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As much as you may want to stay on the clock 24-7, chasing leads and locking down the next deal, it's important to allow yourself time to decompress. Great salespeople know in order to always be closing, sometimes you have to step away for a few. Pulling back from planning and pitching, however, doesn't mean your free time can't be spent putting yourself in position for future sales success.
Discover how to spend free time in ways that don't just help you relax, but also help you continue to sharpen your saw, refine critical skills, and increase your value in the workplace. In this infographic, Cydcor shows you how a few sales titans have used their favorite activities, hobbies and interests to help push themselves to the apex of their industries. You'll meet the man whose sales techniques helped shape modern sales and the woman who turned the color pink into big green. You'll learn the greatest sin in sales and see how the greats have even turned their hobbies into record-breaking achievements.
We hope you'll use these examples to help guide how to spend your free time. Print it out and post it at your desk, or use it when you just need a little extra motivation. The next time you're considering working through the weekend, consider instead how you can make the most of your leisure time by finding activities that feed your need to unwind while also fueling your passion for long-term growth.
Share on social media to inspire others. If you're looking for help with time management techniques or productivity tips, we can help in those departments too. Just don't forget to build in some time away for yourself.
Have you taken the time to ponder what you really want in life? Is there a bigger picture that drives you – a future that you feel deeply passionate about? Do you know what will give you an ultimate sense of peace and fulfillment? People find their internal motivations in a variety of ways, whether it’s focusing on providing for the ones they love most, envisioning the life they’d like to build for themselves, overcoming personal challenges and weaknesses, or conquering ambitious goals. Whatever you choose as your personal internal motivation, it has to be something that truly matters to you. Have you clarified your “why?”
#1: When you know your “why,” you have a reason to jump out of bed each morning.
Nothing is more mobilizing than having a purpose. It’s arguably better than a bucket of cold water being splashed on your face. When you have a compelling vision for your future as your internal motivation, you can’t help but to get up, get moving, and do all you can to have a productive day―even when no one’s standing there ready to pour.
#2: When you know your “why,” you develop successful habits.
Anyone who’s serious about their big picture goals wants to achieve them sooner rather than later, so they don’t have time for bad habits. People with a “why” design their day to day lives to lead them towards the future they want. They realize that since success isn’t achieved overnight, the fastest way to get to their goals is to remain self-disciplined throughout the week.
#3: When you know your “why,” you stay the course.
People who know where they’re going don’t just turn the car around and go home when they see a road block. That would only delay their ETA! They’ve got somewhere to be and they have every intention of getting there―no matter what challenges they face along the journey.
#4: When you know your “why,” you’re a stronger leader.
Everyone likes to follow someone who knows where they’re going―particularly since so many people don’t. When you’re on a mission for greatness, you attract like-minded people who are excited about joining you on your journey. Your contagious passion will make you a compelling leader who others will happily get behind.
#5: When you know your “why,” you’re more comfortable with sacrifice.
No one necessarily likes the idea of giving up one thing in order to have another―but there’s no such thing as actually “having it all.” The thing about making sacrifices, though, is that it’s all in the eye of the beholder. If you aren’t passionate about specific end goals, you’ll feel resentful about what you’re giving up. But if you are―when you really know your “why” and are grounded in your internal motivation―you’ll be ready and willing to do whatever it takes to acquire the things you want the most. As Friedrich Nietzsche said, “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”
#6: When you know your “why,” you avoid unnecessary regret.
When you don’t have a grand plan, it’s easy to end up somewhere you don’t want to be. And the tricky part is that most people don’t know it until they’re already there. You can avoid looking back with anguish by making choices that are in sync with your greater vision. Connecting the dots from the short term to the long term will prevent loads of haphazard decisions that you’ll wish you didn’t make.
#7: When you know your “why,” you don’t get burned out.
When you’re passionate about your vision and truly driven by your internal motivation, all of your hard work is for an important cause. Even when the hustle gets exhausting, you know that you’re building towards the future you want. Your burning desire to get there provides the fuel you need to keep going.
#8: When you know your “why,” you’re a happier person.
Living a meaningful life is one the absolute best ways to become a happier, more positive person. When you care deeply about your end goals and you get to chip away at them every day, you can’t help but to feel grateful and excited about what’s to come.
If you’ve just finished reading this and you’ve realized “I don’t know my why!” don’t worry. Make it a priority to sit down with a mentor or wise friend to dig deep about what you want for your future.
If you’re someone who knows your “why,” tell us in the comments below! We’d love to hear what drives you and how your vision has helped you in your career.
Saturday, Oct. 13th is National Train Your Brain Day! In honor of this heady holiday, here are some valuable tricks and tips you can use to keep your brain fast, fit, and fired up. Like much of our bodies, brainpower can be a game of “use it or lose it.” Just as it’s important to continue going to the gym and staying active throughout our lives, exercising our mind muscle is just as critical to help keep our brains sharp, especially as we age. The good news is there are simple brain exercises that can help keep your mind firing on all cylinders for years to come. In fact, you may already be doing some of these brain-enriching activities without realizing that you're also helping to maintain your brain power.
Brain Exercise #1: Read
This may seem like a no-brainer (pun intended), but reading engages our minds in a variety of ways. It doesn't matter what you like to read, whether it's sci-fi, high fantasy, murder mysteries or non-fiction in your fields of interest. Read anything and everything, as much as you can. This will help your brain engage with new ideas, spark your imagination, and more. Reading is also a great way to renew and refresh your analytical thinking skills. Reading has many benefits, and you should work to make it a lifelong habit. Whether you're a die-hard library fan or find it simpler to roll with your e-reader or phone, this brain exercise is portable and vital to maintaining a healthy, active mind.
Brain Exercise #2: Craft
When you create something with your own two hands, you use your brain to ideate, follow instructions, and problem-solve. Research by the Mayo Clinic has shown that knitting and other handcrafts can reduce the risk of cognitive impairment,[i] while other studies have shown that crafting can help improve memory, enhance social skills, and promote mindfulness as well as helping you generally manage stress.[ii] This type of brain exercise can include knitting, crochet, sewing, woodworking, leather tooling, and many other types of creative crafting, so experiment to find one that speaks to you. If you can't find classes or craft groups near you, consider mining YouTube videos and other online resources.
Brain Exercise #3: Learn a Language
Learning another language is a great way to exercise your brain. The challenges of mastering another language can give your memory a workout in addition to activating the language centers of your brain — not to mention helping you out when you travel! Even if you don't become fluent in your chosen language, you will probably have some cultural knowledge and basic vocabulary to help you navigate everyday interactions the next time you're abroad. And don't forget to think outside the language box: you could learn coding languages or American Sign Language and communicate in new-to-you ways.
Brain Exercise #4: Games
Even if Sudoku isn't your thing, there are plenty of other games out there that can double as brain exercises. Crossword puzzles, matching games, and memory games are just some examples of more traditional games you can find in convenient workbooks. (Whether you use pen or pencil is up to you!) You can also find a huge selection of free game apps that will challenge your brain with mazes, color gradient sorting, and other unique puzzles to solve. Don’t rule out video games, either! Studies have shown that educational games and video games can help improve brain function, structure and cognitive ability.[iii]
Brain Exercise #5: Exercise
Yes, exercising your body can help keep your mind healthy, too. Learning new skills and building familiar ones will help give your mind a workout while the rest of you benefits from exercise endorphins (not to mention burning calories, improving heart health and more). In fact, studies have shown that physical activity can help protect us against cognitive decline and dementia later in life.[iv] See whether your local community center or gyms offer classes and pursue that activity you always wanted to try, be it archery, cycling, salsa dancing, or whatever appeals most to you!
Brain exercises can be as simple as increasing activities you do anyway (like reading or playing games), or they can be new challenges for your mind and body. Keeping your mind sharp is important as you age, but it can also help you stay on the ball in times of high stress. Whether you're pursuing a high stakes sales job or simply navigating your busy life, brain exercises are a great way to give yourself an edge.
[i] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3204924/
[ii] https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/01/25/the-health-benefits-of-knitting/
[iii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4513287/
[iv] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5440589/
There’s no one right way to lead a team, but there are tried and true formulas for success. As you grow in your career, you’ll get more and more experience leading people. An understanding of different well-known and proven types of leadership can help you find the right path that resonates for you. Find the right leadership style for you, and set your team up for success.
Democratic Leadership Style
Democratic leaders strive to sincerely include their team in the decision making process rather than going it alone. This type of leadership allows the whole team to participate in―and take ownership of―the organization’s direction. This highly participatory style promotes high levels of job satisfaction, workplace morale and creativity. Everyone feels connected to the overall health and well-being of the organization. However, just like any leadership style, it does have its drawbacks. Soliciting advice from one’s team can be time consuming if decisions are needed quickly. Also, it relies on all team members being well informed. Democratic leaders need to strike a balance within their team of both decisive action and rich participation.
Transformational Leadership Style
Transformational leaders work with their team to implement improvement and growth. Charismatic and intellectual, these leaders redirect their team’s thinking towards a better tomorrow. The transformational leader solicits input from her team to identify what areas of the organization require change, creates the vision to guide that change, and then works with her team to execute the redirection. These big-picture thinkers may require teammates around them who are more detail-oriented to implement processes, and they need to develop strategies for soliciting their teammates’ assistance.
Coaching Leadership Style
Coaching leaders thrive in one-on-one mentoring situations. They help to define their team members’ goals, align those goals to the organization and then assist team members as they pursue their goals. The coaching style of leadership can be thought of as a sort of win-win relationship between the leader and her teammates. Coaching leaders help their team members to develop professionally, and they also thereby bolster the health of the overall organization. However, it can be easy to go overboard with this type of leadership and engage in behaviors that border on micromanagement. Coaching leaders need to yield their influence tactfully.
Visionary Leadership Style
Visionary leaders articulate where they see an organization heading in the future. They craft compelling―and often unheard-of―visions of what an organization can become. This style of leadership acts to inspire the team towards a shared goal. The internal drive they spark in their team members frees up creativity, and that freedom allows all the team members to delve into innovative strategies on how to get from Point A to Point B. However, visionary leaders need to keep in close contact with their team and stay involved in the team’s progression. Such an approach keeps everyone grounded as they strive towards the future.
Pacesetting Leadership Style
Pacesetting leaders like to lead by example, first and foremost. They rely on their unbridled enthusiasm and work ethic to establish the standards they expect from others. They are the roll-up-the-sleeves-and-get-dirty types. Pacesetting leaders are particularly adept at driving results, because they set the bar so high. They demonstrate to their team that no one is above the work required to accomplish goals. Pacesetting leaders should be cautious, however, and strive not to become single-minded. Narrowing one’s vision down to a single goal―or several―can mean that effective feedback and mentoring get neglected. Pacesetting leaders need to check in with their team members or a regular basis.
It is likely that you recognize one or more of these types of leadership in your own style. It’s rare that any one individual engenders just one leadership style. Explore which styles resonate with you. By cultivating a dynamic leadership style that encompasses a number of different approaches, you can find the right tools within yourself to tackle even the largest challenges.
No one likes conflict, but the good news is that the toughest conversations can also be the most fruitful. If you’re struggling to deliver negative feedback, there are lots of things you can do to minimize tension and achieve a positive result. Check out Cydcor’s tips for making your next difficult conversation go more smoothly.
Listen and Acknowledge
When emotions are running high, it helps to remind yourself to take a step back and just listen. Make an effort to hear the other person out. Resist the urge to interject. Show that you’re listening by maintaining eye contact, nodding and reflecting back what was said. You don’t have to be in agreement in order to make the other person feel like he or she has been heard.
Stay Focused on the Issue at Hand
Don’t make a difficult conversation even harder to navigate by bringing up unrelated grievances. Keep the focus of your discussion as narrow as possible, and avoid airing out other frustrations that come into your mind while you’re talking.
Make Sure Your Words Match your Intentions
Never go into a tough conversation without putting some serious thought into how you want the other person to feel -- and ultimately, what you’d like them to do. Assuming your intention is to influence new positive behavior rather than to cut ties, you’ll want to steer clear of any language that is discouraging, accusatory or hurtful. Be careful not to sabotage what you really want to accomplish by saying what feels good in the moment.
Watch Your Tone of Voice and Body Language
Remember, it’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it. Set the stage for a constructive conversation by keeping your tone of voice positive and your body language neutral. Avoid speaking too loudly, sounding irritated, sighing out loud, rolling your eyes or crossing your arms.
Don’t Exaggerate
This is where it helps to be prepared! Make your next difficult conversation go more smoothly by citing specific facts and instances, rather than making generalizations or referring to vague circumstances in the past. Avoid embellishing or using words like “always” or “never,” which are bound to trigger a defensive response.
Keep an Open Mind
This one’s tough. As human beings, we’re not generally good at realizing we’re wrong. But do the best you can to consider the merits of the other person’s point of view. Perhaps there are circumstances you didn’t know about or facts that weren’t clear before. You never know, maybe you’ll see things differently by the end of the conversation.
Focus on What’s Next
Once you’ve addressed where you’d like to see change, shift the focus of the conversation to the future. Put on your problem-solving hat and delve into a constructive conversation about how both parties will behave moving forward, and ideally, how you can work together to achieve a positive outcome.
Do you have your own tips for tackling tough conversations? We’d love to hear! Share them with Cydcor on social media.
Just getting started in your career? Chances are, your brother’s new girlfriend, last night’s Uber driver, and your second cousin once-removed have all offered their wisdom. While, certainly, you’re lucky to be surrounded by a well-meaning community, deciphering good career advice from bad career advice is no easy task.
When it comes to making smart career moves, the stakes couldn’t be higher. So, before you follow one of these four pieces of bad advice, be sure to think twice.
“You need work-life balance”
Building a successful career requires long hours; don’t let the popularized “work-life balance” lingo trick you. It doesn’t matter if you’re an athlete, a sales representative, or a scientist: the top achievers in any industry are those who’ve lived unbalanced lives in order to get to where they are today.
This isn’t to say that spending time with loved ones and taking time to recharge aren’t important ― of course they are. That said, if you’re just launching your career, now is the time to grind. Delay gratification. Invest your time and energy into building. Balance will come later.
“Give it a try”
This is another piece of bad career advice often imparted to young people. On one hand, it’s great to keep an open mind to new opportunities. But on the other, “trying something out” is often the same as making the premature decision to quit when challenges arise.
Anything worth doing is going to require an unwavering commitment. This means not giving up at the first sign of discomfort; or in other words, closing your back doors. No matter the career path you choose, if you want to reap the benefits, you have to stay the course.
“Choose a job that doesn’t feel like work”
It probably hasn't been long since you've seen this popular Confucius quote appear on one of your social media feeds: “Choose a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
While it's certainly great advice to select a career that you’ll find gratifying, don’t be fooled by this oversimplification. As the happiest of employees and entrepreneurs will tell you, even when you love what you do, not every task is intrinsically enjoyable. Even the most rewarding careers require tasks that are unglamorous, monotonous, or simply unpleasant. Sometimes, work just feels like work ― and that’s okay.
There is real danger in continuously looking for the “perfect job.” Be careful not to pass up a great opportunity just because you don’t love every inch of it.
“Follow your passion”
This is often synonymous with “do what you’re good at.” Unfortunately, as you may have noticed, talents don’t necessarily translate into lucrative careers.
But that’s not even the biggest fault in this piece of bad career advice. The problem with telling young people to follow their passions is that in many cases, they’ve yet to develop them. Passion is achieved through mastery of a subject ― which takes years!
Don’t expect that the best career for you is the thing that you are currently the best at doing. Figure out what your goals are, and then do what it takes to achieve them ― even if it doesn’t come naturally to you at first.
What’s some of the worst career advice that you’ve received? Did you know it was bad advice at the time? Tell us in the comments below!
Rejection is a natural part of the sales process. It’s hard to avoid, and even harder to face. However, have you ever considered the silver lining of rejection? Maybe all of those “nos” have made you who you are today. Hearing “no” forces salespeople to climb out of their shell, think outside of the box, and reach for new horizons. Working in sales and facing “no” on a daily basis can help you build critical skills that can prepare you to withstand and excel against the rigors and challenges of the business world. Enduring a little rejection now can train you to be resilient, flexible, and mentally strong – all skills that can benefit you greatly as you grow your career.
You Learn
In order for someone to grow as a sales professional, he or she has to understand what works and what doesn’t work. When you recognize that some part your pitch, approach, or presentation isn’t working, you learn how to make critical decisions to correct the problem and get back on track. You discover how to do better, so that it does work the next time around. Salespeople are constantly learning, trying to improve the process. Only with a “no” can you get that much closer to a “yes.” Since business is an ever-changing landscape, as you progress through your career, having the ability to learn will make you a more desirable hire. It’s what fuels your personal growth.
You Develop Patience
We all know the saying: patience is a virtue. Boy, is that true, especially in the world of sales. The sales business is a numbers game that teaches you to accept that if the first customer says “no,” you just have move to the next one and keep going. There is no room or time to throw up your hands in exasperation. The best salespeople understand that a successful sales day is a marathon, not a sprint. Over time, sales professionals learn how to maintain a patient, positive mindset no matter what. Developing this kind of unwavering resilience will also prepare you for managerial positions, even owning a company. Things will go wrong, people will quit, rejection will befall you, and unfair things will happen. Maintaining your patient disposition through it all is what will set you apart from the competition.
You Learn How to Be Flexible
Salespeople can’t afford to be stuck in their ways. Sales is a process of experimentation and refinement. When good salespeople face rejection, they learn how to rethink their approach to avoid a sales blunder in the future. Overtime, sales teaches you how to apply self-discipline to correct course, test new approaches, and perfect your pitch until you can consistently deliver results.
You Communicate Better
Sometimes, you face rejection because your communication skills weren’t up to par. Perhaps you misspoke, failed to listen, or just delivered a message without any energy. Communication is the cornerstone of every business interaction. Hearing “no” can inspire you to do what it takes to hear that “yes” next time. You’ll refine your messaging and communication approach. Within business, communication is how critical information about sales, services, and products is relayed to key stakeholders. You need to know how to communicate quickly, effectively, and with authority. It’s time to get started.
You Toughen Up
Finally, it’s inevitable that rejection is going to force you to develop thicker skin. However, that’s not a bad thing. In the world of professional sales, it’s an incredibly important attribute. You’ll learn to listen to your gut and intuition, rising above rejection to focus on what you need to do to get the job done. You’ll develop your own personal shield that keeps you protected. As you climb towards the top, this internal toughness will better prepare you for the obstacles and stakes ahead, like hiring/firing decisions, expansions, acquisitions, and the list goes on.
We all know the time-old adage, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” In sales, this saying proves true. A healthy amount of rejection is necessary for personal growth and advancement. The next time you’re faced with a “no,” smile, for it is another opportunity to grow and flourish as an individual and a professional; it’s another opportunity to see things in a new light and appreciate a new way of doing things; and it’s another opportunity to become wiser, stronger, and better.
What have you learned from rejection in the past, and how has that helped to accelerate your personal growth? Share them with Cydcor in the comments below.
Mobile devices are more than just modern conveniences. In today’s business climate, having the right mobile tools at your disposal is critical to your professional survival. Staying connected around the clock is the accepted norm, not the exception and remaining competitive means keeping yourself up-to-date on the best apps to help you work smarter, faster, and better.
As thousands of new apps are released into the market every day, staying current on the best and most effective apps for improving productivity and performance can feel like a very daunting task. Luckily, Cydcor has created a shortcut to help you wade through this vast ocean of available apps. We’ve compiled a list of some of most useful apps to help busy professionals stay organized, communicate better and more efficiently, quickly get where they need to go, and be more productive.
Ah, productivity. It seems so simple, doesn’t it? Make a to-do list, prioritize it, then get to work! In reality, we all know this is much easier said than done. Thankfully, there are several surprisingly simple productivity tips and tricks that we can implement to make the most of our time. Check out the four productivity tips below.
1. Implement a Daily Drink and Think
Let’s kick off this list with a productivity tip that’s sure to sound counter-intuitive: Sit down and do nothing.
Yes, really!
One of the best things you can do for yourself is to take 10 minutes a day to just think. Sit down in the morning with your coffee or tea, or at night after a relaxing bath or tucking in the kids. Find somewhere relatively quiet where no one will bother you. Put away your devices. Ponder your day, think about what’s important, and pay attention to what rises to the surface. When you’re done, revise your to-do list as you see fit.
2. Empty your Brain
If you’ve ever watched a survivalist competition on TV, you’ve seen how important it is to conserve resources and be strategic about energy expenditure. Navigating through daily life is no different.
One of the best ways to conserve mental energy is to write everything down, rather than holding thoughts in the back of your mind. Did you just remember that a report is due at the end of the week? Add it to your calendar. Did a great idea just pop into your head? Jot it down. Doing so will make it easier to focus on the task in front of you, upping your productivity.
3. Set a Series of Timers
Depending on your style of working, this productivity tip has the potential to skyrocket your efficiency. This can be particularly effective when there’s an item on your to-do list that you’ve been dreading or if you’re a person who works best under pressure.
Start small. Set a timer for 20 minutes. Force yourself to use every millisecond of the time block to do focused work. Zero funny business allowed while the clock is ticking. Challenge yourself to see how much you can get done in this window. Then, when the timer goes off, set another one for 5 minutes. This time is your reward. Use it to grab a snack, check Instagram, text your mom, or do anything that will register in the pleasure center of your brain. Then repeat. Try playing around with longer working blocks.
4. Create a Must-Do List
Different from your to-do list, this should contain 3 to 5 items that absolutely, no matter what, need to be completed today. You can vary the length of the list based on the heft of the tasks, but the key is to identify which activities are non-negotiable. Tell yourself that you can’t leave work or even go to bed until they are done.
There are a few reasons this works so well. First, the commitment to yourself alone is very powerful. No one wants to let themselves down. Second, human nature is to avoid pain. If you don’t want to work all night, you’ll put the pressure on yourself to ramp up your productivity during the day. Your Must-Do list will serve as an anchor to stay focused on your priorities when you’re tempted to stray.
How do you make the most out of your day? Share your favorite productivity tips with Cydcor on social media!
If you’re serious about advancing your career, you have to be willing to take massive action—there’s no way around it. Top performers in any industry are those who know how to push themselves. They are constantly seeking out a new competitive edge, looking for ways to up their game and achieve the next level of results.
Whether you are just beginning your career and want to get off to a strong start, or you are a seasoned veteran looking to kick things up a notch, it’s all about the willingness to take action and put the pedal to the metal. While there will always be factors outside of your control, the ability to be proactive will ultimately determine how far you'll advance in your career and how fast you get there.
1. Don’t wait to shine
A shocking number of professionals fail to reach their full potential because they’re waiting for the people who got there first to succeed. You might be doing this without even realizing it. If you truly want to advance in your career, get rid of this mentality. Never be afraid to set the pace, even when you’re the newest member of the team.
Are you awesome at what you do? Shine. Can you break a record? Do it. Do you have great ideas? Share them. Want more responsibility? Rise to the occasion. Take action and unleash your talents on the world. Outwork the person who started five years before you. Whatever you do, don’t wait for someone else to get promoted first just because you’re the rookie.
2. Be hyper-strategic about where you take action
If you want to advance your career, it’s time to be smart about what activities deserve your time and attention. Yes, there are likely three-dozen things on your to-do list—that’s why you need to strategize.
Start by asking yourself this question, “What is one specific change that I could make that would elevate my game?” (Hint: if you’re having trouble answering this, schedule a chat with your mentor.) Simply knowing the answer to this one question can bring clarity to your plan of attack.
Once you’ve got your mission, put the blinders on. Take deliberate action to advance the specific goal that you’ve defined. Give your freshest, most valiant effort while you’re still on a full tank by avoiding lower priority tasks until you’ve made satisfactory gains. If you catch yourself sending your valuable resources in the wrong direction, be sure to pivot quickly!
3. Spring clean your life
Now is the perfect time to get impeccably organized. Set aside a weekend to dust away anything extraneous in your day-to-day life. Put away your winter clothes. Go through the files you’ve downloaded to your desktop. Get rid of old voicemails. Finally hit inbox zero—and come up with a system to keep it that way. This might mean skipping your normal Netflix-dedicated Sunday, but it will be worth it. Nothing feels better than having your ducks in a row. By cleaning up and simplifying your world, you will eliminate distractions and clear up space to focus on how to take action to advance your career.
Remember, successful careers aren’t built overnight. Little things add up to big things. Keep working hard and never stop asking yourself how you can up your game. Be so good they can’t ignore you. You have the power to increase the pace at which you advance in your career.
When asked for his advice on how to achieve success, renowned comedian, actor, and writer Steve Martin once said, “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” But isn’t that easier said than done? We all want to be good at what we do, but how can you become so good that you stand out from the crowd? And, more specifically, what will you be good at? It’s tempting to say that you’d like to be good at everything you do, but to stand out from the crowd and reach your most ambitious goals, it’s important to figure out what you do uniquely well. Then, you can start to build a game plan for how you will push yourself even farther, so you’re not just good, but great. With work and focus, everyone has the potential to become so good they simply can’t be ignored.
1. Make the Choice
They say that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. Decide to get out of your comfort zone in order to achieve success and stand out from the crowd. Realize that you can accomplish more and choose to be your best in everything you do. Change your mindset toward action and you’ll discover that nobody can motivate you more than you can. Push yourself to work differently or to put yourself in situations you normally wouldn’t—those are the moments when you can truly learn, and more importantly, grow.
2. Play to Your Strengths
Don’t focus outward at your colleagues and wonder why they are so lucky or how things seem to come so easily to them. Instead, focus inward, and ask yourself why nobody sees all the talents you possess. It might because you’re not using your abilities to their fullest. Take advantage of the things you already do well and figure out what it will take to become great and to achieve success. What do you do best, and how will you become better than anyone else at that one thing? How will you make that unique skill or talent your calling card? How will you stand out from the crowd?
3. The Time to Achieve Success is Now
Change is hard, so it might be tempting to drag your feet, but don’t put it off. Waiting will only keep your goals out of reach that much longer. There is no time like the present to start pushing yourself to achieve more. First steps are often the hardest, so getting past that first hurdle might be all you need to start building momentum.
4. Take Control
This works in sales but it also works in life: Don’t waste time wishing for things to be easier. Instead, seek ways to make yourself better and stand out from the crowd. Realize that the direction of your career and your future are in your hands. You have the power to write your own story and decide where it will lead. Be an example to others by actively tackling the obstacles before you and realizing that challenges are really opportunities in disguise.
5. Remove Limiting Beliefs
Stop doubting yourself and giving yourself reasons why you can’t achieve success. There are enough setbacks along the way—there’s no reason to create your own. Be humble and stop letting your ego stand in your way. Realize that you don’t have to have all the answers, and embrace the idea that the journey to discovering those answers can help you acquire the knowledge and skills you’ll need to bring your ambitions to life.
Nobody ever said that achieving success was easy. Becoming the best version of yourself and figuring out what you’d like to be known for and how to stand out from the crowd is going to be work. It’s going to take passion, commitment, and endurance, but the alternative is most likely a career path that won’t take you where you want to go. By taking ownership of your story and your future, embracing your strengths, and committing to the values you hold dear, you can open doors to even your most ambitious aspirations. What’s important is realizing that you have much more power than you think you do. Once you figure out how you will “be so good,” you’ll become someone nobody can forget.