I like to stretch myself, to keep growing and changing. I have to confess that I’ve always really struggled with change, but proactively challenging myself seems to be a great way for me to keep embracing life to its fullest.
I’ve been with the same company for 15 years (I can only thank my colleagues for putting up with me!). But I know that to grow I must continually test myself in order to keep evolving.
Each year I buy a leather-bound notebook and jot down a few insigths that I try to hold myself to, and regularly revisit them throughout the year. So here are my four of my favorite tips to giving your colleagues and clients the best version of yourself everyday!
1. Stay curious and don’t be too hard on yourself.
Never stop looking for new trends and become a master at spotting them. Position yourself to get up on the big wave before your competitors are even out on their boards (click to tweet). Also, learn from your mistakes. Don’t dwell on regrets and try and grow from every struggle. And celebrate your workplace anniversaries. Make sure that you run into your next year with new purpose and vision.
2. Invest heavily in relationship building.
Relationships matter, so challenge yourself to reach out and connect with people around the office. Learn from those around you and honor those above you. Regard no one as beneath you and encourage those beside you. One of the best gifts you can give anyone you work with is encouragement – it releases energy, lifts spirits and makes the “impossible” seem possible. I think that if everyone received enough encouragement you and those around you, would blossom beyond our wildest dreams.
3. Keep checking your attitude.
A bad attitude is like a flat tire. You can’t go anywhere until you change it. I feel that to keep thriving in this high-paced world we need to be strong, but not rude. Kind, but not weak. Bold, but not a bully. Be humble, but not timid, and be confident, but not arrogant. We need to be selective in our battles. Sometimes having peace is better than being right.
4. Sustain your energy by taking risks and never giving up.
Keep your energy levels high and get your work/life balance right. I’ve found my career confusing at times but I didn’t give up, and neither should you. Keep embracing change to grow your career. If you are feeling stagnant, get involved and make change happen. And remember, just because you are struggling does not mean you are failing. Every great success requires some kind of struggle to get there. Don’t forget to take risks and find an aspirational mentor with more career experience than you. I find that the reason why people give up so fast is because they tend to look at how far they still have to go, instead of how far they have come-and there truly are opportunities to grow all around you.
