A defining career moment is a point in time that substantially alters the trajectory of one’s career. How does one approach that point in time? What are the steps leading up to that particular moment or series of moments that lead to dramatic career shifts? There are a few actions that can help you prepare for your career defining moment.
1. Embrace adversity: This may sound scary, but your road to success will involve obstacles, detours, or roadblocks that keep you from achieving your goals. Instead of fearing the inevitable, taking a proactive approach and building resiliency will prepare you to overcome whatever challenges may stand in your way.
2. Ditch imposter syndrome: We all experience this at one time or another—the feeling that we aren’t up to the task at hand. We doubt ourselves and our capacity to handle difficult situations, even when we have the proper training and experience. If we want to move forward, be successful, and achieve our career- defining moment, we have to believe in ourselves. If we don’t have faith in our success, no one else will. It starts by ridding ourselves of imposter syndrome in favor of healthy confidence.
3. Be flexible: If the past year or two has taught us all one thing, it’s the importance of flexibility and willingness to adapt to the circumstances life brings. In your career, you may set out with an initial goal, but you need to be open to that goal evolving or even changing completely. Life is unpredictable and if you can adjust and recalibrate—even in periods of crisis or major change—you may find yourself on an even better path to success than what you’d originally planned.
4. Share your goals: You don’t need to share every detail of your journey with someone, but it may help to confide in close family members or friends. That way, when the going gets tough, they can lend their support. It also gives you a layer of accountability. People with whom you have close relationships know you extremely well and can speak candidly with you about your goals. They’ll bring you down to earth if you bite off more than you can chew, but they’ll also push you to be the best version of yourself. As you approach that career-defining moment, make sure you have clearly set goals and a definition of what success looks like for you. Success is a relative term and can mean many different things to different people. Make sure your goals and achievements are aligned with your values and beliefs. Once you have those set, it’s time to make those dreams a reality!