How to overcome a phobia. When the job comes to your aid

Not everyone suffers from specific phobias. But who has one, can understand well how each situation can become unpleasant when the trigger appears. In this article we will talk about how the job, at times, can come to our aid in overcoming it. 

Just two years ago I graduated, and after a trial period in different realities, I found myself at that moment dreaded by every newly graduate: sending CVs out.

I was told that finding a job, or better, finding somebody that will reply to your email with the subject “Application Name Surname” would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. “If you want an answer, send 1000 CVs”. So, the real-life representation of funnel marketing.

In particular, I was looking for a job position that would help me grow. I was looking for a team that would believe in me, that would want to give the due weight to my skills and, why not, that would make me feel good.

The beginning of an adventure

And so, I look, look, look and at last I meet my luck (well, it truly exists sometimes!): two interviews and the start of a wonderful adventure. I learn and understand how true it is what Confucius highlighted many times:

Yes, because work takes up to almost 60% of your time. Why settle?

After a few months, I come to acknowledge not only what I can do, but also what the reality I work for has to offer me. Skills, professionally, and a collaborative environment: SweetHive. SweetHive is indeed the only collaborative platform that groups together in one single smart channel all the conversations and contents between me, my colleagues and clients who I start to work with. The best way to sort out my inability to keep things in order! But then, what is this phobia? What does this have to do with what I just wrote?

The paradox

Well, SweetHive builds its potentiality on the similarity between the joining of forces of business collaborators and of bees, that together create not only a place more or less hospitable, but the sweetest product of the world: honey!

And yes, well I have a phobia of bees.

To this day when I retrace my life in my mind and I really cannot find the reason why I am so terrified of bees. I don’t even think I was ever stung, but as soon as I see it my body tightens, imagining it already on my arm, as if it had been waiting for that moment all along. I always thought it to be a common phobia, but every day I realise that they give life to the world, and I cannot help but run away from them. And, at the same time, I start working in a place where bees are the subject of (almost) every conversation! A bit curious, no?

The hive as a metaphor of efficient organisation

Today, I can say that I understand how, like a hive, an organisation made of people that cooperate and look at a common objective can win against the hidden dangers that the market brings along. I cannot say that my fear of bees is completely gone, but almost there.