Being persistent isn’t easy.
For me, this theme has been prevalent in my career. Throughout my education, various jobs, career path, and now to running my own business, persistence is what has been key to my success.
It hasn’t always been easy. Being persistent is about being mindful of what’s here and now to help me get to where I want to be.
Here are five steps to help you be more persistent while you create your next advancement opportunity. Each step hopefully gives you a little insight into what you are already doing, or what you can do, to be more mindful about your career and your impact.
- Know Your Why.
There is a reason why you do the work you do. And there is another, and perhaps more powerful reason, about why that is so important to you. To be persistent, you must tap into your “Why.” Tap into the reasons why the work is so empowering to you and what it means for you every day to go to work.
Often, the work that is most meaningful to us is directly connected to our core values. When we honor our core values, we live more authentically. We “SHOW UP” professionally and energetically to best serve our team, our organization, and our clients/customers.
- Create Your Plan.
When you have a goal in mind, something very important to you, you create a plan to help achieve that goal. Having a plan keeps you focused and present. Your plan should encompass short-term and long-term goals. Whatever goal setting method/practice you choose, and I’m going to borrow a line from one of my bowling coaches Fred Borden, “Plan your work and work your plan.”
Some people write their plans in a journal. Others post them to social media and believe that when they put their plan out there, they are fully committing to it. Others create vision boards. Some use a meditation or centering practice to be mindful of their goals.
It doesn’t matter what method you use. Find something that works for you and stick to it. A big key is being held accountable. Who is your accountability partner to help you create and execute your plan?
- Update Your Social Media Often.
Keep your social media accounts up to date. If you are networking and staying connected with other like-minded professionals, LinkedIn is a must. If there is one component to your LinkedIn profile that needs the most attention, it is your professional summary. Make sure that the few sentences directly under your name reflect precisely who you are, what you do, and why you do it. Use the power of connection to build your network.
Always remember that whenever you send a connection request to someone on LinkedIn, include a personal message telling them why you want to connect. This makes your connection more personal and lets the other person know that you’re not some kind of robot sending messages.
Lastly, whenever I get a connection request from someone who didn’t include a message, I accept the connection request and follow-up with a message. I thank them for the connection request and ask them what was their motivation for wanting to connect with me. This always opens up a dialogue and helps me make a more valuable connection.
- Adapt, Adjust, and Be Fluid.
There will be bumps along the road. Prepare for them and be ready when they happen. And if you are not prepared, just go with it. You know what to do. Being able to adapt, adjust, and be fluid helps you keep your eyes on your goals. Have you ever tried to go on a diet and stayed perfect the whole time? I haven’t. Being persistent means, you plan for the detours and lane changes on your career highway. It’s okay.
Remember, you get to decide how you want to “SHOW UP” energetically and professionally. Develop a mindset that allows you to adapt, adjust, and be fluid while keeping your goals and persistence in tact.
- Leverage Your Network.
Who do you truly value in your network? I mean, who do you REALLY appreciate in your network? These are the people whom you trust the most. And, these are the people whom you rely on when you are creating your next advancement opportunity. Trusted colleagues, dear friends, mentors, and yes, coaches (subtle plug…LOL) are all helpful as you work toward achieving your goals. When I work with my one-on-one clients, I help them achieve their goals and help them be persistent at doing that. It’s about support, motivation, being challenged when permission is given, and being there for them to help them reach their goals.
One tip to help you leverage your network more effectively is to “go for the ask.” When I help my clients network, one of the biggest challenges they face is “going for the ask.” They sometimes get caught in hoping that their network will just be there for them. Well, we can’t expect them to be mind readers. Therefore, we have to “ask” for what we want, and that means asking very specifically and intentionally. After all, what’s the worse they are going to say? It’s okay to ask for help and leverage your network.
If you are thinking about what is next in your career, and you are ready to create your next advancement opportunity, let’s talk. I help my clients determine what’s next for them on their career journey without feeling overwhelmed and underwater. Email me at john@johnneral.com, and let’s talk about creating your next advancement opportunity.