Stop Listening to Everyone
Worst career advice: Listening to others
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Read time - Less than 5 minutes
Whenever you want to carry out your passionate work, people would say things like:
"Even I can't do it, how can you?"
"It's just how life is, suck it up!"
"Who likes to work? LOL."
"Don't waste your time"
We've all been there.
You share your exciting plans and are met with these negativities.
In today’s newsletter, I will discuss why listening to everyone is a bad idea and 5 actionable takeaways to trust your career plans.
These voices are often unhelpful, they can make us question our passions and even abandon our dreams.
It's crucial to remember that these opinions are often based on personal biases and limited experiences.
Perhaps they never even attempted what you're striving for, choosing to justify their inaction with a discouraging remark.
And it’s hard to form your independent decisions if you keep listening to them.
My trainer, Jack Butcher said:
An abundance of connectivity means you're only ever a second away from another opinion. It's very difficult to build independent conviction if you form a focus group to review your every decision.
Here are 5 actionable takeaways to pursue your career plans despite the negativity:
1) Recognise & Dismiss Limiting Beliefs
When encountering phrases like:
"Even I can't..."
"It's just how life is..."
"Who likes to work..."
"Don't waste your time…"
Recognise them as limiting beliefs stemming from biases and experiences, not objective truths.
2) Limit External Opinions
Be selective about who you share your plans with, especially in the early stages.
Seek advice from those who have achieved what you aspire to, not those who discourage you without even trying.
The key here is to question these opinions: Are they based on real, experienced facts or fear?
3) Have an Independent Conviction
Spend time reflecting on your own goals and motivations.
You do this by trusting your intuition and the validity of your dreams.
Nassim Taleb said in his commencement address:
I hesitate to advise because every major single piece of advice I was given turned out to be wrong and I am glad I didn’t follow them…
If I had to relive my life I would be even more stubborn and uncompromising than I have been.
4) Embrace Failure as a Learning Opportunity
Develop a clear plan for your passionate career and start taking steps towards it, no matter how small.
Inaction breeds regret.
View potential setbacks as valuable learning experiences and celebrate every step you take, no matter the outcome.
5) Remember: You are the author of your own career story
Being the author of your own career story means you have the power to shape your journey.
You choose your career goals and the themes that define your life.
Write a story that is authentically yours by:
Recognising & dismissing limiting beliefs
Limiting external opinions
Having an independent conviction
Embracing failure as a learning opportunity
Feeling lost in your career?
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See you next week.
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