The difference between having a job and owning a career is in how you perceive the fundamentals of work.
A job is something you have, while a career is something you do. This shift in perception puts you in the driver’s seat, allowing you to take control of your destiny.
You can achieve this perception shift by understanding three fundamentals of work that will deliver compound interest: communication, consistency, and repetition.
1. Communication
First, communicate with yourself by writing down what you want out of your career. If you don’t know what you want, you can’t get mad at your employer for not giving it to you.
Identify:
- Your long-term goals.
- The milestone markers along the way.
- The baby steps to reach each milestone.
Your plan might change as you go. But it’s important to have one to get started. Otherwise, you will stagnate and work will become drudgery.
Next, communicate it with your employer. If your goals go beyond their company, you don’t need to go into detail. But conveying your ambitions lets them know you’re career-minded and hungry for opportunity.
2. Consistency
Consistency isn’t just about hitting the mark every time. It’s about taking ownership of your work.
Once you realize that your work represents you, it becomes less about getting it over with and more about showing people what you can do. Taking pride in your work becomes the motivation to raise the mark each time. And raising the mark leads to career advancement.
When consistency becomes your standard, your reputation becomes your calling card.
3. Repetition
As you pursue career goals, you will trip up. Setbacks will happen that are sometimes beyond your control.
The one thing in your control is the ability to brush yourself and try again. Repetition of how you respond to adversity will lead to reinforcement.
For instance, if you repeatedly pass the buck, it will reinforce the perception that you don’t take ownership of your actions. It also reinforces the idea in your own mind that it’s always someone else’s fault.
Even if it is, a career-minded person will be proactive and will take measures to ensure another’s poor work ethic doesn’t affect their own. Facing your responsibilities head on every time builds the muscles needed to reach your goals.
Get your reps in and you’ll grow as a person along with your career.
Staying Power
Communication allows you to take control of your trajectory. Consistency creates a reputation and repetition reinforces it, allowing you to move along that trajectory.
All of this leads to the side effect of staying power. When you know what you want and you enjoy what you do, tenacity becomes easy.
Make your job search easy, too, by joining Employ Partners. We’re a staffing agency specializing in contract careers, contract-to-hire opportunities, and direct hire positions for local talent like yourself.
We work hard to find you the kind of employment you’re looking for. Call us now to take your career to the next level.
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