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Aim Higher: Simple Tips to Progress Your Career

When a door closes, a window opens.

 The best career advice I ever got was simple: You can do it.

 That's it. No embellishments. No clever analogies. No long winded message. You can do it, people have told me. With each time someone said it, I tried something new. I've succeeded. I've failed. And I've succeeded again. But this story isn't unique to me. You have likely experienced the same thing. That's how we all manage to work together in one of our nation's top thriving business hubs, progressing this company forward every day. If someone hasn't said it to you lately, I'd be glad to do the honors: You. Can. Do. It.

 So you can stop reading here if that was enough to rediscover your drive. But if you are looking for further inspiration, take a look at the top career rules I follow. They give me motivation to do my best, and hopefully, they'll do the same for you.

 Play to your strengths

 Think about what drew you to your career in the first place—a certain skill, ability, expertise, or passion. That is your strength. Use it. Are you good at numbers? Have excellent people skills? Intuitive knack for leadership? Even though the times are changing, talents don't disappear. You can always find a way to integrate your strengths as resources in the workplace.

 Bring your whole self to work

 There has never been a better time to leverage our similarities and differences. Just like the universities we partner with move forward to shape a more inclusive audience, so should we. So voice your opinion, tell us something we overlooked, share your cultural insights. Greater diversity of thought leads to greater diversity of work. Trust me, si se puede.

 Always be learning
Though many of us have grown from novice to seasoned professional, there is always room for improvement. That doesn't have to be a setback, in fact, it could be your competitive advantage. I recommend staying up to date on professional best practices by reading. Don't have time to read? Try a business podcast. Join an association. Find a mentor. Do what you can to up your skills and expand your reach, as a result, you will get more workplace visibility.

 Introverts! There is a place for you, too

 You may not be able to spotlight your areas of strength, so I'll do it for you. As an introvert, you have the power of observation, the ability to read people like a book, and the discipline to think before you speak. The business world needs you. If you need more of a pick-me-up, try this book "The Introvert's Complete Career Guide" by Jane Finkle

 So what's next?

 Even with all this, the most important thing you can do for your career is take interest. Find joy in the work you do. Take pride in your achievements. Seek out new opportunities to showcase your talents and contribute to your department's success. The rest will follow. And remember, you can do it.

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