Starting from scratch with anything can pose a little struggle, whether you are beginning a new project, learning a new skill, or starting a new chapter in life. The beginning can be good but seeing that you have a long way to go may throw in some fear to your chest. However, this fear is natural and often turns into a motivator that pushes you to keep going. There is really no need to overthink or be hard on yourself because these things happen and trusting the process can be “so much work.” However, if you need help moving through the early stage of your career, we have some tips for you. Read on.
Early career stage? You can do it!
You are a newbie, yes! Should you overthink it? No. See what we think should help you through your early career stage:
Focus solely on what you are doing
If you are just starting, then you should do away with every form of distraction because the moment you begin your career journey, you are on your way to achieving certain goals. Distractions can divert your attention from what is important and hinder your progress. If you stay committed to your work, you can build a solid foundation and increase your chances of smashing your goals.
Never compare yourself to other people
Using another person’s yardstick to measure your growth is a potential pitfall and can cause you to have feelings of inadequacy and unnecessary stress. Leave out what other people are doing and embrace your unique journey. You are different from other people and you are never going to accumulate the same pattern of success because you do things differently. Instead, put in extra work and assess yourself without including other people’s success levels.
Don’t rush, take it one step at a time
Process is beautiful; it helps you to communicate your story in numerous ways, later in the future. If you need to take courses to upskill in your career, don’t go about taking 5 courses at once such that you won’t be able to finish one. If you can, just take one course at a time, and when you are done, take another. You cannot jump the process because, at the end of the day, you may have little or no results. A patient approach will help you get to your destination and you will certainly have a good outcome to show for it.
Don’t hold on to any form of failure, let them go
Your career journey will have you trying out a lot of things – some may work and others won’t, which explains that the journey can be laced with success and setbacks. During times like this, don’t sulk for long or overthink things. Instead, let them go and be open to new experiences. You can even learn how to go about a similar project next time. Anyone can make mistakes and so can you but don’t dwell on them for long.
Draw inspiration from your progress
For every step you take or goal you reach, remind yourself of how you literally “did that!” Acknowledge your success, pat yourself on the back, and take a view to see where you are coming from. This will keep you motivated and inspired for the journey ahead, knowing that you have achieved a lot and you are looking to attain even higher.
