The new year is around the corner, and if you don't believe the Mayans, you are making plans for 2013 to be much better than 2012 and taking your career to the next level. While making your resolutions to create a better YOU in 2013, there are so many things to consider. I've simplified it, however, and boiled it down to three simple things that will put on your path to growth and success like never before.
Know that nothing is EASY.
I tricked you there, didn't I? If the title of "EASY resolutions" excited you, then you need to take a minute and recalibrate your internal system. This a probably a direct reason why you may have not been successful in 2012. Nothing that is worth anything is ever easy. We see the great desire of "30 minutes abs" or "get rich quick" schemes in America because the majority of people desire microwave success. To start that business that you've always desired or have that loving relationship with your spouse, it takes hard work and perseverance. Just by accepting and realizing this is the case, on the days when it seems like everything is going wrong, it will be much "easier" to handle, as you will realize that means you are working towards something worthy of your time and energy.
Read. Read. Read.
I often share the fact that top CEO's say they read, on average, 60 books a year, while the average person reads less than one. Couple this with the fact that CEO's make 380 times the salary of the median income in America and you can see how truly powerful this is. Reading is the key to learning the tips, strategies, and best practices that can help you be successful without having to actually go through the experiences. This often leads to great lessons that will accelerate your growth and, subsequent, achievement. I do this simply by reading 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes at night (when possible), along with listening to audiobooks in my car. You can easily digest 50-80 books (depending on how fast you read) a year by doing this. I do know individuals who do not read who are somewhat successful, but they will never reach their full potential as long as they refuse to utilize the wealth of information that others have shared that will take their career to an entirely different level.
Embrace fear and use it as your "do it" signal
I'm in sales so I know how you can get that feeling of trepidation when having to make that sales call or presentation to a high level executive or ask for that increase in cost that you think could lose you the deal. How to overcome such fear is simply to use it as the signal to do it right then. Often, when we are put in situations in which we have the opportunity to speak up or do something bold (but that we know is right), we let that quick feeling of fear in our chest hold us back.
Instead of letting that fear make you pause and hesitate to move forward, use it at the catalyst to do what you are afraid of. The secret to this is that the more you do it, the more that fear will dissipate as time goes on. The other secret (and way more impacting in my opinion) is that it may NEVER go away completely, but you have to continue to fight against it to achieve the goals you desire. That's right. Individuals who are seemingly "cool and collected" in all situations feel the same fear as you before a big presentation or action. The difference is that they've built up the habit to embrace this to move forward regardless and, subsequently, seem fearless in the eyes of others. You won't be able to achieve your true success until you do so as well.
Easy - schmeasy. Success takes hard work. If not, 10% of the America's population wouldn't hold 74.5% of it's wealth. For 2013, make sure to use this three tips to work through the difficult times to become part of this 10% and truly make 2013 the best year ever!
Ken Middleton is an Account Executive at TEKsystems that specializes in IT staffing and sales. He is a graduate of UNC-Pembroke and current MBA student at Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech.
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