1. Have a mentor: Mentors help you uncover the right direction to travel and how to best navigate the journey. Want a mentor? Just ask someone you respect (former/current boss, professor, industry contact, spiritual leader, etc.) for their advice with a specific task or goal. Professional mentors can help you find and create opportunities to grow in a new or existing field.
2. Learn sales strategies and tactics: Strong sales skills mean that you are able to persuade others to see and appreciate value in the unknown/unseen.
3. Bring added value: No matter your profession or industry, create ways to bring added value to every project you work on and over-deliver on each aspect of your job.
4. Take calculated risks: Success in the new COVID-19 era will depend on your ability to see what others cannot. You must be willing to take risks that others are unwilling or unable to make. Find a way to carefully measure the pros and cons, and then take a chance.
5. Be persistent: Most things in times of major change require time and persistence to work out. If you apply for a job but don’t get hired or pitch a new client who decides to “go with someone else” – never give up. Remember “no” is the start, not the end to any conversation (or negotiation). Life and career are rarely linear and always require planning and persistence.
6. Improve your negotiation skills: Adopt the believe that EVERYTHING in life is negotiable. Whether it’s your new salary, title, your new COVID-19 office space, remember everything is up for discussion.
Remember negotiation AFTER you accept the position or opportunity, is called begging because you have no leverage.
7. Find your passion and follow it: The hardest part to doing what you love is first identifying what you do well – naturally. After you uncover the WHAT, turn to mentors, free resources and support professionals to figure out ways to pursue it.
Finding success in these uncertain and changing times starts with developing these core skills and abilities. This week pick one of these suggestions and work on cultivating a successful career, one skill and experience at a time. #COVID-19 #Coronavirus