I was in Las Vegas in the fall of 2003 playing Blackjack at a $1 table a the Sahara hotel. Yes, back then you could still play for a $1. It was our last night there and we were having a blast. Who knew getting blackjack and winning $2.50 would be so much fun. At some point in the evening, the seat beside me opened up and a nice guy sat down and started to play at our table. There was no way I would have known at that time, that this guy would end up becoming one of my best friends and subsequently has been a part of many of my life lessons for the past 12 years.

Okay, so you are probably asking what blackjack has to do with life lessons. There are probably many different life lessons you can learn/teach from gambling but I will share this one with you. It has to do with the number 16.

I know the basic skills about playing blackjack. I know about splitting 8’s and aces, doubling down on eleven, etc. I always got stuck when I was dealt a hand of 16. What is 16? It is a crappy hand. If you stay, you will probably lose and if you hit, you ‘could’ get a good card, but there are more cards that will make you bust than make a good hand.

This is where my first life lesson comes into play. I did not know when my friend first sat down at the $1 table that he actually knew how to play the game – very well, I might add. Over the years that we have been friends we have had many opportunities to play the game together. I learned a lot from him about the game and getting over my fear of that dreaded hand of 16.

The lesson is simple – you can stay, and probably lose your money. You can play, and you may win, or you may lose. Isn’t it better to play? You put your money on the table, and even though the house has the advantage, you “could” possibly win. If you don’t play you may never win.

How does this apply to my life 

Job seeking. It is a lot like a hand of 16 in blackjack. Every posting has the employer’s dream list, their ideal candidate for this role they are trying to fill. Blackjack (21) if you will allow me.

The list of requirements are the employers “dream list”. The ideal candidate should have the following skills and/or required education. How many people actually have all the requirements on the employers list? The trifecta? The perfect hand – blackjack! 

In the workshops I have been attending they have gone over the postings, and how to really find the right postings to actually apply for. If you have 70% or more of the requirements on the posting, you should apply. So, 70% would be my hand of 16. If you don’t have all the requirements, but you have 70% that is still a good reason to apply. Right? Why not? Like asking for another card on a hand of 16.

I put this theory to the test last week. I saw a posting for a job that was in my related field. I didn’t have everything the employer was looking for, however, I had more than 70% which was good enough for me to apply. So I did. Guess what? I got a call for a screening interview! Yes I did.

Nothing further has happened with it (as of yet), but I will keep you posted.

For now, I will keep playing my hands, and sending out relevent applications and continue my job search.

The search for blackjack continues!

Lisa