5 things anybody can do to turbo-charge their career.
When people reach out for career advice, they often come with the mindset to hear something they can do right now that will make a difference immediately.
Oftentimes, the issue is more about building the right foundation than applying a band-aid. Unfortunately, it takes time, effort, and patience to build a foundation. Let’s face it — building a foundation is akin to planting a seed, no matter how much you water, fertilize, etc. it is unlikely the seed will become a tree in 5 working days.
So I share here, 5 clear ways to turbo-charge your career. These are decisions that may not produce fruits in 2 months, but certainly will in 1–2 years. Additionally, I write with the assumption that the person in question has sheer will and an unquestionable work ethic.
Building a foundation is akin to planting a seed, no matter how much you water, fertilize, etc. it is unlikely the seed will become a tree in very little time
1. Share your knowledge
Write. About your work. It could be as simple as 5 paragraphs on key topics, or an industry report. S/he that teaches, learns twice. Do this consistently- quarterly for a start then monthly as you get more comfortable... Likes or not, there is someone out there who needs exactly what you are writing about.
We learn to write by writing.
You can also host webinars on specific topics, but you generally want to begin by writing. Someone once told me, “but I don’t know how to write”, well, “neither do I” I told them, but I write anyway. We learn to write by writing.
I have also been asked: but what do I write about? If you are scared of being judged, then write about your experience. “5 key lessons I have learned from working in Financial Services”. At least, no one will fault you for your own experience.
2. Commit to a lifelong philosophy of personal growth
Information is abundant, it is will that is lacking
“When was the last time you learned something new?” This is often my favourite question when I interview folks. I cannot overemphasize how important it is to commit to a lifelong philosophy of learning. Information is abundant these days, it is will that is lacking. In my early days at Accenture, I was on Coursera chugging at courses as though my life depended on it. You didn’t even have to pay for courses back then. I must have completed more than 8 courses at the time in 2015. I would download the materials to my phone and watch them in traffic on the staff bus on my way home back then.
Go to Coursera, Udemy etc., create a simple 2-hour daily schedule, complete the courses, do a project on the course, write about that project.
Repeat this every quarter, at the end of the year, you have completed 4 courses, 4 projects, and 12 articles.
Bonus point: when you do get into an interview, throw it in that you have written several articles about the said topic you are being asked about.
3. Be daring.
Apply for fellowships & programs. Your life is much more than just your 9–5. Volunteer. Reach out to people on LinkedIn, offer them some value. What is there to be scared of?
4. Do projects.
Closely related to #2. Not sure of which projects to do? Simply google “projects in [insert your field]” and you will find a plethora of options. Find a partner to work with you if you need to. Setup a recurring schedule for it in your calendar. Commit to it and see it through.
Do you know how hard it is to stop someone that just won’t quit?
And who knows, the project becomes successful and you might just start a business out of it. This leads me to #5.
5. Start a business.
One of the biggest skills the world needs is ownership and nothing teaches you ownership more than entrepreneurship. There are very many benefits to starting a business. Don’t be scared about the big words and articles you see on entrepreneurship, it is simply solving a problem that somebody is willing to pay for.
Today you solve for 1 person, who is impressed and tells someone else. Next month, you have solved the same problem for 10 people. Boom, you’re solving for 100 people after 1 year now. That’s it! You’re in business.
Of course, I have over-simplified it, but that’s because you will learn as you go along. (If you are keen on entrepreneurship, I regularly write at Envoak and host regular sessions).
These days, people have become so skilled at articulating their weaknesses that they have made identities out of them. That shouldn’t be you. Take action! I know people who, although have demanding jobs, decided to rise above their condition and sit firmly in the driver’s seat.
Doing one or more of these over time, will bring you to yourself and help you know where you really thrive best in and then you can focus on that thing… but you will never know if you don’t try!
