Stop waiting for the all clear

Many people are stunting their professional lives because they are waiting for permission or approval from someone. Many others are waiting for perfect timing. There is no perfect timing. Good news is, you don’t need anyone giving you permission. Today can be the day you decide to make a change and expand your coast. Here are some ideas to get you started;

Explore the untapped areas: Ask yourself; is this the most/best you can do with your skills, talents, etc? Don’t equate your career/professional life with your day job and either expect to be able to do all you want on the job and end up shelving things where you can’t. Believe you are gifted for something; discover that thing and share it wherever it will bring value. Don’t abandon it because it does not fit with your day job.

Focus on giving not getting: Many times advancing your career goals is about ‘’doing something to get or attract a certain benefit or advantage’’ which is not a bad thing. Real progress happens when you move past getting to giving. See your passions, expertise etc as seeds that may need different soils to bloom and plant them where they have the best chance to grow and help others in the process.

Put your ambition in submission: Ambition is important as a driving force for the big goals we have. But ambition goes wrong when everything you do is aimed at inching yourself closer to that promotion, raising your status, gaining recognition etc. Instead of doing things simply to please others or benefit yourself primarily, do what counts and not what impresses others.

Be necessary: Appreciate that you can have impact by who you are and not always by what you do.

Now take action: Identify one thing you can put your skills to outside your day job?