If you’re currently working in a corporate environment, some of this will probably sound familiar… but it isn’t always obvious, so take notes!
SET GOALS…
For those of you who don’t know, I come from a planning background – first in forecasting (in the world of supply chain) and then merchandise planning (in the world of retail). One of the things my former boss would always say is that “if you never set the target, you’ll never be working towards anything. That’s why it’s important to set goals even if you know you may not hit them…” We’ve heard so many people trump the New Year’s Resolution platitude at the start of 2017, but I think that does more harm than it helps… No matter what anyone says, keep setting those goals, that way you have a target to work towards.
I find it amusing that these “lifestyle posts” are my top performing articles because I’m no where near “qualified” to speak on success…
I honestly just feel like I’m working as diligently as anyone else to find my place in this world… I was lucky enough to break free from rigid corporate life after almost six years. And though there isn’t much to miss about that life besides the benefits, occasional perks, and some wonderful people, I admit the structure did yield some practical advice about carving out a career.
PUSH YOURSELF…
I’ve had enough supervisors in my life to know that you have some really amazing ones who push you to the forefront of certain initiatives they see you fit for. Then, you have some really amazing ones who give you freedom, but don’t push you to do anything. What I’ve learned is that it’s no one’s responsibility, but your own. You cannot wait for people to come along to give you opportunities. You cannot expect anyone to see “how hard” you are working. You need to actively outreach and approach the people who are right for you. I still struggle with this one because I honestly believe that actions speak louder than words. But remember that in a booming business, everyone’s often too busy to see or acknowledge much outside their peripherals.
MID-YEAR REVIEW…
Another thing we did everywhere I worked is a “mid-year review” – we’d pull out the goals we set at the start of the year and track our progress. If changes needed to be made, we reacted accordingly… The biggest issue with personal goals is that we never stop to evaluate and avert – we just let them fall off our radar. I’ve learned to take this mentality even further and submerge in introspection quarterly and even monthly. If you turn evaluation into a habit, it comes naturally and more frequently.
PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION…
When I worked in finance, I wrote emails and letters for one year… You know the boring ass ones you get in the mail re: your accounts… The corporate jargon and writing structure was undoubtedly yawn inducing, but the greater lesson it taught me was communicating professionally. When I studied Economics in college, a professor once said, “Writing skills are so important in business. If you cannot write well, no one will take you seriously.” And that statement has held strong and true throughout my career. People cannot see you, hear you, or analyze you, especially in digital. Writing becomes your first impression and you will be judged from that alone. If English isn’t your first language and it’s obvious in your name, people might be more forgiving, but the craft remains paramount.
UPDATE YOUR RESUME OFTEN…
Resumes are still essential to everyone’s career. I know professionals and branding experts claim that social media substitutes your resume nowadays, but benefits do surface from keeping your resume updated. Your resume paints a vivid image of your professional skills and accomplishments to date. Keeping those accomplishments updated and writing them down can shed great insight on where you want to be next and what you need to do to get there. Never undermine the power of a resume.
