Last week we shared seven (7) big life lessons learned from professional experiences. This week we are talking big career lessons that we can learn from everyday life.
1. “You can have almost anything you want in life - the only question is how much are willing to risk?”
Both life and career success require risk taking.
Finding and landing that dream job and creating big professional accomplishments will never happen if you don’t take huge calculated risks. Remember, no risk - no reward.
2. “Exceed people’s expectations.”
Whether surprising someone with an unexpected thank you gift for something they said/did, or taking the initiative on a project at work, life has taught me that when it comes to my professional life to always do more than people expect. An easy way to accomplish this is to under promise and over deliver. Tell your client or boss that you’ll finish the project on Friday but turn it in two days before it’s due on Wednesday.
3. “People show what they want you to see - so carefully focus on what they actually do and how they deliver.”
Whether it’s interviewing for a job, hiring an intern, or considering a work partnership, life has taught me to focus on what isn’t said, and people’s accomplishments, not just their plans or intentions. You can also use this same thinking to your advantage in your career by becoming skilled at redirecting someone’s focus away (and not towards) professional problems.
4. “Even paradise has not so nice parts.”
Anyone who has ever traveled to an island sees the beautiful beaches. However, only a few people notice the rough parts of town. Living in and traveling to more than 30 different countries I have learned that a bad neighborhood in the Bahamas doesn’t look like a bad neighborhood in Brownsville, Brooklyn - but both can be dangerous. When it comes to your career or considering a new job, always take note of the environment and remind yourself that although things may look different on the outside they can be just as bad as the job or company you’re trying to leave.
5. “People can only take advantage of you if you let them.”
One of the reasons that con artists are successful at luring people into something that’s “too good to be true” is because people are willing to believe it. When I bought what I thought was a phone and answering machine for $10 from a stranger selling shrink wrapped electronics on a blanket at the corner of 14th Street and Third Avenue in NYC, I knew that the same thing would cost $30 or more in a store. Therefore when I got home and opened the box to find rocks covered in duct tape, I wasn’t really surprised. Learn to ask yourself, ‘is someone trying to sell a “phony phone?” Asking and objectively answering this question can help you dodge professional bullets and bad professional opportunities that are simply “gift wrapped trash.“
6. “Plan for the storm.”
Surviving 8 days and 7 nights after a category 5 hurricane with no electricity, plumbing or access to basics things, I learned that cell phones are only helpful if they have charge and a signal. Your professional life will throw you some tough breaks and storms that you can’t control - so plan and prepare for the things you can before the storm hits. Update your resume every 6 months, network while you’re currently employed and save as much as you can for a rainy day.
Life is about learning from the people we meet and the things that we experience – in all aspects of our life. Find ways to grow and evolve from everything that happens, and soon you will find and create new professional opportunities. This week look at three (3) of your biggest life lessons that can be a great guiding force in your career.