We have often talked about discovering our strongest trait to be successful in life. Now today we are going to talk about the direction in which the strongest trait has to be worked upon. It is simple theory but still we forget, if we row our boat in the direction of winds, our sail will be smoother and quicker, isn't it? Whereas if we try to direct our energy in opposite direction of winds, a lot of resistance has to be faced and the sail will be tough with unwanted delays. If you have that wisdom to discover the smartest path, you are already in the right direction.
In Today's highly competitive world, it is the need of the hour to be ‘smart workers’ and to be ‘smart workers’, you need to put your energy in the right direction. Here are few benchmarks:
Consider your personality in your career-planning: Remember that you are a human being long before you are a professional. Your comfort and happiness matters. Consider your personality type carefully before you commit to a career path. Introspect, do you like to sit for long hours and work or you want to be on move? Do you like to talk to people and socialise or sit at your desk and write something.? Your personality type plays a vital role in choosing the right career.
Make careful choices about where to study: The choices that you make even at the stage of deciding what to study, will greatly influence your career. It is important to pick an option that will speak to your long term goals and equip you with core skills. Be sure to choose a reputable college or institution of learning that has a solid reputation that will hold up in industry.
Find your strengths and follow your intrinsic interest: Take a little time to introspect, but also ask others for feedback on what you think your strengths and abilities are. Your strengths and the things that you are passionate about will be the power that you bring to the professional world.
Take criticism positively: While it is important to interface with family members and peers about your career choices, you must also protect your dreams. Too often there are ill-informed people out there who will feed you doubt and stomp on your dreams. Have the presence of mind to take a step back and separate your intentions from the influence of others. Take criticism positively to be well prepared. Drive your own career path.
Go for internships before deciding: If you would like to formalise your work-experience why not take up an internship? Sometimes internships get a bad rap for being nothing more than a way for senior staff members to get the coffee served to them.
But if you choose the organisation that you are working for carefully, you should come away with very valuable work experience. While you are an intern be sure to get assigned to a mentor so that your entry into the professional world is a guided experience.
Create your own opportunities: Some of the world's most successful entrepreneurs found success because they had no other option but to create their own sunshine. There is nothing wrong with being entrepreneurially-minded, even earlier on in your career. Use your skills to start-up your own consultancy or small business and network with industry professionals.
Consider remuneration value: Having a dream and something to strive towards is admirable. But you do have to take a balanced approach. With bills to pay and money that is sorely needed to live your life, you may need to reconsider your route to your dream. Examine the core values of your dream job and find something similar which balances your needs and dreams.
The writer is Pallavi Prakash, Founder-CEO Knowledge Seed Learning Center & Motivational/Corporate Trainer