To start the year, I am writing a series of posts around the “the career of life” series. In these posts, I focus on experiences and skills that help us succeed in our careers, but also and perhaps more importantly, at being human.
I have been thinking a lot about what it takes to succeed.
We all have heard how extreme determination mixed with luck and a dash of several failures gets you there. While other say that studying the market, thinking through your skillset and making several smart bets will also help.
What I don’t hear often enough is how much you need other people to really advance in your career. Not as investors or business partners, but people who can help focus your thoughts, tell you when you are wrong or confirm when you are in the right direction.
In short, we all need a personal sounding board. A team of people who act like your personal executive board, provide advice and listen to your plans.
I am a big believer of this concept and have applied it in my own life. This is how my team looks:
1. An executive coach: I have been working with Eric Nehrlich who has helped me refine my thinking regarding my career and perception of myself.
A few times he has given me pointed advice on what to do, but most of the time he digs in and tries to get me to follow my gut.
Many other times, he is there just to reassure me and let me know a) I am not crazy b) I can do it.
Most impressive about Eric is that he takes the time to write detailed notes about each and every of our sessions with clear action steps and things to do before we meet again.
2. A therapist: While my coach focuses a lot on the business world, my therapist takes care of my psyche across all realms. We work on better handling of personal relationships, dealing with fear and increasing resilience among many other topics.
I found my therapist on talkspace and it has been a great investment that has allowed me to increase authenticity and the ability to be my true-self in almost every conversation.
3. Co-workers: This is easier said than done and understand if not possible. While most of us probably work with great people, is not always easy to find people who you can trust. However, coworkers have information about your workplace that no one else truly hands. Their first-hand experience is unequal and tough to replace.
If you can find one or two people you can trust in your office (or zoom?) it could be a great investment in your own sanity.
4. Friends: I have chosen three or four of my friends in similar careers/stage in life to talk to about career opportunities and issues. In my case, talking to other marketers and sharing workplace situations really helps me dig in and be exact in describing my situations.
5. Mentors: Many begin here, but for me, mentorship is greatly magnified when I come in with a strong idea of what I want to do and how to do it and have that mentor confirm it. As a result, it was important for me to have basic forms of support in place before I peeked out formal mentorship. In my case, I have tried to look to senior leadership in places I have worked in the past.
While it is possible to find mentors at your current workplace (and honestly I would welcome it), there maybe conflicts of interests that do not allow said mentors to focus on what’s best for you versus the company.
Nevertheless, informal mentors and peers that are just slightly ahead of me in my career have greatly helped me.
Taking everything above into consideration, the greatest thing to realize is that: 1) You can advance much faster if you don’t have to do so alone 2) The team you develop is up to you and your specific need.
In the future, I see myself adding a team to help beyond and above my career and relationships. In 2021, I see myself adding a personal fitness coach, a nutritionist and a tax advisor to help me in areas of concern on a long term basis.
It is clear that we could all do with help in our personal and public lives. Do you have a team? And if not, what’s keeping you from getting one?
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