The only way is not always up

When most people think of careers, they are instantly drained with the overwhelming thought of the amount of work it will take to get to the proverbial 'top'. The truth is, careers that are exciting and have stood the test of time often don't have a path that is always up.

Careers are matrixed (read that again). They can be complex or simple and yet still matrixed. Most entrepreneurs did not begin their work on that path, yet they are able to succeed by utilizing previously acquired skills. CEO's are a terrible example because in many instances they either inherited their role or were self appointed through the founding of their company. However, the rare exception does exist and in those instances the CEO started their work long before acquiring their title.

It's much easier if you start with a vision of your career, but let's be honest, that can be quite difficult to do if your exposure to the possibilities has been limited. We talk about how much representation matters and that perspective certainly applies in the career space. So, dream everyday. If you allow yourself to dream about the possibilities that will spark your interest in learning more, approaching your work from a different perspective and ultimately curating the career of your dreams.

I learned what I didn't want throughout the early years of my career. Not an approach I would necessarily recommend, but that happened to be how my brain worked at the time. I was constantly making mental notes about what I didn't like in the leadership style of my manager, the tasks they complained about most and the way they approached their work. Those notes became my litmus test for every offer I accepted after and have evolved since. Today that list is quite long, but it makes up my non-negotiables and I use those non-negotiables to guide my career decision making. 

Once an offer has passed my litmus test, I immediately start thinking about the challenge presented and what skills and resources I have that will support my execution of the work. If I identify any gaps in my current knowledge and experience, I shift my focus to planning my approach to close those gaps. My personal career development is very important to me. Speak to anyone who has ever worked with me directly and I'm certain development would be in the top three most memorable pieces of information I have shared with them. It's because I know that I become an invaluable asset to any company when they know that I will show up prepared and ready to execute. The same applies to my self perception as I work to curate my career further through personal endeavors.

You are responsible for your career development, no matter what field you work in. Any additional training or support your company provides will always be icing, not the cake. As long as you focus on this approach, you will be a lot less easy to disappoint and always a few steps ahead of expectations. This small tweak to your approach to work is a major differentiator. 

Leveraging the experience, knowledge and resources you have will always lead you to your next great opportunity. Here's the kicker that opportunity may not always be the next level up. It may come with more money, exposure, learning opportunities, or some other benefit. Check your list, if the opportunity meets your requirements and will fulfill a goal that you have set for yourself, then take it! This advice especially applies to those that are more junior in their career (less than 7 years of experience). The sacrifice of a specific job title today could mean an added $XX,XXX to your salary in the near future.

Take advantage of every opportunity you encounter. Center your development as your primary focus. Use what you have learned to perform at the best of your ability. Repeat. 

When you reflect on the experience you will find that you have grown, learned a new skill, and now have a different perspective. Evaluate your next move and apply what you've learned. There are more people thriving at the same level of responsibility year over year than there are at the top (simple math). It does not mean those people are any less successful than they would have been had they joined the race to the top. They are however, more skilled, better paid, and better prepared for their next endeavor. Not mention they are certainly less stressed, at least as it pertains to their career.

*Written in my sunroom with all of my plants. It's early, the birds are chirping and there's a chill in the air.