropriate to put your own grievances aside to work toward a greater good. It’s difficult to do, especially if you have faced particularly harsh treatment, so you should use your best judgment to evaluate when a common goal needs to come before your pride.
Be Humble
Building off of the previous lesson, Rudolph didn’t let his newfound hero status go to his head. He could have shoved his triumph in all of the other reindeer’s faces. He could have boasted and bragged and generally been really uncool about the huge favor that he did for everyone. Instead, Rudolph was a gracious winner and accepted the praise and glory without letting it get to his head. Just like Rudolph, you need to stay humble in the face of success. Nobody likes a sore winner. You don’t want to tarnish your reputation by being an arrogant jerk!
While this is the time of year where Rudolph is at the forefront of our minds, these are tips that can be applied to your life all year round!
