In need of some solid career advice? In an effort to make this work week slightly more bearable, CreativeLive is once again delivering a roundup of our favorite job tips from experts in every field –– including the founder of Change.org and Madeleine Albright (it’s casual)! Whether you’re embarking on a new career or happy in your current one, we all need the occasional impetus to get motivated. Check out the advice below so you’re ready to work!
“Don’t be afraid to do a little bit of shit work.” –– Mike Curtis, VP of Engineering at Airbnb
Passion Is Great, But What’s Your Real Skill?
“It’s not actually about what you’re passionate for, it’s about what you’re good at.” ––
Jen Dulski, Founder/COO of Change.org
Speaking of, Shop Around Until You Find What You’re Good At
“Try a lot of different things. You only have to be right once, but you have to be really right that once. I don’t think people spend nearly enough time thinking about what they like and what they’re good at.” –– Sam Altman, Y Combinator President
“If you raise your hand, and you don’t get called on, by the time you do, what you had to say doesn’t make sense anymore. It’s not germane. So I made up this term, active listening — you listen differently if you think you’re going to interrupt. Because, frankly, there are some people who talk too much.” –– Madeleine Albright
Take Time To Mourn Your Failures
“You get a month to complain and drink a lot of margaritas, and then you move on. I don’t live in the past. I move on from that, but I take my time to grieve and feel sorry for myself first. I think that has helped me a lot in my life. I also talk about my failures and insecurities, and my worries that I won’t achieve what I’ve set out to achieve, and that it hurts my feelings if I’m taken apart in the comments section of a blog. All of that is painful and real, and I think being your authentic self is really important to being a good leader.” –– Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Girls Who Code
“We should think about how we want to be remembered not just in our company, or our industry, but in our family and amongst our friends. At each phase of our career (job transitions or promotions), take time to reflect. Am I making a positive and lasting impact on my associates and customers? Did my actions inspire those around me? Am I making a transformational impact on my company, my industry and amongst those I care about? That’s perhaps the most important piece of advice I’d give my 22-year-old self: our career is so much more than destinations — it’s about journeys, and making a truly lasting and positive impact.” –– David Kong, CEO of Best Western International
Don’t Be Scared To Reinvent Yourself
“The opportunity is there for you if you can lose the fear of reinvention. You can react to change or choose to participate. I’m constantly looking at ways to reinvent myself so I don’t become outdated or stuck on one subject.” –– Steve Harvey, comedian
“Make yourself indispensable by doing the best job possible, no matter how creative or mundane the project.” –– Sandra Choi, Creative Director at Jimmy Choo
