Years ago, I was stuck. I was in a job where I was working my tail off, but I wasn't moving forward. Every day felt the same—a long list of tasks, a constant sense of being busy but not productive. I'd come home exhausted, feeling like I had just run on a treadmill for eight hours. My manager was a good person, but she was busy, too, and I was just another line on her org chart. I was waiting for her to notice the work I do, for a promotion to magically appear. It never did. It was only when I realised I was the only one in control of my career that things changed. I started to pause and look at what I was doing, not just do it. I began to identify problems that weren't "my job" and fix them. It was uncomfortable, and I felt like an imposter, but it worked. The ownership I took on for my own growth was the catalyst for every good thing that's happened since.
3 Ideas to Broaden Your Horizons
I. The Art of the Pause: Taking Stock of Your Progress
It’s easy to get lost in the daily grind, moving from one task to the next without a second thought. But if you don’t pause and reflect, how will you know if you're even on the right path? Like a seasoned investor who reviews their portfolio, you need to regularly assess your life. Did you do what you said you would? Did the last six months get you closer to your big goals or were they just a blur of busy work? This isn't about self-criticism; it's about making adjustments. A simple ritual, like a Friday afternoon review or a monthly check-in, can turn your trajectory from a straight line into a carefully navigated journey. You can only improve what you measure, and you can only measure what you consciously observe.
II. Promotions and the Principle of Extreme Ownership
Thinking about a promotion? You can't just wish for it. You have to take extreme ownership of your career. This isn't about working harder; it's about thinking like a leader. Stop waiting for your manager to give you a clear path. Identify the problems in your department, even the ones outside your official role, and start solving them. If you see a gap, fill it. When you make a mistake, own it completely, and present a plan to fix it. Promotions don't go to the person who does their job well; they go to the person who is already doing the job they want next. If you act like you're already in charge, you just might find yourself there.
III. Humiliation is the Price of Flow
Creativity and deep work don't just happen. You often have to go through a period of fumbling, of feeling stupid, of having your work critiqued and maybe even torn to shreds. This is the humiliation phase. It’s the clumsy start, the rough draft, the terrible first take. But if you push through this phase, something incredible happens: you hit a state of flow. The work becomes effortless, the ideas connect on their own, and time seems to melt away. Don't be afraid of that initial feeling of incompetence. It's not a sign you should quit; it's a sign you're on the verge of a breakthrough.
2 Quotes to Fuel Your Thoughts
"Leadership is not a title; it's a behavior. Live the title you want, before you have the title you have." - Simon Sinek
This quote from Simon Sinek hits hard because it gets at the core of how true career growth happens. Most people think they need a new title to start acting like a leader, but the reality is the reverse. You have to start behaving like the person in the job you want—taking initiative, solving problems, and showing you can handle more—before anyone will consider giving you that new title. It’s a challenge to the typical mindset of waiting for permission.
"The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried." - Stephen McCranie
This is a powerful reminder that failure isn't the opposite of success; it's a necessary step on the path to it. An expert isn't someone who never makes mistakes; they're someone who has pushed through countless failures and learned from each one. This quote should be a comfort to anyone starting something new. Don’t be afraid to fail; be afraid of not trying.
1 Question to Stir Your Curiosity
Given the rapid advancements in AI, what's a core skill you possess today that you believe will be more valuable, not less, in five years?
tl/dr: Don't wait for a promotion; take extreme ownership of your career by acting like the leader you want to be. The awkward, humbling stage of a new skill is necessary to reach the point of flow, so don't give up. And finally, regularly pause and reflect on your progress to make sure you're on the right track.
