Linkedin’s Career Success & Advice Series is THE hidden gem that everyone needs in their life. Or at the least the folks who want to reach the top sooner, rather than later.
Even if you’re not trying to be the next Jeff Bezos or you’re actively avoiding #hustleculture like the plague, you can still agree that you can’t really beat the FREE career advice that LinkedIn has so graciously given us access to. I’m talking about FREE advice from execs from Starbucks all the way to the founder of OWN (yes that means Oprah!) Did I mention it was FREE?
Sounds too good to be true right? Well, I have some bad news and good news for ya.
The Bad News: If you want to dive into the series, it’ll take 30+ minutes to soak up the knowledge.
The Good News: I binged season one of the series, and quickly summarized the most important bits! Dive in below.
10 Tips to Achieve Career Success
1 | There’s no such thing as success without hard work.
The Gist: The journey to where you’re meant to be won’t be easy, it will take some grit, and during the process, you’ll be rewarded with “humility.”
Quote It: pain + reflection = progress.
2 | Always be learning.
The Gist: Be open to learning:
- How to deal with the unknown
- From the people around you (the good and the bad)
- From the work that you do
- From the mistakes that you make
Related Read: 17+ Skills to Learn Right Now
3 | Take care of your mind, body, soul, friends & family
The Gist: The headline says it all. Many executives had some variation of taking a break or taking care of their mental health at the top of their lists. So, this is your sign to take that PTO (aka Paid Time Off) or at least a nap.
If you prefer to start small, try some guided meditation!
4 | Stand up for what you believe in.
The Gist: Reputation was without a doubt one of the top-mentioned career success themes in this video series. Your personal brand, the reputation of the company you work for, and how you maneuver negative situations are all skills that are important to master throughout your career.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind, as you maneuver corporate culture.
- Be aware of office politics, but don’t play into them.
- Find the right company.
- If you lose your reputation, it’s almost impossible to get it back.
- Quote It: Realize that you have/are a platform — Don’t amplify negative energy.
- Cherish your reputation.
- Always do the right thing.
5 | Don’t say, “I wish I would have.” Live in the moment.
Many professionals from season one agreed on this fact:
Quote It: There is no reason to obsess over the past or the future.
The Gist: Instead of obsessing over the things you should have done, or the places you can go, you should take advantage of the opportunities you’ve been given. Remember these things:
- Make the most of the position that you’re in right now.
- While you’re in your position remember to over-deliver.
- Never do the bare minimum.
- Keep making your environment smarter.
- Don’t worry about being the “CEO”, focus on being good at your current role.
- Become so good that you become the go-to person!
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6 | Pay it forward.
The Gist: If you’re a big believer in things like manifestation and karma, you 100% agree that giving back, will be pertinent to your career success. Yes, you can do good in the office, but consider paying it forward outside of the office as well.
Here are some ways you can pay it forward:
- Become a mentor.
- Serve on a community council or employee resource group.
- Volunteer in your local community.
Related Read: Digital volunteer projects you can do from home!
7 | Take Risks.
The Gist: A MAJOR piece of advice that these big-time execs had was to take risks! One exec even went as far as to say, “Be a resume builder. Be ready to go.”
Other top execs spelled it out: T-A-K-E R-I-S-K-S:
Okay, I’m being dramatic, they didn’t literally spell it out. But they did strongly advise you to be smart, follow your gut, and take lots of chances!
Quote It: Don’t be afraid to take risks — know when it’s time to go. When it’s time to go, it’s time to go!
Related Read: Set up a professional chat with someone new
8 | You have to really understand what you’re good at.
The Gist: This piece of advice is often given, but not always followed. This is yet again another sign for you, the reader. Top executives have given you the okay, to do what you love. So go do it!
If you’re confused about how or where to start, here’s a blueprint:
- Find your passion
- Find your competency
- Find the market
This blueprint will be especially helpful if you’re an entrepreneur!
If you’re not an entrepreneur, a good way to look at this is finding where you fit in. It doesn’t matter the field or industry. Ask yourself these questions:
- How can you plug in and use your skills to make an impact on your team?
- What kind of change can you drive within the larger company?
- How can you positively impact the fans, consumers, or clients that the company serves?
Quote It: “What do you love doing — do that!”
Related Read: How to find your unique strengths!
9 | Set goals and visualize how you will get there.
The Gist: Baby steps and living in the moment are KEY elements that make up a successful career journey. These steps normally lead to something bigger, so having a game plan (aka goals) or an idea about where you’re going is very important.
One executive perfectly summarizes goal setting with this quote:
Quote It: “If you don’t set a goal, people set goals for you.”
Related Read: Struggling to set your goals? Use this Goal-setting template.
10 | If you have a vision, you just have to get started.
The Gist: Last but certainly not least, you need to EXECUTE. Whether you’re looking to start your own business or be a big-time executive, the execution piece will always be important.
Here’s the blueprint:
- Have a dream: this is always the beginning!
- Embrace reality, and learn to deal with reality: being a realist will allow you to handle challenges without being surprised.
- Determination: when you’re knocked down, you have to have the will to keep going!
And of course, this wouldn’t be a Breakroom Buddha post without some positive vibes. Enjoy this throwback Big Time Rush song. It perfectly sums up having a dream and going after it!
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It’s time to dust off those vision boards and goal lists! Which one of these tips will be your new mantra going into the new year? Let us know in the comments below!
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