The 7 Career Lessons You Are Never Too Old To Learn

The 7 Career Lessons You Are Never Too Old To Learn

By Lilian Wamaitha

  1. Go to a good school
  2. Graduate with a stellar grade – first class or second class upper.
  3. Get a good job and work very hard
  4. Get promoted
  5. Go back to school for a masters and then a PhD.
  6. Get promoted again climbing up the ladder to a senior management position
  7. Live happily ever after

This is what we all grew up believing. But life doesn’t follow a perfectly laid out path.
How many people have you seen graduate with stellar grades and yet still struggle in life and careers?
Yet how many people were considered “failures” in the classroom setting yet continue to shine in the real world?
This is because more often than not, in life you have to take detour either in form of breaks and setbacks and it’s up to you to figure out how to get back.
Your career follows that same path. Just because you wen t to school for that degree doesn’t mean that you will end up as head of communication in a few years.
You will not start your career today and tomorrow you are the CEO.
However, with the right plan and the right person guiding you, your career can just be as successful as so and so’s.
Today, I want us to discuss some of the myths and lessons that you will learn that that I have continued learning in the course of my career.
1. There is no time to waste on a job you don’t like
Someone once asked me if it’s too late to change your career at 33. And my answer was “absolutely not.”
Not because I wanted to tell them what they wanted to hear but it is something I have realized in the course of interacting with so many of our past and current Career Mentorship Program participants.
Check Out This Course >>> C.S.S Career Mentorship Program (7 Weeks) – Nov 2018
Who are we kidding? At the end of the day, we are all there for the money and it doesn’t matter how miserable you are at your job.
But who said you can’t make money doing something that you are passionate about?
Trust me; life is too short to be stuck in the wrong career.
And if you really have to work for the money, at least make sure that you learn everything you can in that job. Gain as many skills as you can and then aim for higher positions.
2. Your health matters more than anything else
Success is a state of mind and how I define success is not how you define yours which is why this is one of the hardest lessons to learn in life.
Since you are going after success, after that high position in your company, you don’t mind working for longer hours and blocking everyone else out until you achieve it.
But what happens? Your health starts deterioration? First you are a little bit stressed and before you know it you have graduated to depression, heart diseases and high blood pressure.
And all for what? To appear like you have it all among your peers? No amount of career success is worth jeopardizing your health in the process.
Instead, take it easy. Take a break when you can. Delegate some of the duties. You don’t have to do it all.
3. Life happens outside the confines of your work
Progress in your career will mean a lot of work but life is what happens outside that office.
Yes your job is important because it gives you a sense of identity, but it’s not your life.
If you find yourself skipping holidays or vacation because “you have a lot of work” then there is something seriously wrong with you.
You can’t live your entire life at work – being the first one to report to work and the last one to leave every single day of your life.
Experience life outside of work.
Just because you don’t waste your time with “unnecessary” breaks doesn’t mean that you will succeed more than that person who has fully utilized their 21 days of leave.
4. Life is about taking risks, so take them
Life is all about the unknown. It’s about having faith and courage to follow your dreams no matter how crazy they seem.
How about rather than be employed all your life, you make a choice of taking a risk to start that business that you have been dreaming of.
You have everything you need to succeed in life, if only you chose to see it. You have what it takes to get that promotion like that colleague.
5. Life is never fair; all you can do is be resilient
Sometimes things will happen to you that you have no control over. You will face rejection and failure and even be turned down for a job or promotion that you know you are qualified for.
Never let this dim your light because good things are coming your way. Where you are now is not where you will be in five years. As long as you are willing to put in the effort, I don’t see a reason why you should remain in the same place.
6. Senior management is an opportunity for you to climb up higher
At this point of your career ladder, you have managed to get into a very senior position.
You can now make great decisions for yourself and the people below you. Don’t fear asking your boss to change a few things here and there. You are next to your boss in terms of management and your opinions do matter greatly.
If you have new ideas, present them and follow through with them
Your opinions and ideas are needed if the company should grow upwards!
7. Management roles are not about you
When you get a promotion to manage a team, it’s no longer about you but about the team.
People are the most important asset you have. Listening to their needs and working together as a team will bring more success than the title you hold.
Management is a big role and with the right approach, a lot of success can be achieved.
With this in mind
Career success will not happen in a day. It is a gradual journey that takes time and dedication. You will endure a lot before you get to where you are but at the end of it all, you will stop and be thankful for all those setbacks. Because it is those small failures that will prepare you to handle what is coming next.
But don’t let it come to the point where you sit and wonder what happened when you envision where you meant to be and where you are now. Your career is an investment and you can start investing in yours today, by signing up for this 7 week career mentorship program.
Learn why others are way ahead of you and why you going back to school will not suddenly give you that promotion, that job you love or make you earn something that is commensurate with your experience and skills.
Lilian is a Communication Officer at Corporate Staffing Services, a leading HR firm that offers CV Writing, Coaching, Training and Free Job Placement. Email me now through lilian@corporatestaffing.co.ke to book you seat for the 7 Week Mentorship Program beginning on Wednesday 7th November 2018 with the subject “Career Mentorship Program”.

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