TRY EVERYTHING
The surefire way to career success isn’t to settle on an area of specialisation early on, putting in substantial amounts of time to become an expert. On the contrary, mounting evidence suggests that dabbling in a little bit of everything early on in your career pays off in dividends in the long run.
According to the research, early specialisers often quit their career tracks while late specialisers earn more money in the long-term. This is because late specialisers tend to pick careers that are better suited for them. Therefore, they tend to be more engaged and ascend the ladder much more quickly, earning them bigger salaries in the long-term.
Even more, late specialisers also accumulate a broader knowledge base along the way, making them more creative and better problem-solvers. They find it easier to adapt to changing environments like that which the COVID-19 pandemic has presented us with.
So, even if you are happy in your current role and working with a great team of people, pursuing new opportunities will pay off big time, growing your skill set, perspective and inventiveness.
Remember, your limit is only your starting point; so many possibilities await. So stretch and grow and try everything.
Don’t sleep on this burnout prevention strategy: a career nap. The term, coined by wellness practitioner and Burning Bright: Rituals, Reiki, and Self-Care to Heal Burnout, Anxiety and Stress author Kelsey Patel, is loosely defined as a mindful break from daily work grind.
Whether that means a proper month-long career sabbatical or a decrease in energy output by roughly half for a short period of time, a career nap offers the perfect respite to give your mind and body a break.
And it seems with all the COVID-19 chaos and the trending Great Resignation, this rest stop on the way to success is needed more now than ever. Recent research shows that greater than four in 10 employees feel more burned out than they did the year prior.
The only catch is that, during the break, you have to give yourself permission to truly let go, enjoy the rest and have faith that taking a break won’t compromise your ability to achieve success – whatever that might look like to you.
Expert tip: Can’t financially commit to a month or more off work or want to take baby steps to ease into a career nap? Then try giving yourself mini brain breaks with meditation, journalling and fitness for a quick refresh.
Two friends from high school founded the San Francisco-based startup Brex that is aiming to overhaul the corporate credit card, and now, they’re 20-something billionaires.
Co-Founders and Co-CEOs Henrique Dubugras, 26, and Pedro Franceschi, 25, each hold a 14 per cent stake in Brex. And after raising money for their fintech at an €10.9 billion valuation in January, their estimated worth is now around €1.3 billion each.
Thinking about starting a business with your mate? Know it doesn’t come without its challenges. However, if you go for it, remember communication is key to keeping the line between work and play from blurring.
- The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward Dan Pink: Released in February, this must-read draws on research in social psychology, neuroscience and biology to explore regret – an “indispensable emotion” to make better decisions, improve performance and find greater meaning in both our personal and professional lives.
- Anti-Racist Leadership: How to Transform Corporate Culture In A Race-Conscious World James D. White: The former Jamba Juice CEO tripled diversity among senior executives during his time with the company. And with this new book, he shares that capitalism is built on a foundation of systemic racism and tells business leaders what they can do to make lasting change from their position of power.
- Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most Cassie Holmes: Find out how to minimise distraction and utilise your time in a way that is more meaningful and satisfying with this new book set to release in September.
