“Ask yourself this question: ‘Will this matter a year from now?’”
~Richard Carlson, American Psychotherapist and Writer, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff~
The year is more than half way over and there are a few things that may come to mind; mid-year review outcomes, career promotion opportunities, unused vacation time, or how to figure out more ways to do something fun for yourself in the midst of your personal and professional must-do list. Our chosen career paths have the ability to gift us many revelations. For starters, determining that our career is what we do versus who we are. Evidently our monies earned from our career choices fund our lifestyle and our dreams.
During conversations with colleagues and peers many things are discussed from successful business outcomes to pressing through business frustration. One thing that I aim to do after each business conversation is to take the time to put the conversation details into perspective. Conversations have the ability to subtly shift you in the direction of being more productive, stagnant, or evolve into a progressive distraction of idleness chatter. It is important to know and recognize your contribution to your work place. Your conversation matters and it is an indicator to all that you interact with how you view your career, your pursuit of success, and your career legacy.
Our words linger as much as our actions. Our words and productivity outcomes often make it to the auto-play list that decision makers use to select us for projects, brand representation opportunities, and promotions. It is critical that we keep our words in perspective with our career goals and projections. Intentional effort to be mindful of the words we speak and how we are viewed by other business professionals because of them. Whether we like it or not, perception is reality.
Our mid-year lessons that have been sparked by refreshed career aspirations or by fine tuning the game plan of our professional performance that will result in you hitting the bullseye in the final quarters of the year for next level career excellence. It is important to remember that our actions, words and thoughts serve as a snapshot to our perspective of how we choose to respond to the expectations of our career roles based upon our career lessons and to-do lists. For me personally, my ever evolving and forward thinking career perspective aha moments often happen at the most unexpected times; listening to mentors and industry leaders share their insight, in the middle of a bikram yoga class, reading, or an engaging in a casual conversation.
Will you choose to just meet expectations or will you choose to exceed expectations? Developing a career perspective will take you beyond just earning your income. A clear career perspective will catapult your courage and tenacity of knowing the pursuit is worth your preparation time. While owning your professional development is never wasted time. Being in tune to your career perspective is worth the dedicated focus of living your career dream out loud daily.
I would love to read your comments on how you make your career perspective a reality.