An inventor is simply a fellow who doesn’t take his education too seriously. —Charles F. Kettering, Inventor, businessman (1876–1958)
Many of my clients, who come to me, complain about stagnation in their jobs, or even their careers. In many cases I find that they have stayed in one place or job and have not ventured out beyond what they acquired as their original educational discipline or skills.
Education plays a big role in one’s getting ready for their life’s challenges. It is, though, often a double-edged sword: on the one hand it molds your mind to deal with new challenges by equipping you with the academic discipline, knowledge, and tools—learning how to learn; but on the other, it limits your perspective with what you have learned and how you have learned it as you educate yourself in a particular discipline. To vivify your career cross-discipline engagements and activities are key to both, your personal development and your ongoing success.
So, what is the message for those who feel fettered by their education or being in one job too long to pursue new avenues to channel their creativity? Here are some avenues:
- If you are a student diversify your coursework with topics that are way outside your main pursuit or core coursework to get a different perspective and to learn how a very different academic discipline provides a new insight. This will open your mind to new possibilities, even as you graduate, and will prepare you to do this as an adult.
- If you are already in a career and headed towards stagnation take some courses that will not just advance your skill, but that will also open your mind to new possibilities.
- In your professional life, venture out and take on new challenges that require you to learn new skills and to attack problems outside your comfort zone. Taking on new challenges expands your mind and gives you the confidence to tackle even greater challenges. Most people grossly underestimate their potential.
- In one of my earlier blogs I emphasized that if you are in one job too long (without advancement for more than three years, or in one company for more than six), you must consider making a major change by taking some risk and by seeking some guidance. In today’s workplace there are so many business challenges that merely looking at job boards is not enough to consider another job. Prospectively explore how you can leverage your special and unique skills in an entirely new direction, both within your company and outside.
- Talk to your customers and find new ways to create exciting experiences for them. Bring that knowledge into your workplace and propose changes to how things are routinely done.
- Learn how your competitors are addressing new challenges in the market and find avenues to surpass your competitors.
- Network with others who typically do not belong in your professional circle. Go out of the way to tap people who made a name for themselves in an entirely different field and observe how they think and tackle their challenges.
- Find mentors in different areas of expertise and those who have accomplished something worthwhile. If you are taking on a new challenge in a venturesome direction their guidance and inspiration can help you achieve your goals.
- Do not be afraid to fail. It is the fear of failure that holds people back from trying new things. Also, each failure—more than a success—teaches a new lesson, which helps us grow. So, congratulate yourself every time you have a setback and learn how to overcome it.
10. While you are pursuing new avenues to grow do not lose sight of your expected mission in your job and deliver excellence wherever you are.
Getting comfortable at one station in your life is the source of one’s stagnation. So, go and venture out to seek new paths and surprise yourself!
Good luck!