Day 0: Mental Preparation Before the Big Hunt Ahead
Why Magoma?
Magoma is a space for a community that brings its own meaning to what it reads and writes. It symbolises calm in chaos, and identity in uncertainty. It can stand for different things to different people and still support them.
This is a community for thinkers, the curious, and the unprejudiced. A space. A community.
Why Read This?
A small disclaimer,
” If you are here looking for a strategy that will land you a job quickly, you can skip this article”
What I’m trying to do is different from most creators who push content using urgency, fear, dreams of a perfect future, and promises to “change your life.” I don’t have one trick, two tools, or three steps that guarantee success. I’m tired of the endless noise around job hunting and the obsession with perfect strategies.
My own approach to job search till yesterday has been unstructured, bursts of motivation followed by procrastination, blindly trying whatever I saw online, listening to everyone doing better than me, and slowly giving up on the idea of achieving my goal.
This article and this series, focuses on the journey. If the journey rewards me with success, I’ve reached the destination. If it doesn’t, I’ve still become better than I am today.
Either way, it’s a win. This series exists because I realised something simple but uncomfortable:
Landing a job or anything in life, isn’t only about skills or strategy.
It’s about mental preparation, discipline, consistency, and learning to be comfortable with discomfort.
If you already have determination, laser focus, consistency (a few off days are fine), and strong mental discipline, you probably don’t need this. You can talk to AI or watch a random video and eventually get there. This series is for those who feel something is missing beneath the effort.
A Little About Me
I have a business background, a master’s degree, and close to two years of experience. That’s enough to be considered, but not enough to feel secure. I’m clear about the roles I’m willing to take and the trade-offs I’m ready to make between company, role, and salary.
I’ve been on both sides of confidence:
- pushing ahead despite doubt
- freezing when doubt hits harder than usual
Lately, I noticed something worrying. I was ready to work, but not fully ready to endure the process of finding work. That’s what pushed me here. I know I’m not alone in this, and there’s no shame in asking for help. If this resonates, let’s help each other move forward.
Why Day 0 Matters More Than Day 1 – Honesty Before Action
There’s a reason you don’t have the job you want yet. Not a personal failure but a constraint. It could be time, focus, consistency, clarity, or confidence.
Before taking action, it’s worth understanding what’s blocking you. Today isn’t about applying. It’s about stepping back, asking hard questions, and answering them honestly.
Self-Evaluation: My Day 0 Reality Check
These are the challenges I identified after a full day of reflection:
- Complacency – I was comfortable even when things weren’t working. To avoid discomfort, the brain often makes us accept situations we shouldn’t.
- Inconsistency & Discipline – A major issue, I needed strong minded and control over urges.
- Half-Assing things – I wasn’t clear on why I wanted a job, so I never gave it everything.
- No daily plan or clear goal – Without structure, time slipped away. Everyday ended with guilt.
- Fake dopamine & cheap distractions – Social media helped me procrastinate, then kept me awake at night worrying about wasted days.
- Environment – Being surrounded by people who made my situation feel “okay” removed urgency to change. I became comfortable with living in mediocrity.
I could go on, but this isn’t about me alone.
How You Can Find Your Own Blockers?
I started asking myself simple, honest questions:
- Do I really need a job right now, and why?
- Have I genuinely given my best effort so far?
- Why am I inconsistent?
- What consumes most of my time?
- What are my biggest distractions?
- How many applications do I send weekly?
- Are they roles I realistically fit?
- Am I applying calmly or out of anxiety?
- Is my CV the best version I can make today?
- Am I meeting requirements, or just hoping?
- Am I mentally exhausted by the process?
- Am I avoiding rejection or uncertainty?
- If I didn’t get a job soon, could I sustain that?
If nothing comes to mind, you can even talk to ChatGPT to help surface blind spots. If you want my prompt, I’m happy to share it.
What Comes Next
For today, the only task is understanding yourself and your blockers.
From tomorrow, I’ll show up and be consistent, not to impress, but to observe, reflect, and improve. I might land a job by the end of this series. I might not. But I intend to be more focused, disciplined, and self-aware than I am today.
This series isn’t really about employment. It’s about becoming someone who can handle uncertainty without losing direction.
One belief I hold — not a fact, just my belief:
No one who gave up early ever won something meaningful.
If you’re reading this at the end of your own long day, you’re welcome to walk alongside me.
Day 1 begins tomorrow.
Magoma signing out.