Every time I’m updated with news briefs, I’m certain to hear how bleak the current status of the job market has become. One step forward, two steps backwards seems to be the latest wave that we are riding.
Within the fibers of these updates, there are also stories of where veterans of the workforce have been let go and in some cases younger talent assumes their role.
Now matter what the current forecast on the job market looks like, there are also 5 things that can have a lasting impact, as well as a potential derailment to your career.
5 Things That Can Derail Your Career
A Think You’ve Arrived Attitude – The moment you think you’ve arrived is the day you invited others to come take your job. As a matter of fact, when you feel like you’ve reached this point you’ll need to push harder, work harder, create better ideas, as well as continue to produce your best work.
Refusal to Learn – As someone who considers myself a lifelong student, I really struggle when I see people avoiding the opportunity to learn. They become comfortable in their current status and refuse to push themselves to learn and stay on top of their craft. Lack of education isn’t just reserved for poor public learning institutions and whether or not someone receives a college education, the moment you stop learning is the day you begin shaving days off of your career.
Unwilling to Network – The foundation of any successful career isn’t just what you know, but who you know and who knows what you know. Did you catch all of that? Life and business flow too fast to not have a network that you provide value for, as well as you receive value in return. The quickest way to find yourself alone on the street corner is not having a network that you’ve worked. And by the way, you shouldn’t wait until you need someone to start building your network. Start connecting today both online and offline.
Playing the Wrong Game – While lone rangers always seem to work well in the movies, we are in a era were collaboration is key to building and shipping ideas. The know-it-all usually doesn’t do well and their reputation usually proceeds them. The game of the day is teamwork and collaboration; Embrace it and excel.
Setting the Accelerator to Coast – This can be the most deadly because it’s so easy to not detect it until someone points it out. It’s an attitude that produces just enough. The coaster employee never looks like their slacking, but they’re never going above and beyond. They’re comfortable and have set themselves up to be passed over by someone who’s willing to learn and hustle.
Commit to Excellence
Making a personal commitment to excellent can be that internal fire that will cause you to commit to continual learning, networking and giving 110%. Look around, it’s not always “the guaranteed to succeed guy” at the top, it’s usually the person that outworked, out-networked and out-hustled their coworkers.
You’ve invested a lot to get you where you currently find yourself. Don’t let a few bad decisions derail your future.
image courtesy of Loco2
