As an entrepreneur and partner in my family’s real estate investment company, I’ve seen business done in different ways, good and bad, through the years. My own experiences in every job, every career, have taught me a lot about what it takes to succeed. It’s easy to look at me and see only the success and not the hard work that brought me to where I am now. (And make no mistake — I’m still working hard!)
For every successful businessman, we tend to see only the end product and not the struggle, the mistakes, and the growth that came before. I’m not going to claim that today’s generation wants it all handed to them on a silver platter. But I do think, in our increasingly malleable and uncertain job market, it’s harder to see where your “now” will lead you.
Don’t let your fear of the future — or your belief that you will never achieve all that you wish to do — stop you from trying. With that in mind, I have five lessons I’ve learned about finding success in any job.
5 Principles That Lead to Universal Career Success
1) Keep Diligence at the Forefront
I’m a big believer in due diligence. I have to be, given my career deals with real estate investing! Due diligence is that attentive, detail-oriented nature that strives to put ducks in rows and minimize risk. There’s diligence to be done in any job or career. When we think about working diligently, it is with that mind that looks to curb risks and reduce mistakes and missteps. It thinks about the things no one else does.
There’s a temptation, at times, to “phone it in” in our careers. Especially after many years in the business, there can be a tendency towards letting things slide that we ought not. This leads to sloppy work, lost productivity, and an overall lack of passion for one’s work. Diligence is a renewable resource, even when enthusiasm fades. It has to do not only with your pride in your work but in how well you care for yourself mentally and physically. Diligence can only be sustained when we take time to recharge and refocus.
2) Focus on the Work
There are times when we can get too inside of our heads. We begin to think in terms of what-ifs, and all the ways we feel unqualified and inadequate. This is understandable but ultimately detrimental to your career. It’s not humility to worry that you won’t be able to do something. Imposter syndrome is not humility. Humility is doing it while being grateful.
If you find yourself stuck in your own psyche about the what-ifs and the I-don’t-knows, then you will never achieve success in your career: any career. When you find yourself getting hung up, turn instead to the work. Let the work be what it is. Roll up your sleeves and do, one step at a time.
3) Know What You Really Want
It’s hard to accomplish much when you feel directionless. You may get somewhere, but you don’t know if it’s truly where (or what) you want to be. My best advice is to find out what you want. Recognize that this might change over time, but really begin to work out where you want to be in the next few years. What you want to be doing, who you want in your life, and answering all of those forward-thinking questions. There will be trial and error, but when you consider the future, you should have a sense of direction.
4) Don’t See Stepping Stones
Not every job is going to be a dream job. We live in a culture that is increasingly a gig economy. We work many jobs, wear many hats, and chances are, we won’t stay in the same place forever. Even in recognizing this, we do ourselves, our reputation, and our employers a disservice if we think of our job as a stepping stone.
No, you probably won’t do this your whole life. You probably don’t want to. However, it’s so important that you treat your job as you are in the present, not as you want to be in the future. That is, don’t look at and use your current position as a means to find “something better.”
Your experience is valuable, yes. The growth you have is great, and it’s always good to have something else to put on your resume. However, living in the “moving on soon” mindset will keep you from fully investing in your work and the people around you.
5) Value People
That brings us to my last point: value people. I can tell you right now that our family business would not be where it is today if we did not place the highest value on people. That means our employees, partners, investors, and residents. We see the people first and put customer service at the top of the priority list.
This means we must strive to improve our communication skills, interpersonal relationships, and priorities. When you care about other people, it will inconvenience you. But it will also make for a career and a legacy you can be proud of.
What’s the best career advice you have ever been given? Share it with me in the comments.