The Career-boosting Power of Relationships

I was miserable at my job for almost five years. I would come home every evening drained of all my energy, leaving nothing to give to my home life and close relationships. After five years of this, I realized that my life needed to change drastically, but I felt stuck. I was drained of energy from my work life that looking for something different felt like a task too enormous, too tiring, for me to take on alone. It was not until I realized that I am not alone that I found the strength to take the necessary steps to change my life as it was.

The one thing that helped me cope with my job for five years was not a substantial raise or the hope of a big corner office; it was a friendship with one of my co-workers. He was able to empathize with my stresses as no one else could, give me feedback when I needed an attitude change, and supported me in eventually leaving the job.

That was how Clear Career was born.

Anais Nin summed it up perfectly when she wrote, “Each friend represents the world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born." In fact, many renowned medical experts are finding that friendships are so essential to health and happiness that studies are being published on the topic when in the past friendship had taken a backseat in research. It is scientifically proven that adults with strong friendships have a reduced risk of severe health problems such as depression, high blood pressure, high stress, and more. In Growing The Positive Mind, Dr. William Larkin talks about healthy friendships, calling them Master Mind groups. They are simply this: a group of people that you have taken with you on this journey of finding the vision for your life. Dr. Larkin wrote, “The Master Mind will lift you to a new level of consciousness and awareness beyond the limits of your own vision.”

If I had not been completely honest with my friend at work, he would have never been able to know how to be there for me during the times I needed him the most. Possibly the most vital ingredient in the recipe of healthy friendships is vulnerability. Only after a vulnerable encounter can someone truly know you, your vision, and your goals. This deep knowing then allows them to walk your journey with you, and you with them.

As Brene Brown wrote, “Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.”

Certainly, you could go about making essential changes to your life without friends, but why would you? Your friends point you towards your goals when you forget your direction, and they are there to celebrate you when you reach those goals. Unfortunately, friendships are often the first things to be forgotten when life get’s busy. I strongly encourage you to tend to your friendships and make space for them no matter how cluttered your calendar gets.

That friend ended up being one of my first clients with Clear Career, and now both of our lives look completely different. There is certainly a kind of life-changing magic found in friendship. When people walk closely beside you, and through honest conversation, you will be able to accomplish much more than you could on your own.

And the best part is, now you will have people to celebrate your accomplishments with you.

5 Ways To Speed Up Your Career

The distance between where you are now and where you want to be with your career goals can seem insurmountable. In fact, in some instances, it can be tempting to say “Why try? If I work hard, I still won’t reach my career target until I am 90 years old.” Even if there are more steps to the end than you can count or you are hung up on a major step, the great news is there are some surefire actions you can take today to move you forward. "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt

1.    Clarify Your Goals

Remember when you were asked as a kid, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Some of us never move past this game. We hold our childlike answers near and dear to our hearts, but we never break those dreams down into real, achievable goals.

As the motivational speaker and leadership coach Tony Robbins says, "Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible." Being a famous author is a dream. Starting a blog, writing an e-book, self-publishing a book, selling 1,000 copies, drafting the second book: these are all goals. They can be broken down into the steps it takes to get there and then crossed off a list.

Sometimes shaking your dreams out into achievable goals can be challenging, but it always worth it and can be a ton of fun! I share more about it in a few other posts.

2.    Read Articles, Books & Blogs

Seems like a simple idea, but how many of us truly take advantage of the expanse of information available today. Find articles, books, and blogs related to your career goals. What have others done to pave their way to success? What works? What doesn’t? What foundational skills and knowledge did they need along the way? Research. Research. Research.

The notable playwright, poet, and politician Joseph Addison said it this way, "Reading is to the mind as what exercise is to the body,"

As an added benefit, the very act of reading is mentally stimulating and reduces anxiety or stress. You will strengthen your analytical thinking and recollection skills. The more you read, the more relaxed you can feel, helping make you a more confident and happy human.

3.   Learn the Necessary Skills

Even if your dream career seems eons away, you are not without movement in that direction. What skills must you master to succeed? Do you need to learn a new language? Type faster? Manage social media marketing?

Maybe it is leadership skills you need to hone. Perhaps you can volunteer in an organization where you oversee other volunteers. Step up and take the lead. Conquer the skills you will need now. They are the foundation of your dream.

Here is a list of some of the different types of skills you may want to learn to advance your career in the direction of your dreams.

4.   Find a Trusted Mentor

A mentor is one who is several steps ahead of you. It is someone who has “been there-done that” and can share their experiences with you. They are the flashlight on your path to success. While your mentor is not required to be older and wiser, they should have expertise in the particular field you are pursuing, because you will need specific advice on specific steps.

If you are not sure where to start to find a mentor, here's a Forbes article to get you started.

5.   Work With a Certified Coach

A coach is one who may not know details of your field, but they understand the human process of journeying toward a prize. They will be the one who can help you through the bumps and twists and turns. They facilitate a process and hold you to it.

If you would like more information on the roles of a coach and how coaching could be beneficial to you, I would invite you to schedule a call with me.