She Strengthens

Building a Successful Career: It’s All About the Little Things

When we think about our career goals, we often focus on achieving some grand, aspirational result. However, the reality is that careers are not built overnight. It takes time, effort, and dedication to reach those big milestones. As someone who has navigated the twists and turns of their own career path, I’ve learned that it’s the small, everyday rituals, habits, and accomplishments that truly make a difference.

Prioritizing Tasks to Prevent Burnout

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the importance of prioritizing tasks to prevent burnout. It’s easy to get caught up in trying to do everything at once, but this can lead to exhaustion and decreased productivity. Instead, I start each day by making a simple to-do list, circling the top three most important tasks, and adding them to my online calendar. This helps me focus on what’s truly important and avoid getting bogged down in busywork.

Tracking Achievements

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized the importance of tracking my achievements. It’s easy to forget about past accomplishments, especially as they pile up over time. That’s why I’ve started using a portfolio website to track my achievements in detail. This not only helps me remember my successes but also provides a valuable resource for future job interviews and promotions.

Identifying Skills and Strengths

Another key aspect of career development is identifying your skills and strengths. As a career coach, I’ve seen many people struggle to articulate their skills and strengths. To combat this, I’ve started writing down the skills I utilize in a day and observing myself as if I’m watching myself in a movie. This helps me identify areas where I excel and areas where I need to improve.

Developing Leadership Skills

Reaching my career goals will also require me to grow as a leader. To do this, I’ve started writing down the leadership and management styles I like and want to adopt. This helps me identify what kind of leader I want to be and what qualities I need to develop to get there.

The Importance of Personal Connections

Finally, I’ve learned the importance of creating meaningful relationships with my coworkers. In today’s fast-paced work environment, it’s easy to forget about the people around us. However, these relationships are crucial for reaching our professional goals. By taking the time to check in with my coworkers on something non-work-related, I’ve been able to build stronger relationships and work more effectively as a team.

Putting it All Together

While it can be tempting to focus on the big accomplishments, it’s the small tasks we do every day that truly get us where we want to go. By prioritizing tasks, tracking achievements, identifying skills and strengths, developing leadership skills, and building personal connections, I’ve been able to make progress towards my career goals. If you’re looking to start tracking your achievements and building your own portfolio website, consider using Squarespace. With a free trial and a range of templates to choose from, it’s easy to get started.