Do you want to know what it takes to get to the top and stay there? Consider these tips as provided by Vanessa Vallely from her own experiences.
1. Define Your Own Success
Ask yourself: what does success look like for me? The key is to create your own definition of success because, ultimately, you are the one in charge of achieving your ambition. Don’t let your success be defined by others – you own your own success and only you know what you are truly capable of. Tell your own story!
2. Measure Your Progress
Write your plans and progress down, track yourself and don’t forget to ask others to help you achieve your goals. What can’t be measured doesn’t get done, so even if you loosely detail what you wish to achieve on a scrap of paper it’s a good start. Once you have your list, start to detail the people you need to help you and what you need to do to achieve those goals. Review your list every three months in order to measure your progress, and don’t forget to set yourself some milestones so you feel like you are constantly achieving along the way.
3. Not Everyone Will Understand You
Along the way there will be people who just don’t understand what you are trying to achieve. Opinions of others are invaluable at times; however there will also be times when you have to consider them as nothing more than that, mere opinions of another imperfect human. Keep focused, put in the effort and over time you will achieve what you set out to do.
4. Reach Out For Opportunities
Opportunities are around you all of the time, you just need to open your mind to see them. Grab chances with both hands. Seek opportunity in every person you meet and in everything that you do. As long as you have time and health on your side, there is truly nothing that you cannot achieve.
5. Give Back
Regardless of where you are in your career giving back to the next generation is integral to your longevity and success. Take time out to share your knowledge, connections and advice to others who are starting out. Charities, social enterprises and schools are usually crying out for experience, help and volunteers.
6. Learn Everyday!
There are so many opportunities to learn new things. Learn new skills, ask for help if you don’t understand something: people are often more than happy to teach you. If you don’t ask, you won’t get! What’s the worst that could happen? They might say no, in which case, you can ask someone else!
7. Stay Connected
To grow in any endeavour, you have to put yourself out there. Actively seek ways to meet new people, join a network, use social media such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to stay connected and make connections.
8. Know When To Take a Break
Balancing it all is tough and you need to be careful what you commit to, otherwise you will burn yourself out. Recognise when you need a break and take it!
