"When the going gets tough(the tough get going)" was performed by Billy Ocean and recorded in 1985 as the theme song for the movie "Jewel of the Nile" starring Cathleen Turner, Danny DeVito and Michael Douglas. The meaning of the song title refers to a situation that becomes difficult and motivates the strong to become even stronger and be able to stand up and meet the challenge. Billy Ocean has a voice which is raw talent! To be able to sing live and sound that good without using any machines to manipulate the voice while recording.. speaks volumes!
Boyzone did their cover version of this song in 1999 which turned out to be quite a hit at the time. They are good but they are no Billy Ocean!
This song is a winner, I think the lyrics and song are so great as I relate in my own way. After immigrating I spent a long period of time unemployed due to my visa restrictions, but eventually when I had the ability to work I started applying for jobs straight away. I went for a couple of interviews, none of them were easy for me as I wasn't a very experienced interviewee( is that the right word?), but luckily I didn't have to go through too many interviews to start with and I ended up getting a general administrative contract job for 3 months. I didn't think that after leaving that first job that I would have to wait 3 months and go through sheer hell attending one interview after another. After all, it was relatively quick that I got my first temp job. I guess considering I wanted to go more specialised into my area of commerce, which is what I had studied made it harder and the fact I had no experience in that area didn't help either. I went for countless interviews, I got knocked down countless times. One rejection after another, snotty people interviewing me and coming out feeling hopeless. Regardless, I picked myself up each time and I carried on.
Eventually there seemed to be light at the end of the tunnel when I interviewed for what I thought was a "Marketing job" ( I studied marketing as part of my degree so I was open to both commerce and marketing) I hit the jackpot , I got the best job I ever had in Sydney or so I thought. Boy was I wrong! I ended up staying there for 3 weeks when they dismissed me. I was devastated but I saw it coming. The job was nothing I had expected , they just wanted me to sell, it was all cold calling and it terrified me. Everyone who knew me knew I was no salesperson when it comes to picking up a phone and trying to sell to a complete stranger.
So it was devastating for me, the relief came some time after, when I felt free again. Once my confidence resurfaced, I worked hard, applying for more jobs and the right jobs and yes, I found the job of my dreams at one of the biggest banks in the world and I was very lucky working with the best team ever. I ended up working there for 2 years and sadly I left as we relocated to another city.
So here I am in a new city and I've been here for 1 year, I have had contract work at another bank here for 6 months. Those were probably a very dark 6 months for me. I was very unhappy and that came to an end. I haven't been working now for 4 months and I am dreading having to go for interviews again. However I can choose to look at this as a new start , as one door closing and another door opening. I can choose to venture into a whole new area, I may even study a whole new field and work part time..who knows? All I know now is this song is what I needed to hear right about now .. because "When the going gets tough..."
Both versions below, which do you prefer?
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