There’s no reason to wait until the new year to make your resolutions when you can start today. Now is the time for thinking, planning and taking bold actions.
It is no secret that the United States economy is tough, and white-collar workers face the hyperspecialization of roles, fewer job listings available, lengthy hiring durations and the ascendancy of artificial intelligence. While some businesses are throwing their festive company parties, top organizations like Spotify, Twillo, Broadcom, Amazon and Citi have announced plans to lay off this holiday season.
Letting go of workers during the holidays violates a sacrosanct rule—workers would be spared from job cuts during what’s supposed to be the “most wonderful time of the year.” Seeing Wall Street and C-suite executives realize stock gains after share prices jump higher while pink slips are being handed out demonstrates that branding your workplace a “family” is a sham.
Within this context, it is abundantly clear that you must look out for yourself. No one is going to rescue you or hand you a job. Now is the perfect opportunity to take stock of your career and make bold moves to reach your full potential. Be prepared, as ambitious career growth requires taking calculated risks. While risky endeavors can also flame out, they still help build resilience—an invaluable trait.
If you don’t try new things, nothing will ever change. Fortune favors the bold in business, even against headwinds.
Bold Moves To Make In 2024
1. Become An Entrepreneur
Starting your own business can be a risky but rewarding venture. If you have a great idea and the drive to see it through, entrepreneurship could be the path to success and wealth. You can start with a side hustle.
If you dream of something bigger for yourself, you can choose the path of founding a startup. Many people believe they are more intelligent than their boss. They complain that their supervisor and executive leadership are out of touch, lack initiative and allow the business to stagnate. Rather than grumbling about it, look into building your own company. Take all that you’ve learned at your current and prior job and experiences, and make the bold move to create something for yourself.
If you want to play it safe, become an internal entrepreneur. Start a passion project at work. You can also pursue your passions outside of work. This could lead to unexpected opportunities and help you develop new skills that you can bring back to your job.
2. Invest In Yourself
Consider returning to school or taking online courses to learn new skills and expand your qualifications. This could be the key to landing a better job or advancing your career.
You want to invest your time into listening to podcasts and reading industry-focused articles and books that offer an informal but still valuable education. Also, invest in building and widening your professional network by seeking new connections and opportunities for collaboration and growth.
3. Network Strategically
Attend industry events and meetups, join professional organizations and connect with people in your field. Networking can help you learn about new opportunities and open doors to success.
Venture into uncharted waters by meeting new people. Although it may feel uncomfortable at first, go up and introduce yourself to strangers. You’ll improve at small talk, an important skill, and slowly build your confidence.
Your social connections play a role in your growth and development. Motivational speaker Jim Rohn famously said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Surround yourself with individuals who mirror your values and goals.
4. Seek A Mentor
Although it’s intimidating to ask for help and guidance, you’ll never get what you want if you don’t. You don’t have to go it alone. Build a board of directors around you to help you grow and succeed. Reach out to people you respect and ask if they could be your mentor. Look for an apprenticeship program at a company you’d like to join. Find a coach who can help push you to reach your goals.
5. Demand Overdue Recognition
Instead of complaining to your co-workers and family about being mistreated and unappreciated at the office, start taking matters into your own hands. Request a meeting with your boss, human resources or a senior-level executive to communicate your grievances and any expectations or needs you have moving forward.
Let them know how you feel about being taken for granted. Show them the data that you’ve exceeded expectations and deserve to get a raise, promotion, bonus and higher corporate title.
6. Embrace Failure
We all worry about failing at something. The fear of failure is so great that some people never leave their comfort zone and even try to do something different. If you have a passion and aptitude for something, go for it. Start small and slowly build up. If something works, that’s great. If not, it’s a learning and growing experience. You can add this knowledge to your tool kit for the future.
7. Step Outside Of Your Comfort Zone
You learn and grow personally and professionally by pushing and challenging yourself.
Don’t be afraid to pursue a career pivot or job switch if you’re unhappy in your current role, company or profession.
You have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. One way to broaden your horizons is by moving to a new city or country. Relocating may feel scary or daunting, but it can also be a great way to advance your career. If you’re willing to put yourself out there, you could find yourself with more opportunities and a higher salary.
Although you risk upsetting people, push yourself to set boundaries and say “no” more often. Don’t be afraid to turn things down that don’t align with your goals or values. This will free up your time and energy to focus on the most important things to you.
Stretch your limits by taking on a leadership role in a high-profile project or initiative, demonstrating your ability to lead and inspire others. When there is a big project, raise your hand and volunteer to participate or run the initiative. Demonstrate your value to the organization and your readiness for new challenges. Leading a team and working on new projects will get you noticed by key executives. Conversely, if you put your head down when asked, you’ll never grow and blossom within the firm.
Be intellectually curious and adopt new technologies. AI, cybersecurity, data analytics, coding and other tech-related jobs are hot and continue to grow. Take online courses to learn top, in-demand skills. Things are moving fast. You need to build and grow a skill stack to stay relevant and get ahead of the competition.
8. Be Yourself
Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Embrace your unique personality and talents, and let them shine through in everything you do. The most important thing you can do is believe in yourself and your abilities. If you don’t believe you can achieve your goals, no one else will.
9. Take A Career Break
You may be feeling sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. Maybe it’s time to take a timeout. If you feel burned out, disconnected and disengaged from work, you are not helping yourself or anyone else. Consider taking a sabbatical or career break to recharge and refocus, allowing yourself the time and space to pursue new opportunities and interests.
10. Run For Public Office
Be the change that you want to see. Look into running for office. Start locally in your community, then build a base and think bigger if your dream lies there. Why shouldn’t you run for Congress if you have the smarts, drive, ethics, and desire to promote positive change?
Source: Forbes
